BWF Presents in Poland
Jagiellonian University Medical College in Krakow
Janet Hedrick, Senior Associate, was invited by the Polish Fundraising Association to make a presentation on Giving to Healthcare Organizations and to conduct a workshop on Gratitude and Giving at its fundraising conference in November at the Jagiellonian University Medical College in Krakow, Poland. Hedrick was chosen because of her experience and Bentz Whaley Flessner's expertise in healthcare fundraising. "To be asked was an honor," stated Hedrick.
The mission of the Polish Fundraising Association, which was established in January 2006 and is a member of the European Fundraising Association, is to work for the common good by encouraging the development of fundraising in Poland. In 2009, the organization launched a project to provide education in fundraising for each of what PFA calls the five stones of fundraising. The stones included education, health care, culture and art, ecology, and religion. The conference in November was the capstone of the educational program for healthcare organizations.
While visiting Poland, Hedrick also shared her insights and perspectives with the University Children's Hospital as the guest of its director, Dr. Maciej Kowalczyk.
The building of the University Children's Hospital, which is part of the University Hospital, was initiated by Americans of Polish descent and funded by the U.S. government. The Hospital, which opened in 1965, was known for years as the Polish-American Children's Hospital.
The hospital is a 555-bed facility and an important education and research center, which collaborates closely with leading children's hospitals throughout the world. The hospital was supported by the American government through Project Hope for many years, but today is actively seeking philanthropic support for its facilities, equipment and programs. The University Children’s Hospital participates in exchange programs with leading pediatric facilities in America in numerous specialties, such as cardiology and cardiac surgery, nephrology, intensive care, urology, gastroenterology, hematology/oncology, and many others.
"Seeing a country which was for many years under Communist rule beginning to build a philanthropic culture was inspiring," noted Hedrick.
