Normally, one of the major fundraisers for Carrie Tingley Hospital Foundation includes a lot of mud and water, but this year's volleyball tournament was held at Ballon Fiesta Park, leaving participants much cleaner.
More than 20 teams competed in the tournament at the end of July, raising money and awareness for the foundation, which partners with UNM Hospital to support parents of patients with needed equipment.
“We provide direct support to the hospital for special equipment,” Connie Chavez, executive director at Carrie Tingley Hospital Foundation, told KRQE, according to a July 30 news story. “We also have what we call our ‘patient and family programming,’ where we provide financial support to meet the basic needs of the families to purchase durable medical equipment that’s not covered through insurance.”
Organizers expect the tournament format to attract more teams next year, according to KRQE.
The Patient and Family Assistance Program accepts applications for help and typically approves those applications within a week, according to the Carrie Tingley Hospital Foundation website. Assistance is awarded based on need, and the foundation staff will facilitate the process with each family to determine eligibility.
According to its website, the UNM Carrie Tingley Hospital is the state’s only pediatric rehabilitative hospital. It serves thousands of children each year with many types of illnesses and disabling conditions. Since 1937, It is widely known for orthopedic surgery, prosthetics and orthotics technology and fabrication and rehabilitation services.
