Annual tree lighting ceremony to benefit UCSF Children's Hospital
WHAT:
The 19th annual Macy’s Tree Lighting Ceremony, benefiting UCSF Children’s Hospital. Macy’s partners with UCSF each year to raise funds for the Children’s Hospital by selling lights to adorn the 80-foot-tall Shasta Fir. Over the last five years, nearly $700,000 has been raised for UCSF’s pediatric palliative care program – Compass Care – which supports families whose children have life-threatening illnesses.
Lights can be sponsored for $5 each. Donations can be made at the Union Square celebration, by calling (415) 353-4172, or online at www.ucsfhealth.org/tree.
WHEN:
Friday, November 28. Program begins at 6 p.m. Tree-lighting at approximately 6:26 p.m.
WHERE:
Union Square Park, San Francisco
WHO:
KGO-TV’s Spencer Christian, UCSF Medical Center CEO Mark Laret, San Francisco Police Chief Heather Fong, San Francisco Fire Chief Joanne Hayes-White, the cast of the hit musical “Wicked,” and the San Francisco Boy’s Chorus. They’ll join UCSF Children’s Hospital staff, patients and their families, the San Francisco community and Santa Claus to celebrate the holiday season.
CONTACT:
If you are interested in arranging interviews with UCSF leadership and/or patient families in advance, contact Kate Schoen at (415) 476-2557 or [email protected]. On the day of the event, call Kate Schoen at 415-672-6875.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
Compass Care provides comprehensive palliative care for children who require end-of-life care, as well as children with chronic life-threatening conditions who may live for many years or eventually be cured. The program brings specially trained doctors, nurses, social workers, child life specialists, spiritual care staff and pharmacists together as a team to ensure that each child’s physical, emotional, social and spiritual needs are addressed at all stages of care.
One of the nation’s top children’s hospitals, UCSF Children’s Hospital creates an environment where children and their families find compassionate care at the healing edge of scientific discovery, with more than 150 experts in 50 medical specialties serving patients throughout Northern California and beyond. The hospital admits about 5,000 children each year, including 2,000 babies born in the hospital.