About 85 percent of children placed in car safety seats are improperly restrained, a serious problem when automobile crashes are the leading cause of death for children ages 3-14. The Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt and Kohl’s Department Stores team up today to help keep young passengers safe.

 

Children’s Hospital safety experts , through the Kohl's Cares for Kids program, will provide free car seat checks today (Thursday, Oct. 8) from 2:30-5:30 p.m. at Frederick Douglass Head Start Center, 214 North 7th St. in Nashville. The seat checks are coordinated with Head Start, a program of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that focuses on assisting children from low-income families.

In addition, Kohl’s store managers will present Children’s Hospital officials with a check for $164,695, to be used over the coming year to provide child safety initiatives and outreach. The donations were collected from Kohl’s stores located in the Nashville area. Since 2003, Kohl’s has given Children’s Hospital more than $750,000 to promote child safety efforts.

Kohl's commitment to Children’s Hospital is made possible through the Kohl's Cares for Kids philanthropic initiative. Kohl’s Cares for Kids includes a merchandise program featuring $5 books and stuffed animals, where 100 percent of net profits go toward supporting hospital partnerships like this one. Other components of Kohl's Cares for Kids include Kohl's A-Team associate volunteer program; the Kohl’s Kids Who Care® Scholarship Program, recognizing stand-out children for volunteer efforts in their communities; and fundraising gift cards for local schools and nonprofit organizations.

The books and plush toys can be purchased at any of Kohl’s 1,059 stores in 49 states. Kohl’s Cares for Kids has raised more than $126 million for children’s initiatives nationwide to date.

The Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt is a leader in pediatric care, ranked as one of the best children’s hospitals in the nation by U.S. News & World Report and 15th in the nation by Parents magazine. The Children’s Hospital provides 222 beds for the highest level of pediatric care and is also a top-level teaching and research facility.

 

Media Inquiries:
John Howser
Deputy Director / Director of Media Relations
Vanderbilt Medical Center - News and Public Affairs
Phone: 615-322-4747
Email: john.howser@vanderbilt.edu
http://www.mc.vanderbilt.edu/npa