We regret to inform you that as of today the Hansje Brinker Guild has been disbanded. The Guild was founded 15 years ago by a group of Dutch friends living in the Seattle area. Being part of Seattle Children’s Hospital Guild Association, the purpose of the Hansje Brinker Guild was to raise funds for Seattle Children’s Hospital. Over the past years the Guild collected over $125,000 in donations for Child Life Fund. We hosted many events: the Orange Bike Parade, the Dutch movie nights, King’s and Queen’s Day celebrations, the “11 Stedentocht”, Bitterballen sales events and the Oranjebal gala.
Over the years we’ve seen new members come and go. Unfortunately, we do not have the capacity anymore to organize fundraising events and for this reason, with a heavy hart, we had to decide that the Hansje Brinker Guild had to disband. We want to thank our supporters, our current and former members for all the time and effort they have put into hosting events to support Seattle Children’s Hospital. We also would like to thank the Seattle Children’s Guild Association for the guidance to make our events successful.
And even though the Hansje Brinker Guild will no longer host fundraising events, you can still donate to the Seattle Children’s Hospital through their website: www.seattlechildrens.org.
Hansje Brinker Guild
The Hansje Brinker Guild was founded by a group of women with a Dutch background living in the Seattle area in 2007.
Hansje Brinker Guild is part of Seattle Children’s Hospital Guild Association with the purpose of raising funds for Seattle Children’s Hospital, to educate others and be an advocate for children.
A guild for Seattle Children’s Hospital is a group of people who join together to make a difference in the health and well-being of children. As our Guild has a Dutch background, we chose for our name the symbol of Hansje Brinker, in the USA well known as a little Dutch boy who made a difference (see “Hans Brinker, or the Silver Skates by Mary Mapes Dodge).
Leadership
President – Else Bakker
Treasurer – Hans Brinkhoff
Secretary – Stef Prein
Purpose
The Hansje Brinker Guild supports the “Child Life” programs at the Hospital. All our fundraising efforts are to benefit the Child Life Department.
Child Life Department
Helping children cope with a hospital stay
Play is the core of the Child Life Program. It helps children relieve tension, express concerns and fears, and experience a sense of control over their environment. The Playrooms and Teen Zone provide a place to have fun, safe, supportive play and social interaction. Children will enjoy activities and entertainment as well as a wide variety of books, toys and crafts. Child Life specialists are members of the healthcare team who work directly with each child and family to help reduce anxiety and adjust to the hospital experience.
Therapeutic play programs reduce stress and encourage expressions of feelings. They include:
| Art therapy | Inpatient Room |
| Music therapy | Teen zone |
| Animal-assisted activities | Clinic Playrooms |
Uncompensated Care Program
In 2011, Children’s picked up the tab for $103.4 million in care that was not otherwise paid for. Approximately $10.7 million of that total covered unpaid medical services – costs that families incurred for care beyond their ability to pay.
The rest of the total – a whopping $92.7 million – covered payment shortfalls from Medicaid, the government program that provides medical coverage at no cost to low income families. Nearly half of patients are covered by Medicaid, but the program reimbursed us for only 71% of the real cost of treatment.
By filling in the gaps left by Medicaid shortfalls or a family’s inability to pay, Children’s helps parents focus on what’s most important – the health and wellbeing of their child.
Approximately 12% of the $103.4 million in uncompensated care provided by Children’s in 2011 came from philanthropic contributions.
Hansje Brinker Guild 