Stand for the Kids

One of my favorite parts of PhiDE is our work with our Philanthropic and Service partner, Children’s Miracle Network (CMN).  PhiDE supports this organization because CMN’s values closely align with the values of the fraternity. Children’s Miracle Network provides health care to children regardless of their parents’ ability to pay, and since CMN Hospitals treat 17 million children each year, that is incredibly powerful.  

Stand for the Kids is an annual event in which all PhiDE members around the country come together and raise awareness and money for CMN Hospitals.  Each chapter hosts unique individual events, and every single member is encouraged to “stand for the kids” who can’t stand for themselves.  I have always loved this annual event because it serves as a reminder of how important it is to take time to give back to our local communities.  One of the most unique things about CMN is that the money each chapter raises goes directly to their nearest CMN Hospital.  Knowing that our fundraising efforts will positively impact our local hospital is such a rewarding and morale-boosting feeling for all PhiDE chapters. 

As future physicians, I think it is incredibly important to volunteer and work with organizations like CMN Hospitals, so that we are reminded what lead us all down this path in the first place.  We all want to be physicians in order to help people, and when we have the opportunity to come together and help our communities even as students, I think it is crucial that we don’t take that impact for granted.  I’ve always appreciated PhiDE’s partnership with CMN because it allows all members, and all of the community members we reach, to feel proud and honored as we give back to some of the most vulnerable members of our communities.