giving for good bemidji

A region update from Karla Eischens, president & CEO of Sanford Bemidji.
April 30, 2025

This year, more than 12,000 local kids of all ages — from fragile infants born too soon to teens facing complex health conditions — and their families will turn to Sanford Children’s in Bemidji for extra or unexpected care. Thanks to your support, we’re not only meeting their needs today, but also advancing pediatric care in new and meaningful ways to keep pace with the growing and changing needs of our communities.

As the Bemidji region’s largest nonprofit pediatric health care system, philanthropy is at the heart of everything we do at Sanford Children’s. Here, the generosity of donors surrounds kids and families from the moment they walk through our doors by powering everything children need to get better, faster close to home, including:

• • Lifesaving equipment like pediatric oncology infusion chairs, ultrasound machines, Giraffe OmniBeds, pediatric ventilators, a child-sized crash cart and more
  • Patient care and family support initiatives like specialized playground equipment to enhance pediatric therapy, toys and games that provide a sense of normalcy, and teddy bears that bring comfort and calm to emergency patients
  • Education and training to keep caregivers and staff on the leading-edge of pediatric care
  • And so much more

Your support also enables us to enhance and adapt pediatric care to meet the emerging needs of our communities. In Bemidji specifically,

• • Pediatric specialists are providing 24-hour inpatient care for infants and pediatric patients at the Sanford Medical Center
  • Later this year, an additional physician will join our pediatrics department at the Sanford Health clinic on Anne Street
  • The Youth Assertive Community Treatment (Youth ACT) is providing individualized behavioral health support for local youth ages 8–15

With your support, Sanford Children’s is bringing hope and healing to thousands of kids across our area — and we are endlessly grateful. Thank you, as always, for your partnership and your continued belief in our mission to care, comfort and cure.

Karla Eischens