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Proclamation declaring Saturday, December 5, 2015 to be “Zachary’s Mission Day” in Allegheny County.
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WHEREAS, in May 2010, Patricia and Robert Vince founded Zachary’s Mission in loving memory of their son, Zachary Hunter Vince, who died at 2 weeks of age from a rare congenital heart defect; and
WHEREAS, Zachary’s Mission is a nonprofit organization bringing hope to families of medically fragile children by providing basic necessities, financial assistance and programs that nurture emotional health and well-being; and
WHEREAS, Zachary’s Mission recognizes that hospital families face financial and emotional hardships and strives to lessen these burdens through its many programs which are available at Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC, The Children’s Home and Lemieux Family Center, West Penn Hospital NICU and The Children’s Institute of Pittsburgh; and
WHEREAS, since its founding, Zachary’s Mission has assisted more than 7,000 hospital families by working in partnership with hospital staff and care coordinators to:
Ø Provide Zack Packs, i.e. book bags filled with toiletries, food and other daily necessities to families who unexpectedly find themselves with a child in the hospital; and
Ø Offer financial assistance with transportation, groceries, utility bills and other expenses that accumulate over long-term and repeated hospital stays; and
Ø Support the emotional well-being of families by giving sets of baby’s first gifts to celebrate holiday milestones;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that Allegheny County Council does hereby commend Zachary’s Mission for supporting families of medically fragile children in Pittsburgh area hospitals, and in recognition of the Fifth Annual Zachary’s Mission Gala, we hereby declare Saturday, December 5, 2015 to be “Zachary’s Mission Day” in Allegheny County.