MUSC Children's Hospital - Masterminds for Life

We're all about children!

Masterminds for Life

Courtney Ellicot
MUSC Children's Hospital Fund
March 7, 2007

We are pleased to announce that James B. Edwards Elementary School and Ashley River Creative Arts Elementary School will again be participating in the fundraiser, Masterminds For Life, to benefit MUSC Children's Hospital. The fundraiser will take place March 12 - April 20, 2007.

Masterminds For Life is a curriculum-based program that involves students in grades one through five. James B. Edwards Elementary School and MUSC Children's Hospital created this program over 16 years ago after being approached by a national charity profiting from a similar program in local schools. James B. Edwards decided they could design a program, around the state elementary curriculum guidelines, benefiting the lowcountry's only Children's Hospital and local patients - including some of their own students. The program has spread into elementary schools all over Charleston, Dorchester and Berkeley counties. The workbooks are a great review for spring testing because they are updated annually to insure each question follows the grade level curriculum. Masterminds for Life is an exciting project that will helps students with their math, health and science skills, as well as raises awareness and funds for MUSC Children's Hospital.

The students who participate will receive grade level workbooks with approximately 100 questions inside that they are to complete over Spring Break. Workbooks are distributed the week before Spring Break. Students are responsible for getting sponsors from the community to pledge given amounts for each problem solved correctly in their workbook. The answers are in the back of each workbook for parents to grade. Upon their return from Spring Break, students will turn in their sponsor money they have collected to their teachers in the envelope provided. After the money has been collected by MUSC Children's Hospital, students will receive individual prizes and recognition for the amount of money raised. Over the past 16 years, lowcountry schools have raised $200,000 for MUSC Children's Hospital.

Why should your local students participate? Chances are many local students have already been patients here at MUSC Children's Hospital. While we hope children will never need to visit us, wouldn't it be great for them to learn about the hospital and the value in giving to other children? Since its founding in 1987, MUSC Children's Hospital has grown into one of the top 25 children's hospitals in the country. Our Children's Emergency Department was ranked in the top 10 in the country this year. We could cite a litany of awards and honors we have received over the years, but ultimately, the true measure of our success can be found in the lives of the children who have come to us for care. We have the ability to treat any child, with any disease or injury, even if they can't pay. How fortunate for our lowcountry children to have a children's hospital in their backyard they can rely on for care.

Perhaps the most notable aspect of these patients' stories (the thousands of children we see each year) is that much of their care has been made possible through the generous support of private citizens and sponsors, like you. The Masterminds for Life program has a significant impact on our ability to provide the best treatment for sick and injured children of not only this state, but globally as well. Our pursuit of excellence is made possible through the generous support of sponsors and participants who are helping us reach the goal of providing hope for a brighter tomorrow.

If you are interested in your child's school participating in the Masterminds For Life program please contact Courtney Ellicott at (843) 792-0350 or email ellicott@musc.edu.