Nationally Syndicated Radio Host 'Delilah' Visits St. Joseph's Children's Hospital to Kick Off National Children's Hospital Program

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Jan 27, 2011, 02:01 ET

TAMPA, Fla., Jan. 27, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Hospitalized patients at St. Joseph's Children's Hospital in Tampa this week received a very special visit from the most-listened-to woman on the radio, Delilah, as she announced her partnership with Together for Kids, an alliance of children's hospitals dedicated to building a healthier future for America's kids.

Throughout the year, Delilah will take her audience of more than eight million listeners inside the walls of Together for Kids member hospitals like St. Joseph's Children's Hospital to get to know courageous patients facing some very serious health challenges. She also will introduce listeners to the people who work tirelessly to treat children affected by serious illness or injury.

"As the mother of 11 children, I know that when your child is sick, nothing else matters," Delilah shared with a room full of parents, young patients and hospital executives from across the country. "That's why I am so passionate about the work being done by Together for Kids to connect its member hospitals with the funding they need to care for sick and injured children, regardless of their ability to pay. Every child deserves every chance to live a healthy life."

According to the radio personality, author and songwriter, Together for Kids stood out from other children's charities because one hundred percent of all funds raised directly support the health care needs of children served by its 43 member hospitals.

"Those of us in the business of treating sick and injured children know that it is especially costly to deliver the kind of services children with complex problems and medical needs have," said St. Joseph's Children's Hospital Chief Operating Officer Kimberly Guy. "This partnership presents an opportunity to strengthen our work by helping to fund advanced technology, treatment, education and medical research needed to tackle today's toughest pediatric issues. We are delighted to have Delilah join our alliance of children's hospitals in creating a single voice advocating for children's health."

As Tampa's first dedicated children's hospital, St. Joseph's Children's Hospital is designed to meet the unique needs of children and their families by providing high-tech pediatric health care in a family-centered, child-friendly environment. The 174-bed facility is home to a medical staff of nearly 200 physicians with nearly 120 pediatric specialists, representing almost every major pediatric sub-specialty. As the third largest children's hospital in Florida, it provides more acute medical and surgical pediatric care than all other hospitals in Hillsborough County. St. Joseph's Children's Hospital, part of BayCare Health System, is the only community hospital in Florida, and one of a very few non-university hospitals in the United States, with a research laboratory dedicated exclusively to pediatric cancer research.

An emotional Delilah choked up when she complimented children's hospitals saying, "You don't know what a difference you make to a mom or dad or friend."

About BayCare Health System

BayCare Health System is a leading community-based health system in the Tampa Bay area. Composed of a network of 10 not-for-profit hospitals, outpatient facilities and services such as imaging, lab, behavioral health and home health care, BayCare provides expert medical care throughout a patient's lifetime. With more than 219 access points conveniently located throughout Tampa Bay, BayCare connects patients to a complete range of preventive, diagnostic and treatment services for any health care need.

BayCare's family of hospitals are: Mease Countryside, Mease Dunedin, Morton Plant, Morton Plant North Bay, St. Anthony's, St. Joseph's, St. Joseph's Children's, St. Joseph's Hospital-North, St. Joseph's Women's, and South Florida Baptist. For more information, visit BayCare on the Web at www.BayCare.org.

SOURCE BayCare Health System