The Friends of Doernbecher is a volunteer program for the Doernbecher Children’s Hospital Foundation in Portland, Oregon.   It is primarily made up of volunteer chapters throughout Oregon and Southwest Washington which operate individually but under the guidelines of the Foundation.   Throughout the year the chapters work on their own activities, which range in nature from golf tournaments to garage sales, dinner auctions and craft shows…it all depends on the group!   Some groups bring in thousands of dollars with their activities, while others may raise $500 in a year.   However, we stress that that $500 is just as important as the thousands because it is helping the hospital and creating community awareness of the Friends program.   When not in the midst of planning an event, the chapters host parties for the kids at the hospital, make appreciation gifts for the nurses, help with other Friends’ activities and attend other functions.   As Friends, we work to support each other as much as we support the hospital. 

*    Since 1995, the number of new children with cancer referred to Doernbecher each year has quadrupled; outpatient visits have risen from 2,500 to 9,000 annually.

*      Doernbecher is now one of only 21 institutions in the United States to be designated by the National Cancer Institute as a Phase I pediatric hospital.   This means that the children of our region have access to the newest pediatric cancer treatments before they are more widely available, without leaving the area.