ChildServe knows kids, and we know specialty healthcare.
Our team of experts helps identify and meet the unique needs of children with developmental delays, disabilities, injuries and other special healthcare needs.
We Meet Families
Where They Are
By believing in them, we help them believe in themselves. When we take that step with each family, everyone takes the first steps Forward Together.
To build upon our long tradition as a leading provider to children with special healthcare needs, ChildServe launched a $10 million comprehensive fundraising campaign called “Forward Together” in 2018. Resources generated from this initiative would expand ChildServe’s signature programs in complex medical care, pediatric rehabilitation and behavioral health and autism. In June 2020, we announced that our goal had been met thanks to our incredibly generous donors – see the full announcement here.
See Your Impact
Thanks to our incredible donors, ChildServe has already begun making progress on our three campaign priorities. Learn more about how the Forward Together Campaign will make a difference for children with special healthcare needs.
Jump In!
Campaign priorities
Current statistics indicate there are over 100,000 children with special healthcare needs in Iowa. We must do everything in our power to serve these children and their families, allowing them to experience life to the fullest.
The Forward Together vision is our carefully-developed plan to serve the growing numbers of families needing the care that ChildServe is so uniquely positioned to provide. Our efforts will be focused on three impact areas:
Address critical gaps in care for the growing population of young adults with medical complexity who currently have few placement options
Provide behavioral health services to thousands of children who may not be served by other providers due to a dual diagnosis of developmental disabilities
Create a new state-of-the-art inpatient rehabilitation unit – the only pediatric facility of its kind in the state
What Makes ChildServe Unique?
The only organization of our kind in the nation, offering over 30 programs and services for children with special healthcare needs under one roof .
The largest pediatric rehabilitation provider of our kind in the Midwest
Iowa’s only Autism
Day Health program
Physician-led by Iowa’s only board-certified pediatric physiatrist, Fred Klingbeil, MD
Iowa’s only comprehensive inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation medicine program designed exclusively for children and teens
Iowa’s only pediatric long-term care program for children with complex medical needs
Iowa’s only CARF-accredited rehabilitation program with specialties in both pediatrics and brain injury
Campaign Progress
- 100%
$10,640,164 of 10 million
List of Donors
Current as of June 18, 2019
$1,000,000 and above
$500,000 – $999,999
$250,000 – $499,999
Cindy & Allen Sabbag
$100,000 – $249,999
Anonymous (2)
Tiffany & BJ Baker
Margo & Don Blumenthal
Burnett Family Foundation
Julie & Michael Coppola
Patty & Jim Cownie Charitable Fund
Charlotte & Fred Hubbell
Holmes Murphy
Nancy & Bill Knapp II
Cathryn & Stephen Lacy
The Meredith Corporation Foundation
Polk County Board of Supervisors
Dr. Teri Wahlig & Mark Feldmann
Kim & Rich Willis
Kathi & Larry Zimpleman
$50,000 – $99,999
American Equity Investment
Life Insurance Company
Dr. Elizabeth Brown & Matt Busick
Melissa & Steve Chapman
Delta Dental of Iowa
EMC Insurance
Joyce & Terry Lillis
Jill & John Lundberg
Seneca Companies
SVPA Architects
Bradley Waller
The Weitz Company
$25,000 – $49,999
Rebecca & Pete Cartwright
George Cataldo
LaNae & Joe Ceryanec
Debbie & Mike Hubbell
ITA Group
Elaine & Jared Johnson
Julia Lawler & Scott Johnson
Charlene & Don Lamberti
Virginia & Dr. William Lepley
Diane & Gene Loffredo
Celia & Tom Mahoney
Jean & John Matovina
Rhonda & Mike McCoy
Diane & Dave McKenzie
MercyOne Des Moines
Loree & David Miles
Lisa & Joel Nelson
Mary Lou & Gerard Neugent
Shirley Poertner
Deb & Robert Pulver
R&R Realty
Mary & Suku Radia
Mike Sobotka
Tarra & Thomas Stewart
UnityPoint Health – Des Moines
Jack Wahlig – In Memory of Ann Wahlig
Michele & Steve Whitty
Windsor Charitable Foundation
$10,000 – $24,999
$5,000 – $9,999
$1,000 – $4,999
Vanessa & Brett Blanchfield
Loren Brockhouse
Pat & Jerry Deegan
Patty & Doug Dornacker
Nora & Dave Everett
Julie & Jim McCulloh
Meredith Foundation
Deval & Dr. Yogesh Shaw
Shirley & Ross Stafford
Dr. Sally Studer & Craig Anderson
Maria & David Wood
Marne & Mike Woods
Up to $999
Paula Curran
Brenda & Greg Cushing
Holt Plumbing & Heating
Susie & Dennis Langwith
Kerri & Matt Lundberg
Lois & Lawrence Van Heukelom
Ann & Owen Twedt
Donor Profile
Joanie and Dan Houston
After touring ChildServe for the first time, Joanie Houston knew right away that ChildServe’s mission to help children with special healthcare needs live a great life was something she wanted to support.
“Not in my wildest dreams did I think there was an organization doing everything ChildServe is doing right here in Iowa,” says Joanie. “When I see the kids at ChildServe and learn what ChildServe can do for them, it fills my heart. We’re so fortunate to have ChildServe in our community and state. It’s the right thing to do to help expand it to reach as many kids as we can.”
Joanie, who serves on ChildServe’s Board of Trustees, and her husband, Dan, who serves as Principal Financial Group Chairman, President, and CEO provided the lead gift for the Forward Together campaign. The Houstons’ charitable investment in ChildServe includes a $500,000 personal gift, plus $500,000 in matching gift program dollars provided by Principal’s philanthropic arm, the Principal Foundation.
Dan Houston and the ChildServe Foundation team surprised Joanie with the name and creative design of JoJo’s Pediatric Rehabilitation Unit. JoJo is what the Houstons’ grandchildren call Joanie.
“Joanie and I have long believed that every child deserves the opportunity to grow up healthy, educated, and safe,” says Dan. “ChildServe has shown us that believing in the spirit of a child can change lives, including our own. Joanie and I, along with the Principal Foundation, thank everyone who has provided their early financial support and encourage others to give to ChildServe’s campaign so we can continue to move Forward Together.”
What I tell people is, you may not know about ChildServe, but I promise you that in one way, shape or form, you will be touched by it. Whether it’s your neighbor’s child, coworkers child, your grandchildren, you will be touched by it,” says Joanie.
ChildServe Legacy Roll of Honor
The ChildServe Legacy Roll of Honor has been established to honor those individuals and families who have included the organization as a beneficiary of their estate plans. Membership is accorded by written confirmation of planned gift arrangement. Qualifying gifts include bequest designations, trusts, life insurance, retirement assets or life income arrangements.
Committee Members
Campaign Chair
Tom Mahoney
Campaign Committee:
Kip Albertson
Reynolds Cramer
Jerry Deegan
Nick Gerhart
Joanie Houston
Brian Laurenzo
Chris Littlefield
Larry Stelter
Tom Stewart
Kim Willis
Teri Wahlig
Mark Gambaiana
Contact Us!
Mark Gambaiana
515 251-5572
Director of Development
515 251-5515
About
ChildServe improves the health and well-being of nearly 5,800 children each year through specialized clinical, home, and community-based programs and services. We serve children with developmental delays, disabilities, injuries, and other special healthcare needs.
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Contact Us
Johnston | 515-727-8750
Ames | 515-232-7220
Des Moines | 515-280-5332
Iowa City | 319-351-5437
Cedar Rapids | 319-777-7450
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