IU Health Arnett Hospital gifted nearly $20,000 from Rohrman Automotive Group

What do 390 new cars and the Child Life Program at Indiana University Health Arnett Hospital have in common?

Thanks to corporate sponsor Rohrman Automotive Group, those new vehicles equate to nearly $20,000 raised for the philanthropy-funded program that helps make the hospital experience less frightening for pediatric patients.

Last September, the local business pledged its support of the program by committing to give $50 for every car it sold that month. Its dealerships throughout Indianapolis, Lafayette and Fort Wayne sold a combined total of 390 new vehicles, resulting in $19,500 raised for the Child Life Program.

“It’s important to us to support local charities and local foundations with the funds that we have because of support from our community,” says Trey Rohrman, director of Indiana Operations at Rohrman Automotive Group.

In November, Rohrman presented the check to members of the IU Health Foundation, as well as Certified Child Life Specialists Mollie Lane and Olivia Rauschenbach in a formal ceremony that was attended by Child Life Program patients and IU Health Arnett Hospital clinicians at the Bob Rohrman Toyota dealership in Lafayette.

Child Life Specialists work with children and families to help ease stress and anxiety during a hospital stay. They help children cope with medical procedures in a variety of ways, including developmentally appropriate discussion, pictures, sounds, distraction and play.

“Child Life essentially relies on community funds to make our program successful,” says Lane. “Without them, we wouldn’t be able to provide this level of care to our patients,” adds Rauschenbach.

Since its launch in 2018, Lane and Rauschenbach have cared for more than 5,000 children. Through donor support, they’ve been able to normalize the medical environment for children by purchasing toys, installing multisensory equipment and making kid-friendly updates to pediatric rooms.

The program is the only one of its kind in west-central Indiana and serves children in Benton, Carroll, Clinton, Fountain, Tippecanoe, Warren and White counties.

If you would like to help expand the Child Life Program, contact IU Health Foundation Philanthropy Director Ashley Pleasant at 317.963.9035.