Ceremonial Groundbreaking for George Mark Children’s House Restorative Garden

George Mark Children's House (GMCH), the first freestanding pediatric palliative care center in the United States, will host a Groundbreaking Ceremony and photo opportunity with generous-hearted contractors, local politicians and civic leaders to commemorate a new Restorative Garden on Thursday, February 20. The garden, designed pro bono by award-winning Arterra Landscape Architects, will transform the last undeveloped outdoor area at George Mark Children's House into an eco-friendly space that not only fits seamlessly into the bucolic esthetic of the House and landscaping, but is also usable for GMCH's fragile patient population, their families, and the staff and volunteers.

The Garden, scheduled for completion in Summer 2020, will include wheelchair accessibility, shaded seating, accessible raised planting beds, a sensory garden, outdoor kitchen, hilltop overlook, interactive sculpture, and art and water features. Construction will involve over forty contractors and suppliers who have also donated their expertise, labor, and materials. Once completed, it is expected that the value of services donated will exceed half a million dollars. GMCH is seeking the community's support to complete the restorative garden to better enhance service for its patients, families, staff and volunteers.

"We are thrilled to extend our therapeutic space into more of the great outdoors," said George Mark Children's House Founder Dr. Kathy Hull. "Our patients and their families can look forward to warm days in the sunshine, the soothing sound of water, and shady nooks for contemplation. We are profoundly grateful for the generosity and the expert, thoughtful design provided by Arterra Landscape Architects and our contractors," she adds.


GROUNDBREAKING CEREMONY DETAILS

WHAT: Ceremonial Groundbreaking and Photo Opportunity for George Mark Children's House Restorative Garden

WHEN: Thursday, February 20, 2020, 10:30 am to 11:30 am

Schedule of events:
· 10:30 to 11:30 am - Press conference and photo opportunity
· Welcome and introductions: Linda Ashcraft Hudak, CEO, George Mark Children's House
· About George Mark Children's House: Dr. Kathy Hull, Founder, George Mark Children's House
· Project description and introduction of contractors: Kate Stickley, Founding Partner, Arterra Landscape Architects

WHERE: George Mark Children's House, 2121 George Mark Lane, San Leandro, CA

WHO: George Mark Children's House staff and families, civic leaders and local politicians (VIPs to be named soon)

About George Mark Children's House
George Mark Children's House (GMCH) is the first pediatric palliative care center in the United States. The 15,000 square foot medical facility in San Leandro, California, provides life affirming care for children with illnesses that modern health care cannot yet cure, or for those who have complex medical conditions. GMCH bridges the gap between hospital and home, offering safe, excellent medical care in the comfort and warmth of a home-like setting for patients who do not need the resources of a full children's hospital. The facility sits on an impeccably landscaped five-acre lot.

George Mark Children's House offers three types of care:
· Transitional Care for children who have usually been in an acute care hospital setting and still need medical care, but not of an acute nature, before they transition to being cared for at home;
· End-of-Life Care, where a patient's family can stay in its own family suite and surround their child with love and support; and
· Respite Care, where patients receive high quality medical care and appropriate activities while offering parents and families a short break from nonstop care at home.

George Mark Children's House serves as a model for other pediatric palliative care centers, having been recognized for its excellence in providing all-encompassing care when a family's need is at its greatest.