Niswonger Children’s Hospital Radiothon raises $630,000 to purchase transportation unit for newborns

The 13th annual Niswonger Children’s Hospital Radiothon concluded by committing more than $600,000 toward a new neonatal transport unit to serve children in the Appalachian Highlands, surpassing the fundraiser’s original $500,000 goal.

Over 48 hours, phone banking teams collected $630,000 in pledges from community members throughout the region, including nearly 1,000 individual donations. A $100,000 donation from a previously anonymous donor carried the fundraiser over its goal, securing the funds needed to purchase the transport unit.

“It’s always humbling to see the community’s support right there in front of you as Radiothon winds down,” said Ballad Health Foundation President Jack Simpson. “I know our community would help us move mountains if we asked them to. I want to extend heartfelt gratitude to everyone who donated, whether it was $1 or $1,000. Your generosity will make a difference.”

Carol Lawler a longtime anonymous Radiothon donor, has committed a total of $300,000 to Niswonger Children’s Hospital and Network over the years. Her $100,000 donation on Thursday secured a fifth of the total goal for the fundraiser.

“We are excited about the addition of a new neonatal transport unit to the Niswonger Children’s Network, and we anticipate the opportunities this new unit will open for our patients,” said Chris Jett, chief executive officer of the Niswonger Children’s Network. “As we prepare to celebrate the grand opening of our brand new neonatal intensive care unit next year, we will also celebrate the fact that our community helped us supply reliable transportation for newborns who need emergency or specialized care.”

The forthcoming transport unit will transport babies from hospitals across the region to the state-of-the-art NICU at Niswonger Children’s Hospital, if needed. The unit will be specially outfitted for critical neonates, expanding the support of the Niswonger NICU to delivery centers throughout the region.

This year’s Radiothon also announced the conclusion of the Hope Rising campaign—a comprehensive capital campaign to raise funds to expand and enhance facilities and services for children and families throughout the Appalachian Highlands.

The campaign provided support towards a two-story vertical expansion of Niswonger Children’s Hospital and to establish space for the J.D. Nicewonder Family Perinatal and Pediatric Institute, which houses regional pediatric specialties.

Originally planned as a $30 million project, inflation increased the cost to more than$52 million. Thanks to the community support of the Hope Rising campaign and a $16.8 million grant from the Tennessee Department of Health, children across the region will receive the best possible care in the newest state-of-the-art neonatal intensive care unit in both Tennessee and Virginia. The construction is estimated to be completed by the end of 2025 with a tentative opening date of February 2026.

While the Radiothon has concluded, gifts to the Niswonger Children’s Network can be made at any time by visiting www.balladhealth.org/foundation.