Newark Police S.W.A.T. Team Collecting Donations for Local Children's Nonprofit Organization

The Newark Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) Team is participating in the upcoming 7th Annual San Leandro Police Department SWAT Fitness Challenge on Thursday, May 29th 2014. 

This year will be the biggest SWAT Fitness Challenge event thus far with 40, four person teams competing from various police agencies from all over California. 

Each year the San Leandro Police Department designates a charitable organization to support while hosting this incredible event. Every SWAT team enjoys the competition and the ability to test each of their skills, but each team also enjoys the opportunity to help an organization that supports children. 

This year SLPD has selected, the “George Mark Children’s House” as the adopted sponsored charity with a total goal of $25,000 to be raised collectively by all 40 participating teams. 

The Newark Police Association has already graciously donated $500 toward this excellent charity and we encourage anyone else who is willing and able to donate any amount to help out this wonderful non-profit organization as well. As a partnership with our local community, the Newark SWAT Team is trying to ultimately deliver a minimum of a $1,000 total donation to the George Mark Children’s House on behalf of The Newark Police Department and the City of Newark. 

If you wish to donate and contribute to this wonderful nonprofit organization with a check, please make your checks payable to the “George Mark Children's House” and please list “Newark PD SWAT Fundraiser” in the note section. 

Drop your donations off at the Newark Police Department or mail it to the below address and we will deliver all donations to the George Mark Children’s House on behalf of the generous citizens of The City of Newark: 

Newark Police Department 
(Attention: Officer Randy Ramos #91) 
37101 Newark Boulevard 
Newark, CA. 94560 

More info about the George Mark Children’s House: 

George Mark Children’s House is a nonprofit organization based in the Greater San Francisco Bay Area. As the first freestanding pediatric palliative care center to open in the United States, George Mark Children’s House has been a leader in the pediatric palliative care movement since its inception in 2004. Pediatric Palliative care is specialized medical care for children with serious illnesses. It focuses on providing relief from the symptoms, pain, and stresses of a serious illness—whatever the diagnosis. The goal is to improve quality of life for both the child and the family. 

Pediatric palliative care is provided by a team of doctors, nurses and other specialists who work together with a child’s other doctors as an extra layer of support. It is appropriate at any age and at any stage of an illness and can be provided along with treatment meant to cure. Pediatric palliative care addresses serious medical conditions, including genetic disorders, cancer, prematurity, neurologic disorders, heart and lung conditions and others. It relieves the symptoms of these diseases, such as pain, shortness of breath, fatigue, constipation, nausea, loss of appetite and difficulty sleeping. In short, it helps the child and the family gain the strength to carry on with daily life. 

Above all, pediatric palliative care is family-centered. It helps with communication and coordination of care. With the close communication that palliative care provides, families are better able to choose options that in line with their values, traditions and culture. This improves the well-being of the entire family. It is best to start palliative care as early as possible. This benefits both the child and the family by relieving the symptoms, pain and emotional wear-and-tear that can make facing a serious illness so difficult for your child and your family caregivers alike. 

George Mark Children’s House exists to serve families with children who have a serious medical illness and who are seeking family-centered medical care that emphasizes quality of life in a compassionate, supportive atmosphere. George Mark Children’s House is an extension of your own home: a place where kids can be kids and families can be families. George Mark Children’s House meets a crucial need in the community by bridging the gap between hospital and home. George Mark Children’s House offers the comfort and warmth of home while providing excellent medical care that alleviates the suffering and stress of illness. 

"George Mark exists to allow a family to just be a family, by providing support at one of the most difficult times in anyone's life" -Barbara Beach, M.D., Co- Founder, Medical Director 

Below are additional websites and videos regarding the SWAT Fitness Challenge and the George Mark Children’s House: 

Website for George Mark Children’s House: http://www.georgemark.org/ 

youtube video about George Mark Children’s House: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rXCj48TFzLE&feature=youtu.be 

Website for SLPD SWAT Fitness challenge: http://slpdswatfitnesschallenge.com/ 

youtube video regarding SLPD SWAT Fitness Challenge and George Mark Children’s House: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=InQHlgiWAtI 

Thank You for your support.

—Information provided by Newark Police Nixle Alerts