CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Health System (CSRHS) is teaming with Communities in Schools (CIS) and the Kohl’s Cares® program for a Pack the Bus and Immunization Fair on Friday, August 6, 2010, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., at Kohl’s in New Braunfels located at 1050 N. IH 35.

The goal of the annual community event is to Pack the Bus with donated school supplies for children in need and provide children with immunizations required to attend school this fall.

The Pediatric Mobile Unit from CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Children’s Hospital will be on hand as CHRISTUS Associates offer health screenings and share wellness information. Free immunizations will be provided from the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas Care Van from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

David Ricker, Director of Operations and Community Partnerships for CIS of South Central Texas, stated, “We are very excited about our Pack the Bus event on August 6. We really appreciate the support over the past few years from CHRISTUS Santa Rosa, their staff, and their volunteers.  CHRISTUS has brought in other partners such as Kohl’s Department Store and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas to help support our efforts of meeting the needs of children in our community.  Children can receive free vaccinations and health screening thanks to CHRISTUS Santa Rosa and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas.”

Community members are encouraged to drop off school supply items such as:

•1” and 2” binders
•Fiskar Scissors
 
•Binder Divider Tabs
•Colored (Map) Pencils
 
•Pocket Folders with Brads
•Pencil Bags/Boxes
 
•Dry Erase Markers
•Water Colors
 
•Washable Markers
•Construction Paper
 
•Highlighters
•Wide Ruled Notebook Paper

“Pack the Bus represents an opportunity for CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Hospital staff to actively extend our healing ministry and help families who need it the most. We appreciate this opportunity to collaborate with Communities in Schools, Kohl’s, and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas,” said Rosie Perez, Vice President, Mission Integration and Outreach Services, CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Health System.

About CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Health System:
Founded in 1869 by the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word, CHRISTUS Santa Rosa is a Catholic faith-based, non-profit health and wellness ministry dedicated to extending the healing ministry of Jesus Christ and providing the highest quality medical care and services available. As one of the top health care organizations in South Texas, CHRISTUS Santa Rosa has four hospital campuses, CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Hospital City Centre located in downtown San Antonio, in the South Texas Medical Center, in New Braunfels, and CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Children's Hospital, San Antonio’s first children’s hospital, an academic teaching facility affiliated with the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. In July 2009, we extended our ministry to the fast-growing Westover Hills community with the opening of the area’s first full-service hospital.  CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Health System also owns a majority interest in CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Physicians Ambulatory Surgery Centers – San Antonio , LLC, a joint venture physician partnership which is comprised of four outpatient surgery facilities in San Antonio including Alamo Heights , Stone Oak, and in the Medical Center area.  Additionally, CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Health System owns a majority interest in the CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Physicians Ambulatory Surgery Center in New Braunfels joint venture physician partnership.  CHRISTUS Santa Rosa is one of only three hospitals in Texas and the only one in San Antonio to receive the Distinguished Hospital Award for Clinical Excellence™ seven years in a row and to be named one of America ’s 50 Best Hospitals by HealthGrades®. It is also the preferred health system of the San Antonio SPURS. For additional information on CHRISTUS Santa Rosa, visit www.christussantarosa.org.