In October 1995, Cerner created the First Hand Foundation as a way for Cerner and its associates to make a difference in our community and in the lives of children around the world. The charitable focus of First Hand is pediatric healthcare, a natural extension of Cerner’s values and presence as a leader in the healthcare industry.

Through the Foundation, Cerner and our associates help individual children and their families who do not have access to health insurance or state aide through both monetary and in-kind donations. The Foundation assists individual children who have clinical, health-related needs and no financial safety net to cover these expenses. By focusing on the individual child, First Hand reaches children and their families who would otherwise fall through the cracks of insurance coverage and state aid. The Foundation strives to provide assistance that creates independence, rather than dependence, for its recipients. Over the past 10 years, the First Hand Foundation has granted nearly $5 million to more than 21,000 children in need. This year alone, we expected to grant approximately $1.4 million.

First Hand's mission is "To directly impact the health status of a young life." And to do that, First Hand does what Cerner has always done: "To connect the appropriate person(s), resource, and knowledge at the appropriate time and location to achieve the optimal health outcome."

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