Who we are
Our Vision
Every underserved child in Southern California with a severe illness or disability receives the best medical care available regardless of cost to their healthcare providers or family.
Our Mission
To pay providers for unreimbursed healthcare expenses to treat underserved kids in Southern California with severe illnesses and disabilities.
About Universal Kids Foundation
The world has seen tremendous advancements—small miracles, even—in medical care over the past decade, and more come to light every day. Here at Universal Kids Foundation, we believe every child deserves access to those miracles no matter how much they cost.
Our focus is on children in Southern California with critical illnesses or disabilities who live in households below the federal poverty level. These are conditions that affect at least one area of functioning and significantly limits an individual’s performance of major life activities.
We intend to match every eligible child who needs medical care that isn’t covered by insurance with the person or agency that can provide the care—and then, through our supporters’ generosity, pay the expenses normally charged to the patient’s family that prevent so many of these kids from getting the full range of treatment they need for a fulfilling life.
Our History
Though formally established as a nonprofit in 2023, Universal Kids Foundation as an idea began 25 years ago, when a group of professionals saw the challenges that low-income families faced when older family members began needing more direct and intense help with their health—and the state of California couldn’t adequately support them.
In response, this group started a business with a team of highly skilled nurses to provide in-home care and hospice aid to older adults. They targeted California seniors in underserved areas around the community.
It wasn’t long before the founders and staff realized they were only scratching the surface—that low-income families caring for children with critical health issues were facing the same challenge.
Thus, Universal Kids Foundation was born. Today, we’re a nonprofit that teams up with companies to provide the medical services to children and their families that the state isn’t covering.