JESSICA LYNCH FOUNDATION HAS DONATED $100,000

(01/07/2010)

The Jessica Lynch Foundation has just donated $20,000 to West Virginia University Children's Hospital.

The donation will ensure every young patient gets a blanket and a stuffed animal when they are admitted.

The former Army private from Wirt County became a prisoner of war in 2003 after her unit was ambushed in Iraq.

She was one of six soldiers captured, and was later rescued by American troops.

Lynch created the foundation, which has since donated more than $100,000 to organizations, scholarships and children's groups.

The Children's Hospital program, started in 2007, is called Jessi's Pals.

Lynch said Tuesday that a toy can make a difference to a child who's suffering, and she's happy to help in tough economic times when donations are declining.