First Lady’s ‘Village’ Profits Go to Hospitals

First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton says she will donate profits from her book, “It Takes a Village,” to children’s hospitals and other programs that help young people, and she hopes other Americans will be inspired to help too.

The first installment, about $750,000 before taxes, will be divided among 15 hospitals and 23 other programs mentioned in the book, she said Friday. Among them, Los Angeles Children’s Hospital is to receive $25,000, and Children Now of Oakland and EEXCEL Inc. of San Juan Capistrano are to get $5,000 each.

The first lady presented the money during a visit to the Children’s National Medical Center. Accompanied by the White House cat, Socks, she participated in the hospital’s Christmas program for the third year.

“What I hope is that the announcement of these donations might encourage other people to become involved at whatever level,” she said.

The bulk of the money was given to hospitals the first lady has visited over the past four years.

Arkansas Children’s Hospital in Little Rock received the biggest single donation, $100,000, followed by the Children’s National Medical Center in Washington, $50,000.