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December
9, 2003
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HACKENSACK UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER UNVEILS PROTOTYPE TOYS “R” US CHILDREN’S FUND-STARLIGHT SITE $1 Million Donation to Fund 14 Hospital Playrooms Toys “R” Us Children’s Fund, Inc. chairman Mike Goldstein recently unveiled the company’s prototype Toys “R” Us Children’s Fund-Starlight Site, a state-of-the-art playroom created in partnership with the Starlight Children’s Foundation at The Joseph M. Sanzari Children’s Hospital at Hackensack University Medical Center. The unveiling followed a $1 million donation made by the Toys “R” Us Children’s Fund, Inc. to the Foundation for the construction and renovation of 14 young child playrooms in 11 hospitals across the country. Hackensack University Medical Center was selected as the first beneficiary of this partnership since it was the home of the very first playroom the Toys “R” Us Children’s Fund, Inc. built in 1989. “This playroom is a perfect representation of the partnership between Starlight and the Toys “R” Us Children’s Fund, Inc.,” said Mike Goldstein, chairman of the Toys “R” Us Children’s Fund, Inc. “It is a wonderful feeling to be able to bring joy to children through these playrooms and the toys in it.” In addition to pediatric patients and their families, attendees at the unveiling included Goldstein, Hackensack University Medical Center president and chief executive officer John P. Ferguson, and Starlight International Board president Kip Crennan. The event was held in the new playroom on the third floor of The DON IMUS-WFAN Pediatric Center for Tomorrows Children on the campus of Hackensack University Medical Center. The 480-square-foot outpatient playroom features a 55-gallon fresh water fish tank, wall-mounted games, built-in arts and crafts area, child-size furniture, and $1,000 worth of brand new toys. The timeless, whimsical design is meant to create a safe haven for pediatric patients and their families within the hospital environment. “We are very grateful for the Toys “R” Us Children’s Fund-Starlight Site and the commitment to providing state-of-the-art support services that recognize our tremendous dedication to pediatric medicine,” said John P. Ferguson, president and chief executive officer of Hackensack University Medical Center. “This unique setting has been designed to create a soothing environment in which our pediatric patients and their families will feel very comfortable.” The Toys “R” Us Children’s Fund-Starlight partnership is an example of a growing trend in hospital care as hospitals are addressing more and more patient needs by partnering with the private sector. In addition, hospitals are increasingly looking at the issue of a patient’s environment as an important factor in the healing process. Subsequent Toys “R” Us-Starlight Sites will be designed using elements of the prototype room at Hackensack University Medical Center. “For children confined to a hospital, the opportunity to have fun in a well-equipped, inviting atmosphere assists in the healing process,” said Jane Van Stedum, director of program services for Starlight International. “While play experiences are valuable in their own right, they also provide children a valuable opportunity to express their feelings, release stress, and learn new skills. Our partnership with the Toys “R” Us Children’s Fund, Inc. allows us to enhance the quality of our Site program and bring countless hours of therapeutic fun to the children who need it most.” Starlight is an international non-profit organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for seriously ill children and their families. Working with more than 1,000 hospitals worldwide, the Foundation provides an impressive menu of both in-hospital and outpatient programs and services. A leader in delivering distractive entertainment, Starlight’s programs benefit over 100,000 children each month. For more information, go to www.starlight.org. Since it was founded in 1992, The Toys "R" Us Children's Fund, Inc. has donated millions of dollars every year to organizations and charities that support the health and welfare of children. Because children are the heart and soul of our business, Toys “R” Us and its family of brands – Babies “R” Us, Kids “R” Us, Imaginarium and Toysrus.com - feel a strong sense of responsibility to do whatever we can to make the lives of children happier and healthier. Funds raised through The Toys “R” Us Children's Fund, Inc. are used to support The Toys “R” Us–Starlight Site Playroom Program, the early learning program, and other children's causes. Founded in 1888 with 12 beds and as Bergen County's first hospital, Hackensack University Medical Center has demonstrated more than a century of growth and progress. Now a 683-bed, not-for-profit, tertiary-care, teaching and research hospital that serves as the hub of healthcare for Bergen County, northern New Jersey, and New York, the medical center continues to grow in response to the needs of the communities it serves. Hackensack University Medical Center is a full-voting member in the National Association of Children's Hospitals and Related Institutions (NACHRI), the non-profit association that speaks on behalf of children's health needs and their caregivers. NACHRI is the foremost organization in the nation for children's hospitals. In 2000, the medical center received state designation as an official New Jersey Children's Hospital. The Joseph M. Sanzari Children’s Hospital has been twice selected as one of the top 25 Children’s Hospitals in the country and the top ranked Children’s Hospital in New Jersey by “Child” Magazine. Plans are moving forward to construct The Sarkis Gabrellian Women’s and Children’s Pavilion. When completed at the end of 2005, the 300,000-square-foot pavilion will house The Joseph M. Sanzari Children’s Hospital, The Women’s Hospital, and the Mark Messier Skyway for Tomorrows Children. |
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