JOSEPH M. SANZARI CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL RECEIVES STARLIGHT FUN CENTER™ AND VISIT FROM NEW YORK RED BULLS AS PART OF MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER’S COMMUNITY OUTREACH INITIATIVE
August 5, 2011 08:51 AM
Prior to the 2011 AT&T Major League Soccer (MLS) All-Star Game held at Red Bull Arena in Harrison, NJ, MLS W.O.R.K.S., the league’s community outreach arm, teamed up with Starlight Children’s Foundation for a visit and the placement of a Starlight Fun Center™ Mobile Entertainment Unit at the Joseph M. Sanzari Children’s Hospital at Hackensack University Medical Center.
Starlight Fun Centers provide a comforting break for children who may be facing surgery, enduring long outpatient treatments, or fighting loneliness. Each Fun Center features an LCD TV, DVD player, and gaming system to provide hours of fun and distraction.
“The Starlight Foundation has provided so many child-friendly amenities to our patients over the years, and in doing so has made a tremendous positive impact on their mental and emotional health while being treated here,” said Jeffrey R. Boscamp, chairman and physician-in-chief of the Joseph M. Sanzari Children’s Hospital. “We are so grateful to Starlight, MLS W.O.R.K.S., and New York Red Bulls Luke Rodgers and Todd Hoffard for being a part of this great team effort – one that greatly benefits the patients for whom we care.”
New York Red Bulls Forward Luke Rodgers, and Goalkeeper Coach Todd Hoffard – who was also chosen as goalkeeper coach for the All-Star game – joined pediatric patients and their families, nurses, and medical center staff for a ceremonial ribbon-cutting of the Fun Center and partook in playing a few games, posing for pictures, and signing autographs.
In addition to the Fun Center, the MLS also provided tickets to the 2011 AT&T MLS All-Star Game for outpatients and their families on behalf of the New York Red Bulls and MLS All-Stars.
PHOTO CAPTION:
MLS W.O.R.K.S., Major League Soccer’s community outreach arm, teamed up with Starlight Children’s Foundation for a visit and the placement of a Starlight Fun Center™ Mobile Entertainment Unit at the Joseph M. Sanzari Children’s Hospital at Hackensack University Medical Center. Also present at the dedication were New York Red Bulls Forward Luke Rodgers, and Goalkeeper Coach Todd Hoffard. Pictured at the ceremony with the new Starlight Fun Center are, from left: six-year-old Sahil Shah, of Paramus; Michele Hall-Duncan, director of Children’s Services, Starlight Children’s Foundation; Diane Ohme, RN, nurse manager, Joseph M. Sanzari Children’s Hospital at Hackensack University Medical Center; 13-year-old DeAndre Crawford, of Bronx, NY; Elaine Siver, executive director, Starlight Children’s Foundation; 10-year-old James Crawford of Bronx, NY; Luke Rodgers; Todd Hoffard; Jeffrey R. Boscamp, M.D., chairman and physician-in-chief of the Joseph M. Sanzari Children’s Hospital at Hackensack University Medical Center; and 7-year-old Fernando Ponce, of Hillside.
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