How many of us have been impressed with professional athletes across all sports who donate and support kids in their local hospitals? Many of them will visit patient rooms, donate huge sums of $$$ and give of their time to bring some serious V.I.P. treatment to their most hardcore fans even though they are not able to sit in the stands.
Several hospitals that I have worked in have all had visiting athletes who make these beautiful contributions. One most recently was Thomas Morstead, a New Orleans Saints Football punter who started a grassroots fundraiser “What You Give Will Grow” to support Children’s Hospital of Minnesota for their Child Life program. He has now expanded to helping Louisiana Children’s Hospital with their Child Life program. You can read more about it here
I was genuinely excited to see that these athletes recognize Child Life and the need for our services and programs that it brings such attention to the general public.
One other foundation I was pleased to find was the Teammates for Kids Foundation, which is supported by country singer Garth Brooks and NFL Hall of Fame player Troy Aikman to create Child Life Zones, which support children and child life programs by creating state of the art spaces that support positive experiences that children can have in the hospital. Several hospitals now have these zones and are absolutely fantastic, which you can view here
One of my favorite sports media moments was learning that at the University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital, thousands of Hawkeyes fans waved to the patients and have a new tradition called “The Wave”.
Sports is a huge universal theme and activity for many children, families, and communities around the world and I think it’s important that these global forces continue to support Child Life and provide a positive support system to help children learn about how much they are welcomed and thought of by so many to encourage healing and inclusion.
Magic of Child Life 