THE JOY IN CHILDHOOD FOUNDATION ANNOUNCES $20,000 DONATION TO BERNARD & MILLIE DUKER CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL AT ALBANY MEDICAL CENTER
Donation comes in celebration of season of giving
Albany, NY – The Joy in Childhood Foundation (formerly The Dunkin’ Donuts & Baskin-Robbins Community Foundation) today announced a donation of $20,000 to the Bernard & Millie Duker Children’s Hospital at Albany Medical Center.
The donation will support the Pediatric Child Life Program and its equipment needs, including iPads and Medi-Wagons, to provide the best care possible for their young patients. The program is comprised of seven Child Life Specialists, an Art Therapist and Music Therapist, who work with children and their families to promote ongoing child development and growth. The specialists and therapists also ensure that children are equipped with the tools to gain a better understanding of hospitalization, effective coping and better overall adjustment, helping children and families maintain a sense of normalcy and minimize fears and anxieties during hospitalization.
“Our brand is built on a heritage of joy, and it’s difficult to feel joy when families are faced with pediatric cancer and other life threatening illnesses,” said Eric Stensland, Field Marketing Manager for Dunkin’ Donuts. “We recognize that helping to ensure the health and well-being of children is a vital part of strengthening the communities we serve. We are proud to partner with the Bernard & Millie Duker Children’s Hospital at Albany Medical Center with this grant from the Joy in Childhood Foundation to support their work.”
“We are extremely grateful to the Joy in Childhood Foundation for this generous donation in support of the Pediatric Child Life Program,” said Lisa Duggan, Child Life Specialist at Albany Medical Center. “This gift will go a long way in helping us provide the best care to meet the needs of our patients. Not only will this donation have a direct impact on the lives of the children we care for, it will help promote family-centered care and create a more child-friendly environment.”
A long-time supporter of fighting child hunger, the newly-rebranded Joy in Childhood Foundation’s re-focused mission is to provide the simple joys of childhood to sick and hungry kids. Through funding and partnerships with children’s hospitals, food banks, and nonprofit organizations directly committed to serving sick and hungry kids, the Joy in Childhood Foundation helps children have the support and essential services to find joy in their daily lives.
###
About the Joy in Childhood Foundation
The Joy in Childhood Foundation provides the simple joys of childhood to sick and hungry kids. The Foundation brings together a wide range of stakeholders—including franchisees, crew members, employees, partners and guests —and partners with food banks, children’s hospitals, and nonprofit organizations directly committed to serving sick and hungry kids to fund joyful environments, joyful experiences and joyful expressions to ensure that children whose lives are compromised by hunger or sickness have the support and essential services to find joy in their daily lives. Since launching in 2006, the Joy in Childhood Foundation (formerly The Dunkin’ Donuts & Baskin-Robbins Community Foundation), has granted more than $11 million to hundreds of national and local charities across the country.