JOLIET, Ill. — The Kiwanis Club of Shorewood has donated 40 teddy bears to young patients at Provena Saint Joseph Medical Center.
Several club members stopped by the medical center last week to visit with children and families in the Pediatric Unit. They personally delivered the bears to their new owners and wished the children a happy holiday.
The club has also committed to regularly delivering additional bears to the unit in the future.
“A small, simple gesture like a stuffed animal goes a long way towards making our patients feel welcomed and loved, especially children who are spending their holiday away from home,” said Toni Lee, RN, patient care manager, Pediatric Unit.
In accordance with the Kiwanis mission, the Shorewood Kiwanis Club seeks to directly benefit local children and families and has made a special commitment to support the pediatric program at Provena Saint Joseph in Joliet.
The volunteer group of eleven members hosted it’s first-ever “Glitz and Glitter Casino Night” last April, which featured gaming tables and auctions. The highly successful event raised $15,000 to benefit the Pediatric program at Provena Saint Joseph.
The second annual Casino Night is scheduled for Saturday, April 27, 2013, at 176 West.
“We are so pleased to have an ongoing partnership with the Kiwanis Club of Shorewood to support our pediatric program,” said Beth Hughes, president and CEO, Provena Saint Joseph Medical Center. “Our pediatric specialty services continue to expand each year.
In 2012, we were fortunate to welcome four talented new pediatric hospitalists who provide our young patients with university-level care while keeping the children close to home.”
Provena Saint Joseph Medical Center is home to the only Children’s Emer-gency Department in Will County.
It not only provides a child-friendly atmosphere, but also is furnished with the specialized smaller equipment needed for pediatric patients.
About Kiwanis International
Founded in 1915, Kiwanis International is a global organization of members dedicated to serving the children of the world.
Kiwanis and its family of clubs, including Circle K International for university students, Key Club for students age 14-18, Builders Club for students age 11-14, Kiwanis Kids for students age 6-12 and Aktion Club for adults living with disabilities, dedicate annually more than 18 million service hours to strengthen communities and serve children.
The Kiwanis International family comprises nearly 600,000 adult and youth members in 80 countries and geographic areas. For more information about Kiwanis International, please visit www.kiwanis.org.
