Children at Erie Shores HealthCare will now have a new weapon to help them battle long days being hospitalized, after a generous donation by Red Sun Farms through the Starlight Children’s Foundation of Canada.
Two brand new Starlight Fun Centers were delivered to the hospital’s second floor last week with a ribbon cutting ceremony in the second-floor family room occurring on Thursday, April 2.
The Starlight Fun Center is a mobile entertainment unit featuring a flat-screen television and a Nintendo Switch gaming system preloaded with a wide variety of games for every kid, which can be updated annually to stay up to date with what’s popular.
Internet-ready, these units allow kids in the hospital to stay in touch with their friends and family, and give them a bit of normal downtime to watch their favourite movies, check their social media, and much more.
Chrissy Kelton, Major Gifts Officer for Erie Shores Health Foundation, thanked Jim DiMenna of Red Sun Farms for helping the hospital with the Fun Center donation. She was joined by Starlight Canada’s CEO Brian Bringolf.
“Jim, your decision to support your local hospital today speaks volumes,” she said. “It shows real commitment, not just to healthcare, but to the human experience within it, especially for our youngest patients. We are so thankful not only for this gift, but the partnership behind it.”
“This is a great addition for our hospital,” said Kelton. “For kids coming in, whether it’s for something quick or for something more serious, it can be a very overwhelming experience.
Bringolf spoke about helping sick children and making their days brighter and also thanked DiMenna and his company for their commitment.
“Jim’s been a long-standing supporter of the Starlight Foundation, and he said to me that he wanted to do something local and help the hospital where his family and employees receive excellent care,” said Bringolf.
Bringolf spoke about social return on investment. For every dollar invested into one of the programs, the medical system realizes a three-to-four dollar return virtue of freeing up medical staff who would normally be tending to a child’s social needs.
“On behalf of Starlight, we’re pleased to be here and Jim, thank you very much,” added Bringolf.
DiMenna, who was born in the hospital and grew up a stone’s throw away, was humbled by being able to share with his community.
“Stuff like this is part of what we are trying to accomplish,” said DiMenna. “I’ve been fortunate in my life and happy to try to share it with you guys.”
Erie Shores Director of Communications Kevin Black said that without the hospital having a dedicated children’s floor, they are often overlooked for donations such as these, but promised the two gaming units would be put to great use.
with Erie Shores HealthCare employees, Tee Schwarz, Victoria Willson and Carrie Lacroix.
