Fun Center, Sponsored by Wyndham Hotel Group, Brings Entertainment to Children
LOS ANGELES, Calif. (May 17, 2012) –
Children undergoing treatment at the Jules Stein Eye Institute, a division of the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center, in Los Angeles, Calif., will be smiling brighter and laughing a little more, thanks to a multi-media Fun Center™ sponsored by Wyndham Hotel Group, in honor of its signature charity, Starlight Children’s Foundation.
Designed to combat the anxiety and weariness faced by hospitalized children, the latest Fun Center model includes a Sharp® AQUOS™ LCD TV, a DVD player and a Nintendo Wii™ system. The Fun Center was unveiled at 3:30 pm on Wednesday, May 16 at the Jules Stein Eye Institute.
“Wyndham Worldwide is proud to donate a Fun Center™ to UCLA Medical Center to help the children when they need it most,” said Mary Falvey, executive vice president and chief human resource officer of Wyndham Worldwide. “It’s through our partnership with the Starlight Children’s Foundation that we are able to continue to demonstrate our commitment to bringing great experiences like this, to help improve the lives of children around the globe.”
The ease with which Fun Centers roll right up to the side of young patients’ beds or anywhere in a hospital setting makes them perfect for hospitalized children in numerous situations: anticipating surgery, during long outpatient clinic treatments, waiting in the emergency room or fighting loneliness after visiting hours have ended. It is this versatility that has made Fun Centers an invaluable tool in Starlight’s programmatic efforts to counter the isolation and fear often experienced by sick children. Caregivers report that Fun Center use may even result in a reduced need for pain medication. Since the program’s inception, more than 7,000 Fun Centers have been placed at more than 1,300 hospitals throughout North America. To learn more about the Fun Center program, visit www.starlight.org/funcenter.
“Fun Centers address the isolation and fear sick children often experience in the hospital,” said Jacqueline Hart-Ibrahim, Chief Executive Officer of Starlight Children’s Foundation. “We know a Fun Center is a most welcome guest when parents and other visitors aren’t able to be at a child’s bedside. We are thrilled to partner with Wyndham Hotel Group because they’re committed to easing loneliness and anxiety while helping kids just be kids even when they’re in the hospital.”
Starlight Children’s Foundation is the signature charity of Wyndham Hotel Group and its 15 hotel brands. In support of the foundation, Wyndham Hotel Group works to raise awareness and funds through employee and customer donations, franchise and management relations and sanctioned Starlight events. Starlight is also a signature charity of "Wishes by Wyndham" the corporate philanthropy program of Wyndham Worldwide, of which Wyndham Hotel Group is a subsidiary.
About Wyndham Hotel Group
Wyndham Hotel Group, part of the Wyndham Worldwide (NYSE:WYN) family of companies, is the world’s largest hotel company with over 7,150 hotels and approximately 609,300 rooms in 65 countries under the hotel brands: Wyndham Hotels and Resorts®, Ramada®, Days Inn®, Super 8®, Wingate by Wyndham®, Baymont Inn & Suites®, Microtel Inn & Suites® by Wyndham, Hawthorn Suites® by Wyndham, TRYP by Wyndham™, Howard Johnson®, Travelodge® and Knights Inn®. In addition, the company has license agreements to franchise the Planet Hollywood Hotels, Dream® and Night® brands and provide management services globally.
All hotels are independently owned and operated excluding certain Wyndham and TRYP by Wyndham hotels as well as certain international Ramada, Days Inn and Super 8 hotels, which may be managed by one of the affiliates of Wyndham Hotel Group. Wyndham Hotel Group is based in Parsippany, N.J. Additional information is available at www.wyndhamworldwide.com. For more information about hotel franchising opportunities visit www.whgdevelopment.com.
About Starlight Children’s Foundation
When a child or teenager has a serious medical condition, everyone in the family is affected. Since 1983, Starlight Children’s Foundation has been dedicated to helping seriously ill children and their families cope with their pain, fear and isolation through entertainment, education and family activities. Starlight’s programs have been proven to distract children from their pain, help them better understand and manage their illnesses, and connect families facing similar challenges so that no one feels alone. Through a network of chapters and offices, Starlight provides ongoing support to children, parents and siblings in all U.S. states and Canadian provinces with an array of outpatient, hospital-based and Web offerings. Programs are also delivered internationally through affiliates in Australia and the United Kingdom. To learn more visit www.starlight.org.
MEDIA CONTACTS:
Alison Sadock
Starlight Children’s Foundation
(424) 245-3660
Alison.sadock@starlight.org
Kate Scozzaro
Public Relations Specialist
Wyndham Hotel Group
(973) 753-6590
Kate.scozzaro@wyn.com
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