Young Markham Stouffville Hospital patients can now stay entertained during their hospital stay with a Starlight Fun Center entertainment unit.
The fun center and games have been generously provided by Starlight Children’s Foundation Canada and Intact Insurance.
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 is updated annually with new content. Internet-ready, the units allow children to stay in touch with their friends and family; while also enjoying their favourite movies, social media and much more.
Specifically manufactured to meet strict infection safety protocols, gaming stations can roll anywhere in the hospital and keep kids entertained and distracted during longer stays, which has become incredibly important, as many children’s playrooms have closed due to COVID-19.
Intact Insurance joins an impressive list of generous Canadian sponsors to make these donations happen, empowering seriously ill children who may be limited to their hospital bed to take their mind off being sick, and focus on having fun.
“It is always rewarding to see the impact initiatives like Starlight Fun Centers have on the emotional well-being of families who are going through some of the toughest times of their lives,” Starlight Canada CEO Brian Bringolf said. “We constantly look for new ways to make life just a little bit easier for both sick children and their families, and are so grateful to have the support of such generous sponsors to make these programs a reality.”
48 Fun Centers will be delivered to children’s hospitals across Canada before the end of 2021.
“Helping people drives everything we do at Intact,” said Danny Da Costa, Senior Vice President, Ontario Division.
“For many years, we have been supporting the Starlight Children’s Foundation Canada. Starlight Canada puts a smile on a child’s face during what can be the most difficult time in their young lives. Making a difference is important at Starlight Canada and Intact.”
For over 30 years, Starlight Canada has provided sick children and their families with distractive entertainment both in and out-of-hospital.
In the wake of COVID-19, the organization quickly innovated to provide specific comfort programming such as COVID-19 Family Relief Packs (offering essentials for the entire family, such as clothing, toys, cosmetics, blankets, books, and more), Play From Hospital To Home Packs (containing board games, crafts, and tons of other interactive activities) and multitudes of other online entertainment.
These initiatives add to their traditional programming, which includes the Starlight Tablet Program, Starlight Day Brightener Wishes, Starlight Great Escapes and many others.
A full list of programming can be found at https://www.starlightcanada.org/our-programs/.
Starlight Children’s Foundation Canada does what no medicine can do: create priceless smiles and memories for seriously ill children and their families.
For over 30 years, Starlight Canada has been spreading joy to sick kids across the country through a unique blend of hospital to home programs designed for the whole family.
You can keep up to date with Starlight smiles and support the mission by visiting http://www.starlightcanada.org.