Press Release
Kiwanis Club of Elmhurst donates stuffed bears to Elmhurst Memorial Hospital Emergency Department
For Immediate Release, August 16, 2006
Kyle Bauer, (630) 993-5702
ELMHURST - When young children come to the Emergency Department at Elmhurst Memorial Hospital (EMH) for treatment, they may be greeted by a new friend. The Kiwanis Club of Elmhurst's Young Children Priority One Committee recently donated 100 stuffed teddy bears wearing Elmhurst Kiwanis T-shirts to the EMH emergency department. "Scraggles" will be given out to young children who are being treated as a way to help cheer them up.
"We are thrilled to receive these stuffed bears," said Betty Mortensen, directory of emergency services at EMH. "It is very heart-warming to see people take the initiative to lift the spirits of children during what can be a very scary experience. I'm sure the children who receive theses gifts will be very appreciative of the Kiwanis Club's generosity."
The Kiwanis Club delivered 100 stuffed bears on Aug. 1 and expects to donate 100 more in the future. Kiwanis Club member Tony Ricchiuto added that this might be the beginning of an ongoing project with EMH.
"We donated the bears for young children in the emergency department to serve as a distraction while they are being treated," Ricchiuto said. "Our mission has become to serve the children of the world, and this is just one way we feel like we can make a difference. Our hope is that we can make this a continuing program with the Hospital."
Founded in 1926, Elmhurst Memorial Hospital today is Elmhurst Memorial Healthcare, a comprehensive health system with multiple locations and services designed to enhance the health of the communities and customers we serve. With 427 licensed beds, Elmhurst Memorial Healthcare and its staff of more than 3,500 employees and 550 physicians are committed to excellence in medical and surgical care, behavioral health, cardiology, emergency care, maternity, neurosurgery, oncology, orthopedics and pediatrics. For more information about Elmhurst Memorial Healthcare, please call our physician referral line at (630) 782 7878, or visit our Web site at www.emhc.org.