Foundation brings teen lounge to duPont Hospital for Children
Alicia Rose Victorious Foundation joined Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children in celebrating the opening of the new Teen Lounge – a space located in the hospital’s clubhouse for teenage and young adult patients that features age-appropriate activities and amenities.
The Teen Lounge was funded by a $25,000 gift from ARVF, an organization that provides a variety ofVictorious 4 Teens programs to hospitalized teens and young adults battling cancer and other life-threatening illnesses. ARVF was founded by the DiNatale family in memory of their daughter Alicia Rose, who was diagnosed and treated for a rare-form of cancer and endured a 13-month battle before her passing at 16.
“The Teen Lounge gives young adults a space that is uniquely their own – a haven to explore interests, try new activities, cultivate hobbies and hone skills during their stay at the hospital, however long or brief,” said Gisele DiNatale, co-founder of ARVF. “During Alicia’s treatments and procedures, she was disappointed that there were not a lot of ‘grown up’ things to keep her occupied. Keeping her experiences in mind, we were inspired to bring a special space to children’s hospitals around the country, designed specifically for teen patients to enjoy.”
The opening of the Teen Lounge at Nemours marks the 65th Teen Lounge location funded by ARVF across the country. The lounge is housed within the hospital’s newly opened clubhouse – a beautiful, spacious area for young patients and their families to escape and where children are encouraged to play, create, imagine and just be kids. The center features special areas including a CCTV studio, a kitchen, a dramatic play space and a sensory room for children who have individual developmental needs, such as autism. Run by the Child Life and Creative Arts Therapy team at the hospital, the clubhouse is open 24 hours a day, seven days week and was made possible by local donors, including ARVF, who contributed nearly $3 million to make the clubhouse vision a reality.
Food Bank kicks Thanksgiving for All campaign
The Food Bank of Delaware kicks off its annual Thanksgiving For All food and funds drive today. The hunger-relief organization asks for the business community’s assistance in collecting food items and monetary donations in order to create 2,500 Thanksgiving meal boxes for Delaware families in need.
Businesses, schools, faith-based organizations and other community groups are encouraged to organize food drives throughout the holiday season. Food for the Thanksgiving boxes must be received by Friday, November 2.
Holiday food received after that time will be distributed to the Food Bank’s network of Hunger-Relief Program Partners.
The following items are needed:
- Canned sweet potatoes
- Canned peas
- Canned corn
- Evaporated milk
- Canned pumpkin
- Applesauce
- Coffee/tea bags
- Corn muffin mix
- Canned gravy
- Mashed potatoes
- Graham cracker crust
- Turkey pan
- Frozen turkeys (must be dropped off to Newark or Milford warehouses)
Locations are:
Food Bank of Delaware – Newark
14 Garfield Way
Newark
(302) 292-1305
Hours: M-F: 8:30 a.m.- 4 p.m.
Food Bank of Delaware – Milford
1040 Mattlind Way
Milford
(302) 424-3301
Hours: M-F: 8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
For more information about hosting a Thanksgiving For All food drive or to request logistical assistance such as barrel delivery or donation pick up, visit http://www.fbd.org/thanksgiving-for-all.
Sallie Mae awards $40,000 in grants
Sallie Mae, the nation’s saving, planning, and paying for college company, awarded $40,000 in grants to Delaware-based organizations to support arts education for children. The Music School of Delaware and Cab Calloway School of the Arts each received $20,000 from The Sallie Mae Fund, the company’s charitable arm, to provide scholarships to economically disadvantaged students.
Sallie Mae also partnered with the Cab Calloway School of the Arts to provide scholarships for the school’s SMArtSummer program. The program helps children explore the arts and sciences while enhancing their academic learning and discipline.
“Supporting education programs and funding scholarships are inherent to our mission at Sallie Mae. We also believe in giving back in the communities where our employees live and work,” said Bonnie Rumbold, president, The Sallie Mae Fund. “We are thrilled to support these important programs, which are critical in fostering the growth of our local students and our community.”
Sallie Mae has more than 950 employees between its corporate headquarters in Newark and second location in Christiana. For more information, visit www.salliemae.com.
189 cross Delaware Memorial Bridge on 5K run
On Sunday, with three of the four lanes on the northbound span of the Delaware Memorial Bridge closed, 189 men and women from several neighboring states embarked on a 5k run across the bridge.
“Like last year, I’m thoroughly impressed with the meticulous planning, coordination and cooperation, and significant volunteer support that made today’s event so successful,” said Tom Cook, Executive Director of the Delaware River and Bay Authority (DRBA). “The bridge run is a win-win, bucket list type of event – participants get a chance to walk or run on the iconic Delaware Memorial Bridge and the Authority is able to help such a worthy and special community organization raise money to further their mission goals; but everyone knows that the real winners are the beneficiaries of Special Olympics Delaware.”
More than $34,500 was raised for Special Olympics Delaware, a nonprofit that provides sports training and competition opportunities for more than 4,200 children and adults with intellectual disabilities. For some of the runners, it was an opportunity to support an event that raises money for the very cause that has given so much to their own family.
In addition to support from the DRBA, key contributors to the event included presenting sponsor M&T Bank, Delaware Law Enforcement for Special Olympics, Delaware National Guard, Larkins Bus Services, Emergency Medical Service, and a host of law enforcement and fire officials from several agencies across the First State who volunteered to ensure the safety of all involved.
