C22,348 Residents Given Reason to Smile Through PRESENTS FOR PATIENTS®
Gibsonia, Pa. - Dec. 22, 2005 - 22,348 residents at 266 long-term care facilities were given a reason to smile this holiday season thanks to PRESENTS FOR PATIENTS®.
The record-setting figure was revealed at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 21 at the WPXI-TV studios.
Along with St. Barnabas Charities, the TV station serves as the co-sponsor of the campaign.
In its 22nd season, the campaign's goal was to match 22,275 residents in nursing homes, personal care
homes and assisted living facilities with a member of the community who personally delivered a gift.
The residents were in five states - Pennsylvania, Ohio, New York, West Virginia and Tennessee. PRESENTS
FOR PATIENTS® was founded in 1984 by St. Barnabas Health System president William V. Day, who realized
the Christmas season could be a lonely time for long-term care residents. Additionally, Day wanted to
encourage community members to visit their local long-term care facilities to witness the acts of goodwill
and compassion that occur every day. Since its inception, PRESENTS FOR PATIENTS® has provided gifts to
nearly 280,000 patients.
During the Victory Announcement on Dec. 21, Santa Claus presented the ceremonial last gifts of the
season to two residents from St. Barnabas Nursing Home, one of the participating facilities.
WPXI was also recognized for serving as the co-sponsor for 20 years, since 1985.
Throughout the campaign, which ran during November and December, numerous residents had the holidays
made merrier through visits from community members, who brought gifts such as sweaters, sweatshirts,
blankets and snacks. A number of special gift requests were also honored, including:
Carl Miles, a Steelers fan and resident of The Commons at Squirrel Hill had his dream of meeting a past or present Steeler come true when legendary running back Rocky Bleier stopped in for a visit. Bleier presented Carl with an autographed football and visited with other patients as well.
Two baseball fans at St. Barnabas Nursing Home, Martha Patterson and Leo Rihn, got to meet local hero Neil Walker, 20, of Gibsonia, a first-round draft pick of the Pittsburgh Pirates. Walker gave the residents numerous gifts, including baseballs autographed by past Pirates such as Bill Mazeroski.
Valora Kennedy, a resident of Newhaven Court at Clearview in Butler, was made "Queen for a Day" by Allison Dalcamo, Mrs. Pennsylvania U.S. 2005. Dalcamo gave Valora presents and festooned her with the Mrs. Pennsylvania crown and sash.
Dolores Kastroll, a resident of Evergreen Nursing Center in Jackson Township, Butler County, and Rose Nwranski of St. Barnabas Nursing Home realized their dreams of going for a ride in a helicopter, courtesy of WPXI-TV's Chopper 11. They took a 20-minute air tour of downtown Pittsburgh and Oakland.
PRESENTS FOR PATIENTS® is operated as a community outreach program by St. Barnabas Charities. For more information about PRESENTS FOR PATIENTS®, call 724-443-0011 or visit www.PRESENTSFORPATIENTS.com.
Contact:
Kathleen Brenneman
(724) 444-5530
kbrenneman@stbarnabashealthsystem.com
|
 |
