PHILADELPHIA, Sept. 7 /PRNewswire/ -- A state-of-the art entertainment facility, complete with a mini movie theater, video game stations, and an ongoing supply of family-friendly DVDs and video games, will brighten hospital stays for children and teens at St. Christopher's Hospital for Children thanks to Hollywood Entertainment and Starlight Starbright Children's Foundation. A Hollywood Video Starlight Site(TM) was unveiled today at the hospital. Devon Werkheiser, star of Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide, former Flyer Bob Kelly, 76ers' mascot Hip-Hop, and the Phantoms' mascot Phlex joined the pediatric patients and special guests.
"The Starlight Site is an inviting environment that will provide St. Christopher's pediatric patients with a place to relax, play and interact with others during their hospital visit," said Paula Van Ness, CEO of Starlight Starbright. "It's an antidote for the loneliness of a hospital stay."
"A patient's mind-set can have a profound impact on healing," said Bernadette Mangan, CEO of St. Christopher's. "Entertainment and fun make the hospital experience less stressful for our patients and their families, and we are grateful to Hollywood Video and Starlight Starbright for this generous gift."
In addition to the movie theater and videogame and computer stations, the Starlight Site includes a lounge and a large, colorful fish tank.
"Starlight Sites in hospitals brighten the lives of children with serious illnesses," said Devon Werkheiser. "By bringing entertainment to the kids, either through the Web, TV, or video games, a personal favorite, it allows them to play like everyone else and connect with each other. Rock on Starlight!"
Hollywood Entertainment contributed more than $200,000 to develop the site, while a dozen vendors donated more than $50,000 in labor, materials and supplies.
"Our goal is to bring a bit of Hollywood magic into the lives of children across the country," explained Tim Winner, Executive Vice President and C.O.O. from Hollywood Entertainment. Hollywood Video and Game Crazy will keep the site stocked with movies and games that can be accessed any time, and employee volunteers will host movie and game nights for patients.
About St. Christopher's Hospital for Children
St. Christopher's Hospital for Children is a 161-bed pediatric hospital located at Erie Avenue and Front Street in Philadelphia. The hospital provides a wide range of pediatric medical and surgical specialties through its affiliation with Drexel University College of Medicine. With a medical staff of more than 270 pediatric specialists, St. Christopher's is a Level I Pediatric Trauma Center that provides programs such as kidney and liver transplantation, minimally invasive surgery, and open heart surgery for the children of the greater Philadelphia area and from around the world. The hospital is fully accredited by the Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, the nation's oldest and largest hospital accreditation agency.
St. Christopher's Hospital for Children is part of Tenet Pennsylvania, which also includes Graduate Hospital, Hahnemann University Hospital, Roxborough Memorial Hospital and Warminster Hospital. To learn more about St. Christopher's Hospital for Children, visit http://www.stchristophershospital.com/.
About Starlight Starbright Children's Foundation
Starlight Starbright Children's Foundation is a nonprofit organization that transforms the lives of seriously ill children and their families through imaginative programs that educate, uplift their spirits, foster a sense of community, and help alleviate the pain and fear of prolonged illness. Starlight Starbright offers an impressive array of in-hospital, outpatient, school and home-based programs and services that touch the lives of more than 180,000 children and families each month. To learn more visit http://www.starlight.org/.
About Hollywood Video
Founded in 1988, Hollywood Entertainment Corporation, a subsidiary of Movie Gallery, Inc. , operates more than 2,000 Hollywood Video retail stores and nearly 700 Game Crazy stores. Movie Gallery, Inc. is the second-largest video retailer in the United States with over 4700 stores in 50 states, Canada and Mexico. With support centers in Dothan, Alabama and Wilsonville, Oregon, Hollywood Entertainment employs more than 26,000 nationwide. Learn more about Hollywood Video at http://www.hollywoodvideo.com/ and Game Crazy at http://www.gamecrazy.com/.
