Smilezone Foundation revitalizes hospital spaces for children and families.
PORT PERRY – Visiting a hospital can be an uncertain time for patients and families. But two new Smilezones unveiled in the Emergency Department (ED) and New Life Centre at Port Perry Hospital will help to make this experience easier.
Designed to create therapeutic and interactive spaces for children of all ages, Smilezones provide children and their families with comforting areas to enjoy while spending time in hospital. They are custom designed and backed by the notion that “Every child deserves to smile” – the motto of the Smilezone Foundation.
At Port Perry Hospital, the New Life Centre is now home to vibrant murals and new whiteboards that showcase newborn photos from throughout the years, with added space for the years to come. In the ED, beautiful murals, and a multilingual sign welcomes visitors as they come in. In addition, two new iPad stations were installed, equipped with interactive games for children and their families to use while waiting.
“We’re so thankful to Smilezone for coming into our hospital to brighten up not only our halls, but also our patients' experiences,” said Hannah Jeronymo, Patient Care Manager, Maternal Child, Lakeridge Health.
Gilbert Kee and Kathy Perna, local residents who have called Port Perry home since 1996, generously donated to the Smilezone Foundation to make this project possible.
“We absolutely love our community, so it is with pleasure and great honour that we have worked with Smilezone to bring a new look to the New Life Centre and Emergency Department at Lakeridge Health’s Port Perry Hospital,” said the donors. “The team at Smilezone and the Port Perry Hospital Foundation both deserve huge praise for their imagination and design in bringing the new look to life! Thank you to our wonderful community, the Hospital Foundation, Lakeridge Health Port Perry Hospital, and Smilezone.”
“We are very grateful to these two very special donors for their generosity in wanting to bring some more welcoming spaces to the Port Perry Hospital,” said Rachel Agnoluzzi, CEO, Port Perry Hospital Foundation.
The Smilezone Foundation has transformed many hospital and medical spaces across Canada with its mission to “make tough days a little brighter” for kids receiving treatment in hospitals and health-care facilities.
"Smilezone Foundation is truly thrilled to be a part of this exciting revitalization at Port Perry Hospital,” said Scott Bachly, Co-Founder and Co-Chair of Smilezone Foundation. “We are delighted with the new Smilezones, giving patients and their families a reason to smile during their hospital visit. A huge thank-you to Gilbert Kee and Kathy Perna, as we recognize them for their support in making these Smilezones possible."
“At Lakeridge Health, we’re focused on providing high quality, safe patient care and the best experience,” said Cynthia Davis, President and CEO, Lakeridge Health. “The Smilezone spaces are a testament to the generosity, dedication, and support of our Port Perry community. As a result, countless patients and families will enjoy an enhanced experience when seeking care at our hospital.”
Photos of the new Smilezones and more information on ways to support community health care in Port Perry is available on the Port Perry Hospital Foundation website.
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ABOUT SMILEZONE FOUNDATION:
Smilezone Foundation is a registered charity based in Oakville, ON, committed to putting smiles on kids’ faces. Founded by Scott Bachly and Adam Graves in 2012, the Foundation’s mission is to make tough days a little brighter for kids receiving treatment in hospitals and health care facilities. We do this by creating fun and engaging “Smilezones” that harness the uplifting power of a smile for the kids and their families. Please visit smilezone.com for more information about the 325+ Smilezones across Canada.
ABOUT LAKERIDGE HEALTH
With five hospitals, four emergency departments, three critical care units, a long-term care home, a full range of medical and surgical specialties, more than 20 community health-care locations and a state-of-the-art surgical centre within the soon-to-open Jerry Coughlan Health & Wellness Centre, Lakeridge Health offers some of the broadest and most comprehensive acute care, ambulatory care, and long-term care services in Ontario.
Lakeridge Health is also home to several regional specialty centres and services, including the Central East Regional Cancer Program, R.S. McLaughlin Durham Regional Cancer Centre, The Shoulder Centre, and eye care and chronic kidney disease services. Additionally, we are proud to serve our community with a full suite of inpatient, ambulatory, and community-based mental health and addictions services, and provide safe, high-quality, compassionate care in our state-of-the-art long-term care home, Lakeridge Gardens.
Guided by our vision of One System. Best Health. and supported by a dedicated team of more than 7,700 staff, physicians, and volunteers, Lakeridge Health is working in collaboration with its Durham Ontario Health Team, primary care, and community and government partners to foster a truly integrated, regional system of care. Together, we are focused on empowering people to live their best health and fostering an accessible, inclusive, and equitable environment for all.
ABOUT PORT PERRY HOSPITAL FOUNDATION
At Port Perry Hospital Foundation, we are committed to supporting excellence in health care at Lakeridge Health’s Port Perry Hospital for our community. Through the generous financial support of our donors, the Foundation provides for the purchase of expanded and updated medical equipment, compassionate aids, and other enhancements to patient care.
For more information contact:
Alla Ollen-Bittle
Communications & Donor Relations Officer
Port Perry Hospital Foundation
905-985-7321 X 45580
aollenbittle@lh.ca
Sharon Navarro
Manager Public Relations and Digital Communications
Lakeridge Health
905-435-7889
snavarro@lh.ca
