COLUMBUS, Ga (WRBL) — The Bill and Olivia Amos Children’s Hospital cut the ribbon on the newly finished Panda Cares Center of Hope Playground.
Piedmont said that through Panda’s Cares Centers of Hope, officials created an outdoor playground, providing patients and families with a welcoming place to play, connect, and find joy during challenging medical journeys.
“When a child is sick, they’re still kids,” said Jessie Brown, Executive Director of the Piedmont Columbus Regional Foundation. “They still want to play.”
Brown added, “They still want to play. And then, especially when you talk about the healing, they need to get out of that medical environment. They need to get fresh air. They need to get the sunlight. So this space is dedicated to that for them. When they’re sick, they don’t stop, they want to keep going, and we want to be able to give them a safe space to do that, and this playground does that.”
The playground was made possible by the partnership the hospital has with the Chinese restaurant chain Panda Express. The dining business has raised over $200 million for Children’s Miracle Network (CMN) hospitals nationwide.
“Over the years, it has been inspiring to see the Panda Cares Centers of Hope bring joy, encouragement and meaningful moments of healing to children and families,” said Dr. Peggy Cherng, co-founder and co-CEO of Panda Restaurant Group. “We remain committed to supporting young patients on their journeys toward a healthier future.”…