Boston – The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 103 of Boston and the Boston Chapter of the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA) teamed with CBS EcoMedia Inc. and Starlight Children’s Foundation® to provide nine new Starlight Fun Center® mobile entertainment units to Boston Children’s Hospital.
The arrival of the nine Starlight Fun Centers was celebrated during a private ribbon-cutting dedication event at the Boston Children’s Hospital’s Karp Family Research Building with guests Boston Mayor, Thomas M. Menino; IBEW Local 103, Business Manager, Mike Monahan; IBEW Local 103 Business Agent, Mike Calder; NECA Executive Manager, Glenn Kingsbury; Boston Children’s Chief Administrative Officer, Dick Argys; COO and Executive Vice President for Health Affairs at Boston Children’s, Dr. Kevin Churchwell; Boston Children’s Hospital’s Director of Child Life Services, Beth Donegan; Starlight Children’s Foundation’s Global Accounts Director, Michelle Plasse, and President and Founder, CBS EcoMedia Inc., Paul Polizzotto participating.
“Two years ago, we decided to put our advertising budget to work in a new and exciting way. By advertising with EcoMedia, we were able to continue to get the valuable advertising that has been so beneficial to our members and contractors and at the same time a portion of those advertising dollars were dedicated to environmentally-friendly development projects, creating jobs and good sound projects for our communities,” said Mike Monahan, IBEW, Local 103, Business Manager.
“We are now extremely pleased to take the next step with this creative advertising tool by dedicating funds for the benefit of courageous kids battling to regain their health. It really is a natural fit for us at IBEW Local 103, as it is our members who wire these highly-advanced and technical medical facilities and we see the inspirational battles these kids put forth every day. To be able to provide an opportunity for these kids to have some fun and get their minds off their daily fight for even an hour at a time, we know, makes a big difference for them and their families and we could not be happier to help out in our small way.”
Glenn Kingsbury, Chapter Manager, NECA said, “We are a strong advocate for responsible employers and providing quality healthcare for employees to have access to world class facilities like Children’s Hospital.”
Mayor Thomas Menino said, “It’s great to see different organizations coming together to help children in our city. Fun centers bring power of play and make life a little better for patients and family. Thank you Michael Monahan of IBEW Local 103, and Glenn Kingsbury of NECA.”
“Starlight Children’s Foundation improves the life and health of kids and families through generous donations from partners like IBEW Local 103 and CBS EcoMedia,” said Jacqueline Hart-Ibrahim, Global CEO of Starlight Children’s Foundation. “The gift of Starlight Fun Centers provides critical distraction and therapeutic play for children undergoing treatment. Starlight is proud to work with donors and supporters to raise funds and awareness that directly benefit our partner healthcare facilities who serve millions of kids and families from hospital to home.”
To date, more than 7,000 Starlight Fun Centers are being enjoyed by children with chronic illnesses in hospitals across North America. However, the need is still great and the waiting list to receive a sponsored Starlight Fun Center is long. Boston Children’s Hospital was on that waiting list before IBEW Local 103 stepped in to end their wait.
“The positive impact The Starlight Foundation makes on the lives of pediatric patients and their families cannot be underestimated,” said Paul Polizzotto, Founder and President of CBS EcoMedia Inc., “We’re proud to partner with Starlight and IBEW Local 103 to extend the reach to many more children battling life-threatening disease. Thanks to the generous financial support provided by Local 103 through our WellnessAd program, new Starlight Fun Centers will provide some respite, and bring the healing power of play, to the courageous and indomitable kids and their families at Boston Children’s Hospital. This project is just one example of the positive social change made possible as a result of the public-private partnership business model at the core of our WellnessAd, EcoAd, and EducationAd programs.”