Contact: Mary B. McCarthy – 201-996-3764

HACKENSACK UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER LAUNCHES ARTWORKS SURPRISE!SUPPLIES PROGRAM

The Tomorrows Children’s Institute (TCI) and the Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Inpatient Unit of the Joseph M. Sanzari Children’s Hospital at Hackensack University Medical Center (HUMC) welcomed involvement from the ArtWorks Foundation’s Surprise!Supplies program.

Surprise!Supplies is a program that provides art supplies for children with chronic or life-threatening illnesses. “This is a truly special donation that helps our children so much,” said Ellen Goldring, CCLS, of Ringwood, section chief of Child Life/Creative Arts Therapies at HUMC. “We tell our patients that just because they’re stuck somewhere physically – like in an infusion room for hours – they don’t have to be stuck in their imaginations, too. These ArtCarts will make a tremendous difference in these kids’ lives.”

In addition to the assortment of art supplies and craft kits, ArtWorks provided two custom designed mobile “Art Carts” designed by pop artist Ed Heck, to store and transport the art materials. Each unit also received an ArtWorks bulletin board to display patients’ paintings and drawings.

Both the outpatient clinic of TCI and the Pediatric Hematology/Oncology inpatient unit at the Joseph M. Sanzari Children’s Hospital treat children with cancer and serious blood disorders. The Surprise!Supplies program is estimated to impact 90 patients and 75 siblings each month in the outpatient clinic and an additional 15 patients and 10 siblings in the inpatient unit. This program provides children with the means to unleash their creative energy, helping them cope with the challenges of hospital visits and admissions.

The Surprise!Supplies program in TCI was being sponsored by Ira’s Run, a 5K run held each year to raise funds for organizations assisting children and their families battling illness and other disabilities, and to honor the memory of Ira Sohn.

“For the Sohns to do this in the name of Ira means so much,” said Michael B. Harris, M.D., of Englewood, associate chair of the Joseph M. Sanzari Children’s Hospital and medical director of TCI. He was someone very special – someone I admired very much, who believed in the arts, and we’re so grateful for his memory now allowing our patients to have this gift.”

The Surprise!Supplies program in the Pediatric Hematology/Oncology inpatient unit is being sponsored by The Caroline Fund, a fund created by the parents of Caroline Sakovits, a six-year-old Washington Township resident who is a two-time survivor of pediatric cancer, to aid children suffering from cancer and blood disorders. HUMC’s Child Life program was a vital part of Caroline’s healing process, allowing her to express herself through art.

“It’s hard to truly appreciate what they do here at HUMC until you see how they treat your child in a difficult time,” said Steven Sakovits of Washington Township, Caroline’s father. “I’m thankful to Dr. Harris for introducing us to ArtWorks, and I’m thankful to my daughter Caroline, who inspires her mother Barbara and me every day.”

About ArtWorks
ArtWorks is a non-profit organization that provides children and young adults suffering from chronic and life-threatening illnesses, and their siblings, access to creative and performing arts programming which encourages the use of the creative process as a vehicle for healing, communication, self-expression, and personal development. For more information about ArtWorks and its programs, visit www.artworksfoundation.org or call 201-608-0146.

About Tomorrows Children’s Institute
TCI is an outstanding pediatric cancer and blood disorders program that combines all the elements of world-class medicine, cutting-edge research, an expert and comforting staff, and compassionate care for children and adolescents. TCI is the largest and most comprehensive center in the state for children with cancer and blood disorders. It occupies nearly 20,000-square-feet of the DON IMUS-WFAN Pediatric Center for Tomorrows Children at HUMC. The inpatient unit is specifically designed for the special care of children and adolescents with cancer and serious blood disorders. The outpatient component of TCI provides cutting-edge treatment in a contemporary state-of-the-art facility. To learn more about the Tomorrows Children’s Institute for Cancer and Blood Disorders and the Tomorrows Children’s Fund, please visit www.humc.com.