Stater Bros. Charities Gives Big to Patients at LLUCH

Stater Bros. Charities presented Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital (LLUCH) with a check for $150,000 on Thursday, Oct. 24. The funds were from their presenting sponsorship of the 12th annual Stater Bros. Charities K-Froggers for Kids Radiothon, which took place on Sept. 11 and 12. Nearly $300,000 was raised for the hematology/oncology unit at the hospital during the Radiothon. Items such as new patient beds and sleeper couches have been purchased with funds from the Radiothon over the years. Funds from this year’s event will be put towards the stem cell research and storage center. In addition to the big check, Starlight Children’s Foundation hosted the dedication of a new Fun Center, which was donated by Colgate-Palmolive in conjunction with Stater Bros. Charities. Fun Centers are portable entertainment units that can be moved between patient rooms and playrooms. Each unit has a TV connected to a DVD player and a Wii gaming system already loaded with many games. “These Fun Centers give our patients an opportunity to feel like a normal kid,” said Alli Stinson, child life specialist at LLUCH. “Some of these kids are here for weeks or months at a time and being able to play games or watch movies helps them to focus on being a kid rather than a patient. They’re especially helpful when patients aren’t able to leave their bed or go into the playrooms.” Approximately 30 Fun Centers have been donated to LLUCH over the years by various benefactors including Colgate-Palmolive and Stater Bros. Charities. “It’s partnerships with organizations like Stater Bros. Charities, Colgate-Palmolive and Starlight Children’s Foundation that continue to impact our patients every day,” said LLUCH administrator Zareh Sarrafian. “We are so thankful for the contributions they make in an effort to bring some joy and make our kids smile while they are in our care.”