- November 25, 2024
-
-
Loading
Loading
Blakely and Finlee Welch try out games in the new Timmy’s Playroom at AdventHealth Daytona Beach. Their mother, Susan Voges, is a member of AdventHealth Daytona Beach Foundation. Photo by Wayne Grant
Steve Biondo, president of the Tim Tebow Foundation, joins the fun at the ribbon cutting of Timmy’s Playroom. Photo by Wayne Grant
Jackson Bare explains how play is a good distraction for children who are sick at the Timmy’s Playroom ribbon cutting. Photo by Wayne Grant
AdventHealth Daytona Beach on Williamson Boulevard now has a new playroom for pediatric patients as well as visiting children. A ribbon cutting for Timmy’s Playroom with the Tim Tebow Foundation was held July 30.
The grandmother of a patient in the pediatrics department attended the ribbon cutting.
“I’m thrilled,” Lisa Gibson said. “She’s going to love this.”
Steve Biondo, president of the Tim Tebow Foundation, said the foundation and AdventHealth are a good partnership because they share the Christian faith.
“We have two agencies both with the same heart and the same mission,” he said. “Faith, hope and love are on display in this playroom.”
Stacy Bare, of DeLand, was at the ribbon cutting with her son, Jackson, who had been in the hospital recently. She supported the project, because Jackson had been able to utilize the small playroom that was previously available.
“To hear him say he forgot he was sick for a while was just phenomenal to me,” she said.
Jackson spoke at the ribbon cutting, relating his experience and saying play helps distract kids from their sickness and pain.
The AdventHealth playroom, which has a football décor, is the most technologically advanced playroom yet, according to Damon Garrett, of PRI Jacksonville, who designs all of the playrooms. It includes video games and interactive electronic games.
AdventHealth Daytona CEO Ed Noseworthy said it’s exciting to get the first Timmy’s Playroom within the AdventHealth system of nearly 50 hospitals in almost a dozen states. The playroom is located on the hospital’s fourth floor near services for women and children.
The vision for Timmy’s Playroom began when Tebow was at the University of Florida and visited hospitalized children at UF Health Shands Hospital. It is one of several outreach programs of the Tim Tebow Foundation. It is the 10th Timmy’s Playroom in hospitals in the U.S. and Philippines.
Donor support is needed for wheelchairs, wagons and in-room gaming systems for the children. Call 386-231-5102 or visit https://donation.adventhealth.com/Daytona-beach.
