USF Nursing to deliver teddy bears to sick children at local hospitals this holiday season [VIDEO]
Tampa, FL (Nov. 30, 2015) – The University of South Florida College of Nursing continues its holiday tradition of spreading joy throughout Tampa Bay. The college delivered cuddly panda bears to sick children at seven local hospitals, Dec. 2 to 9.
The custom teddy bears, dressed in their own USF Nursing uniforms, were hand delivered by students, faculty, staff and alumni to pediatric patients as part of the college’s Bulls Encouraging and Assisting through Research and Scholarship (B.E.A.R.S.) program.
Volunteers visited the following hospitals:
- Sarasota Memorial Hospital – Wednesday, Dec. 2, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. (Media: No later than 10:45 a.m. PR contact: Ellen Simon at (941) 917-1499 or cell (941) 893-7650.
- Mease Countryside Hospital – Thursday, Dec.3, 10:30 a.m. to Noon.
- St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital – Thursday, Dec. 3, 2 to 3:30 p.m.
- Tampa General Hospital – Friday, Dec. 4, 1 to 2 p.m.
- Florida Hospital Tampa – Monday, Dec. 7, 10:30 a.m.to Noon.
- Morton Plant Hospital – Tuesday, Dec. 8, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
- All Children’s Hospital – Wednesday, Dec. 9, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
“We’re excited to spread cheers once again this holiday season,” said Dianne Morrison-Beedy, PhD, senior associate vice president of USF Health and dean of the College of Nursing. “We’re grateful to our clinical partners for allowing us to bring happiness to sick children spending this time of year in the hospital.”
B.E.A.R.S. encourages alumni, students, faculty, staff and friends to support the college while sharing a little joy with children in the Tampa Bay community. The proceeds help benefit the college’s research and student success initiatives.
The teddy bears, donated by college supporter, Christopher J. Davis, president of LAD Enterprises, Inc., are charitable gifts that contribute to the USF Unstoppable Campaign, a comprehensive fundraising effort by USF to celebrate the energy, vision and future of one of the country’s most exciting and engaged universities.
For information on how to participate in the B.E.A.R.S. program, visit www.usfnursingbears.com.
-USF Health-
USF Health’s mission is to envision and implement the future of health. It is the partnership of the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine, the College of Nursing, the College of Public Health, the College of Pharmacy, the School of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Sciences, and the USF Physician’s Group. USF Health is an integral part of the University of South Florida, a high-impact, global research university dedicated to student success. For more information, visit www.health.usf.edu.
Media Contact:
Vjollca “V” Hysenlika
College of Nursing Communications
(813) 974-2017
vhysenli@health.usf.edu
Photo by Ryan Noone, USF Nursing
Video by Vjollca Hysenlika and Ryan Noone, USF Nursing
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