Located along the primary public concourse in Nationwide Children’s Hospital’s new Clinical Expansion Facility, is a place of respite and comfort for patients’ families. The Center provides a variety of services and amenities to ease the stress that naturally accompanies any hospital stay. The space was designed to replicate the colors and overall atmosphere of Nationwide Arena, home to the Columbus Blue Jackets. Read more.
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Sibling Support Program
The grant to Nationwide Children’s Hospital’s oncology unit has been utilized to develop a sibling support program. Much research has indicated that the diagnosis and treatment of cancer not only impacts the patient, but the whole family. This program is a six-week curriculum-based program that has been designed for adolescent siblings aged 8-16 to provide education, key resources, and counseling. The sessions are led by trained psychologists and social workers who follow an educational workbook. Each child receives a tour of the hospital and a special graduation ceremony with Blue Jackets mascot, Stinger. Read more.
Stingers Bravery Beads Program
Stinger’s Bravery Beads is a program designed to allow patients the opportunity to collect beads of multiple shapes and colors to correspond with various stages of their cancer treatment. (Example: a red bead for a blood transfusion, a green bead for a chemotherapy treatment, etc.). Each child will receive their very own starting kit which includes a Blue Jackets Foundation bead, a Stinger bead, a Children’s Hospital bead and the child’s name in lettered beads complete with a plastic puck case from Stinger.
Flashes of Hope Photo Shoots
The Blue Jackets Foundation teams up with Flashes of Hope each season to create uplifting photographs of children fighting cancer and life-threatening illnesses. The partnership provides monthly photo shoots for young patients at Nationwide Children's Hospital with each family receiving a free portfolio of images and a Blue Jackets and FSN Ohio co-branded fleece blanket. Read More. View Flashes of Hope Video.
Hospital Visits
Since it's inception in 2001, the Hats For Heroes program has quickly become the signature program for the Columbus Blue Jackets Foundation. All of the Blue Jackets players are actively involved in the program by regularly autographing hats and making appearances on the oncology/hematology units at Nationwide Children's and OhioHealth's Hospitals to greet patients and deliver personalized hats.
in partnership with OhioHealth
Each year this game is dedicated to creating awareness for the fight against pediatric cancer and features in-game participation by the Foundation's youngest heroes currently battling life threatening illnesses. Over 10 young pediatric patients are involved in key elements of the game from the puck drop and stick boy/girl to Zamboni rides. After the game they are greeted by Blue Jackets players. Read more.
KidShare
Presented by the OhioHealth Riverside Hospital, the Blue Jackets Foundation supports this group of adult cancer patients and their families as part of the NHL Hockey Fights Cancer initiative. The Foundation's gift funds the six-week group program that was developed by Riverside Cancer Services to help children and their parents learn about and cope with feelings related to a cancer diagnosis in the family. Read more.
Dude! Where's My Hair?
Presented by Hair Theater, this comedic monologue features young pediatric cancer patients ages 6-20. Each of the actors have a very compelling and entertaining story to tell about the life journey, and what in the heck happened to their hair along the way. Audiences are inspired and enlightened as to what's important in life, and have some good laughs with our Dudes with their well-developed senses of humor. Audiences also find the answers mysteries such as: Why did the nurses at Nationwide Children's give 6 year old Noah speeding tickets in the hallways? What does Harrison's dog know and how does he know it? How did Hannah's prom date really surprise her? And when something is really funny, what does Seth say is the barometer for that? Read More. View Dude! Video.
Pennies For Patients
One Penny...One Team...One Goal! The Columbus Blue Jackets Foundation is proudly partnering with The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Pennies for Patients program to help students raise awareness and funds in honor of other kids in their communities who are battling cancer. This three-week coin collection and cancer education program is held nationwide in elementary, middle and high schools. Students collect money, starting with their own spare change, to support lifesaving cancer research and patient services while learning the value of helping others. Schools that participate are eligible to earn incentives such a gift certificates for school supplies and pizza parties for top classrooms. The Central Ohio Pennies for Patients campaign will be held February 1-19 and March 1-19, 2010. Read More.