This semester Project Sunshine and the Faculty Student Association (FSA) hosted three events to make a difference in the lives of pediatric patients at Stony Brook Children’s Hospital.
The Welcome Week Plant Sale raised nearly $1,000 for Project Sunshine.
Project Sunshine is a nonprofit organization with chapters on college campuses across the country. Their mission is to provide free social, educational and recreational programming for children and their families as they face medical challenges. Stony Brook University’s chapter is dedicated to volunteering weekly at Stony Brook Children’s Hospital, as well as leading initiatives on campus in support of the children and families there. They seek to restore a sense of normalcy to the pediatric healthcare environment and spread cheer to the children undergoing treatment.
During Welcome Week, Anthony Gentile, FSA Manager of Machine Operated Services, donated more than 100 spider plants, fig trees and avocado plants that he planted and nurtured in his own home. “It brings me joy to donate plants to such a worthy cause where they can be sold to raise money to help children and families that are facing tough times and to brighten students’ days as they move into their residence halls with their special plant,” he said.
The “Sending Sunshine” event brought FSA employees together with Project Sunshine students to assemble craft kits that are then sent out to patients in hospitals all over the country.
“Our goal as an organization is to let kids be kids, and to let them just play and have fun despite their circumstances. We are incredibly grateful to FSA for all of their help and support in bringing these events to life, and to the Stony Brook community for coming out to our events and supporting the cause,” stated Chapter Leader Juliana Welk
On September 29, the collaborative fundraiser “Tie-Dye and Sunshine“ was hosted outside of West Side Dining, where the Stony Brook community made their own tie-dye attire (socks, hats and T-shirts).
Read the full story: https://news.stonybrook.edu/featuredpost/project-sunshine-and-fsa-help-pediatric-patients-through-community-fundraising/