Dunkin’ Joy in Childhood Foundation’s support of the Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital Foundation continues to bring comfort to patients and families.
By Sarah Paige
HOLLYWOOD, FL – Prom night dreams came true for dozens of South Florida teens eager to experience a sense of normalcy when the Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital Foundation (JDCH), with support from Dunkin’ Joy in Childhood Foundation, rolled out the red carpet for a Hollywood-inspired milestone celebration.
For teen patients who are unable to attend their own school dances due to illness and treatment, this milestone event, now in its 11th year, brought even more meaning to an event that is often considered an adolescent rite of passage.
“Prom is one of those moments every teenager imagines for themselves. When a serious illness enters a teenager’s life, it has a way of taking away the ordinary moments everyone else takes for granted,” said Kelley Morris, president, Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital Foundation. “Each year, I’m touched by how quickly these teens transform the moment they walk through the door, excited just to dance and be with their friends. At the heart of our mission at Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital Foundation is making sure our patients and their families have opportunities like this to experience moments of pure joy.”
With friends, family and caregivers there to support and uplift prom goers, teens and their guests arrived dressed to celebrate in “Old Hollywood: Glitz and Glam” style, matching the prom’s theme. Many wore dresses and formal wear generously donated by hospital staff and members of the local community.
Throughout the joy-filled evening, a DJ entertained everyone on the dance floor, teens posed for photos in the photo booth and shared lighthearted fun that included magic tricks, caricatures, cotton candy, airbrush tattoos, art tables, games and raffle prizes.
This year’s Dunkin’ Prom was made possible in part by a grant from the Dunkin’ Joy in Childhood Foundation, which supports various programs at JDCH and has contributed a total of more than $390,000 over the past 13 years.
“The Dunkin’ Joy in Childhood Foundation believes every teen deserves the chance to feel celebrated, make lasting memories and enjoy the moments that make being a teenager so special,” said Kendra Salito, field marketing manager. “We’re incredibly proud to partner with Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital to create a prom experience filled with joy, laughter and connection, giving these teens a night to simply have fun, be themselves and feel truly special.”
Additional support was provided by JetBlue, EntertainmentResource.net, Anthony Rizzo Family Foundation, Margaritaville Beach Resort Hollywood, Men’s Warehouse, Live Like Bella, Joan’s Flowers, Nothing Bundt Cakes, Lollipop Theater Network, Universal Pictures, Miami Dolphins, Jazwares, Hooters, Kendra Scott, and S.T.A.G.
To learn more about the Dunkin’ Joy in Childhood Foundation and its impact in communities nationwide, visit www.bringjoy.org or follow @joyinchildhood on social media.
To support Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital through donations or volunteer opportunities, visit www.jdch.com/give-back/foundation. The Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital Foundation helps ensure access to high-quality, compassionate care for all children regardless of their ability to pay, while advancing the hospital’s mission to improve community health.
About Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital
Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital is one of the nation’s leading pediatric hospitals, offering a comprehensive scope of healthcare services and programs in a caring, compassionate setting designed specifically for children. The level one pediatric trauma center combines advanced technology, the expertise of some of the region’s most diverse, board-certified specialists, and a patient and family-centered focus to heal the body, mind, and spirit. Part of Memorial Healthcare System, the pediatric hospital in Hollywood, Florida, recently doubled in size, adding four floors, including a comprehensive cardiac care floor, an intraoperative MRI, an inpatient rehabilitation gym, family and staff support areas, and the 14th Garth Brooks Teammates for Kids Child Life Zone, among other offerings.
The hospital’s nonprofit foundation focuses on philanthropy to positively impact patients, families, and underwrite programs, facilities, and equipment that support the pediatric facility’s mission.
To learn more, visit jdch.com and connect with @jdchospital on Facebook, X, YouTube and Instagram.
About the Dunkin’ Joy in Childhood Foundation
The Dunkin’ Joy in Childhood Foundation, the charitable foundation supported by Dunkin’, provides the simple joys of childhood to kids battling hunger or illness. The Foundation partners with food banks, children’s hospitals, and nonprofit organizations to fund joyful environments and joyful experiences for kids when they need it most. Since 2006, the Dunkin’ Joy in Childhood Foundation has granted more than $70 million to hundreds of national and local charities across the country thanks to the generosity of its franchisees, guests, vendor partners and employees. To learn more about the Dunkin’ Joy in Childhood Foundation, visit www.bringjoy.org and follow on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.
