Blythedale Children's Hospital and Kohl's Department
Stores are hosting a free community children's
event-- "Eat Well, Be Well Wellness Fair" on
Thursday, September 28 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. at
Blythedale Children's Hospital, 95 Bradhurst Avenue in
Valhalla. There will be fun and informative activities
for children, parents, caregivers and educators--
topics include: weight and fitness, nutrition, health
screenings (i.e. vision and blood pressure), cooking,
food samples, giveaways donated by Kohl's and other
local businesses, hands-on learning and
healthy-lifestyle activities.
Sponge Bob Squarepants and characters from
children's TV shows will be at the event. Jay
Michaels, morning personality from Westchester's
WFAS FM 103.9, will be at Blythedale from 1 p.m. to
3 p.m. The Mt. Pleasant Police Department is
offering safety and healthy activities.
Event participants include: Dr. Jo Anne Gorski
and Dr. Marianne LaCroce: Blythedale psychologists;
Bobby's Balloon Works; Mead Johnson; Chef Jay
Libbon from Mighty Joe Young's White Plains; Dr. BJ
Mistry--pediatric dentist in Tarrytown; Nestle
Nutrition; New York Sports Clubs; Dr. Eric Small--
nationally recognized expert pediatric/adolescent
sports medicine; Sylvan Learning Center; Whole
Foods Market; and YMCA and YWCA of White Plains.
During the September 28th Wellness Fair event,
Kohl's Department Stores will present Blythedale
Children's Hospital with a check for $174,699 that
was raised by net profits from sales of special items
at Kohl's nine stores in New York's Westchester and
Putnam counties. Since 2000, Blythedale Children's
Hospital has received approximately $1 million
(including the new donation) from the Kohl's Cares
for Kids Program Children's Hospital Program-- making
possible the purchase of specialized children's
medical equipment, hospital renovations, expanded
clinical programs and community services.
The new $174,699 grant is for the Blythedale
Children's Hospital and Kohl's Department Stores "Eat
Well, Be Well Program" which includes Blythedale's
Wellness Fair, its Adolescent Weight and Fitness
program, and the hospital's nutrition and
health-education community outreach. This new
program will reach hundreds of educators and school
nurses for grades K-6 and thousands of children ages
5-11 at 50 public school districts in Westchester and
Putnam Counties.
The Blythedale Children's Hospital and Kohl's "Eat
Well, Be Well Program" offers new educational
curriculum, a resource guide and take-home
handouts for children. Topics include: pediatric
obesity and general nutrition guidelines. Blythedale
Children's Hospital will have experts in nutrition and
health-education available for speaking with local
parenting groups, PTA's and school personnel.
"Kohl's and the local residents who buy items
through the Kohl's Cares for Kids Program have
generously made it possible for Blythedale Children's
Hospital to expand its community outreach and
education programs including our new initiatives
focusing on healthy eating and wellness for children
and their families," said Larry Levine, President
Blythedale Children's Hospital.
"Kohl's introduced the Kohl's Cares for Kids
program to promote children's health and educational
opportunities, and is committed to playing an active
role in the communities we serve," said Julie Gardner,
senior vice president of marketing for Kohl's
Department Stores. "We're proud of the partnerships
we've created with children's hospitals across the
country and are excited to join Blythedale Children's
Hospital in this important community endeavor."
Founded more than 100 years ago, Blythedale
Children's Hospital has been a leader in developing
innovative, multi-disciplinary inpatient and
ambulatory programs with rehabilitation as its
specialty. The hospital is a community resource for
children with a variety of medical concerns-- its
inpatient and day hospital programs treat more than
300 children daily, making it one of the largest
freestanding children's hospitals in the United
States. For more information about Blythedale
Children's Hospital visit
www.blythedale.org.
