Jacksonville, Florida, June 12, 2009 -- Wolfson Children's Hospital kicks off plans for the 2009 Red Wagon Parade with Presenting Sponsor FCC Equipment Financing, Inc. Partnering with Mayor Peyton's Book Club/RALLY Jacksonville, the Gator Bowl Association and the Jacksonville Children's Commission, the parade benefiting patients at Wolfson Children’s Hospital helps celebrate early childhood literacy and the importance of healthy children. Children of all ages will delight in this parade led by a brilliant drum line featuring red wagons decorated like children's books, accompanied by storybook and Star Wars characters.
The kick-off will include the introduction of this year's official Book Chair Brandy Hilboldt, children’s book reviewer at The Florida Times-Union. There will also be a check presentation by the Gator Bowl Association and a special appearance by Star Wars characters who are participating in the annual parade of red wagons. The Gator Bowl Association's donation and other sponsorships will go toward Wolfson's campaign for critically needed new technology for the Newborn Intensive Care Unit (NICU), remodeling of the playroom for the Pediatric Outpatient Surgery waiting room, and the naming of a room in the new Wolfson Children's Hospital Tower.
WHY: Sponsors of the Red Wagon Parade, which will be held October 24, 2009, at 11 am, starting at Hemming Plaza, will have the opportunity to sponsor wagons that will fund different hospital needs:
- Big Wheel Sponsors ($5,000 each) will help create a healthier future for our region's children by naming one room in the new Wolfson Tower.
- Red Hot Wagons ($2,500 each) will help to upgrade the playroom of the POPS (pediatric outpatient surgery) waiting room through renovations and the purchase of a new gaming system.
- Rolling Wagons ($1,000 each) will purchase a Giraffe OmniBed, a full-featured incubator and radiant warmer in one mobile environment, which can be the newborn baby's home throughout his or her NICU stay.
WHEN: Wednesday, June 17, 2009, beginning at 10 am
WHERE: Wolfson Children's Hospital, Main Lobby Entrance
HOW TO JOIN THE PARADE: Call the Baptist Health Foundation at 202.2919 for parade entry forms and more information.