Valley Children’s Hospital celebrated the third anniversary of the opening of the Panda Cares® Center of Hope with a carnival for patients and their families on Tuesday, Aug. 1. Panda Express local leadership and associates hosted the festivities with games, free toys and books for Valley Children’s patients.
The Panda Cares Center of Hope inspires hope and promotes healing by providing specially curated programs and dedicated space inside Valley Children’s Hospital that address each child’s entire well-being, including their mental, emotional, physical and spiritual needs. The Center supports child life services, inpatient rehabilitation, spiritual care and chaplain services for patients and families at Valley Children’s. Programs offered at the Valley Children’s Hospital Panda Cares® Center of Hope include physical therapy, therapeutic play, art and music therapy, spiritual services and counseling services.
“Because of the generosity of Panda Express’ associates and customers, our children’s health can change for the better, and their futures can be brighter,” said Valley Children’s Healthcare Foundation President Rob Saroyan. “Funds raised through Panda Express’ efforts support vital patient services that help children and their families reduce the effects of stress caused by illness or injury. We are delighted to celebrate the Panda Cares Center of Hope together with our patient families and Panda Express’ leadership team and associates.”
"We are proud to partner with Children's Miracle Network Hospitals to bring the vision of the Panda Cares Center of Hope to life and are humbled to be part of the healing journey for the families and kids at these hospitals," said Dr. Peggy Cherng, co-founder and co-CEO of Panda Restaurant Group. "Children are our future, and through this partnership and curriculum designed to give children the strength to thrive, we will bring smiles and hope to communities nationwide."
Panda Cares Centers of Hope across the country are made possible by donations from Panda Express associates and guests. Funds raised in-store and online at Panda Express benefit each store’s local community. Following a multimillion-dollar commitment to Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals to fund Panda Cares Centers of Hope, Panda and CMN Hospitals have debuted Center of Hope locations at several hospitals in the U.S. from California and Texas to Hawaii and Washington D.C.
Panda Express has been a Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals partner since 2007. To date, Panda has raised more than $150 million nationwide for hospitals affiliated with CMN Hospitals, including Valley Children’s Hospital. Panda Express guests and their associates in the Central Valley have raised more than $4.6 million for Valley Children’s Hospital the past 14 years.