Verizon Foundation to Donate $3 to Children's for Every Message of Hope Sent During the Holiday Season

ATLANTA, Nov. 9, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, one of the largest pediatric health care systems in the country, expects more than 1,200 patients in their hospitals during the last two weeks of this year.  Children's is partnering with the Verizon Foundation to launch the second annual "Share the Hope" campaign.  This year's video and digital sharing campaign, which encourages people to send supportive messages to patients who must spend their holidays in the hospital, will launch on Nov. 9, on ShareWithChildrens.org.

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The "Share the Hope" video, created by local advertising agency BKV, shows some of the inspiring faces of children who were treated at Children's this year.  As viewers watch the heartfelt video, they are invited to submit an encouraging message for patients to read over the holidays.  Donations will also be accepted, with the initial contribution coming from the Verizon Foundation, who has pledged a gift of $3 per message up to $30,000.

"The messages the community sent our patients last season spread joy through the halls of our hospitals," said Scott Hodoval, Vice President of Development at Children's. "We want to provide that same message of hope to patients and families this year and look forward to surpassing the 8,000 messages we collected in 2011."

Lex Money, a four-year-old boy from Cornelia, Ga., who recently received his second heart transplant at Children's, participated in this year's "Share the Hope" video.  Last year, Lex and his family were deeply moved by the 2011 campaign messages they viewed while staying at Children's over the holidays, so they understand firsthand the importance of the hope-filled campaign.

"As Lex was recovering last December, we kept our eyes glued to the TV in his room as letters from the community scrolled across the screen," says John Money, Lex's father, on reading last year's "Share the Hope" messages. "They were short, but the words were powerful.  'Stay strong.'  'We're thinking of you.' 'You are brave.' When people watch Lex and the other kids in the video, we hope they'll think of our story and send a message. We'll be sending a message of our own—one that says, 'We've been where you are. We know how it feels to wait and fear the unknown. Stay positive. Trust.  And know that there are many, many people out there praying for you.'"

Messages for the patients will be displayed on closed-circuit TVs throughout the hospital during the last two weeks of the year.  

Visit ShareWithChildrens.org to let a young patient at Children's know you're thinking about them this holiday season, and all year long.

Children's Healthcare of Atlanta
Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, a not-for-profit organization, is committed to enhancing the lives of children through excellence in patient care, research and education. Managing more than half a million patient visits annually at three hospitals and 17 neighborhood locations, Children's is one of the largest clinical care providers for children in the country. Children's offers access to more than 30 pediatric specialties and is ranked among the top children's hospitals by U.S. News & World Report. With generous philanthropic and volunteer support, Children's has made an impact in the lives of children in Georgia, the United States and throughout the world. Visit www.choa.org for more information.

SOURCE Children's Healthcare of Atlanta