Dunkin’ Donuts helps brighten care at Shriners Hospital
Date: 4/17/2014
By G. Michael Dobbs
news@thereminder.comSPRINGFIELD – The children who are patients at the Shriners Hospital for Children now have a new way to pass the time thanks to a contribution made by the Dunkin’ Donuts franchisees in Western Massachusetts.
A Ground FX Interactive Visual Display System was introduced at the hospital on April 10. The system has a display unit mounted to the ceiling, which projects interactive games onto a special screen on the floor. During the press event several of the games were demonstrated including hockey and another with music.
David Burstein, the chair of the Board of Governors of the hospital, explained to Reminder Publications that many of the young patients are at the hospital for a extended time and the new system “helps the children stay distracted.”
Karen Motyka, director of donor development, said the unit has been on the hospital’s wish list.
She added, “Having the Ground FX System in the outpatient department creates an unforgettable, exciting, and positive interactive experience for all patients, families, visitors and staff. It has made our space more inviting. We also included an image of the Shriners Hospital’s logo in one of the displays.”
The $24,000 in funding for the unit came from a one day event on May 22, 2013 when Dunkin' Donuts restaurants in Hampden, Hampshire and Franklin Counties celebrated Iced Coffee Day and sold 48,000 iced coffees.
Peter Martins, representing the franchisees, said the charitable effort started several years ago and that Dunkin' Donuts has chosen the hospital.
“It was an easy decision,” he said.
Motyka said the system has been in place for about a month has received “great reviews.”
