Watkins Glen International delivered its own form of care bears to help young patients and their families at the Arnot Ogden Medical Center in Elmira.
The racetrack, in conjunction with the NASCAR Foundation’s Speediatrics program, donated 40 teddy bears and presented a check for $40,000 to Arnot Ogden on Sept. 8.
Last year, the track donated to Golisano Children’s Hospital in Rochester. WGI President Dawn Burlew said during the drive back to Watkins Glen, it was suggested this year’s donation go somewhere close to home.
“We reached out to Arnot, and they were gracious to be able to accept the check and our bears,” Burlew said. “Then our team went down on Monday and delivered them. It was pretty nice to see how welcoming they were to us.”
Watkins Glen’s R.A.C.E. (Racing and Community Enrichment) Foundation has regularly donated to causes in the region with a youth-oriented focus on underserved populations. Watkins Glen International is owned by NASCAR.
The NASCAR Foundation’s Speediatrics program is a nationwide effort that donated to causes in all 50 states this year. Toys, stress balls, coloring books and other items were among items donated.
Some bears delivered to Arnot Ogden Health Center contained personalized cards from WGI staff members who donated them.
Burlew said the focus of this particular initiative is to make life easier for children facing the uncertainty of a visit to the hospital.
“Our thought was they would put it toward their pediatric unit, something to enrich their pediatric care, whether it be in the unit or in their ED (emergency department) because they have a lot of patients who come through their ED,” Burlew said.
“The idea behind it is to make the landing when they come to the emergency room or visit the hospital just a little softer for the patient. It gives the staff something to give the patients when they’re in to visit if they’re having some issues.”
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This article originally appeared on Elmira Star-Gazette: Watkins Glen makes donation to Arnot Ogden Health Center aimed at helping children
Reporting by Andrew Legare, Elmira Star-Gazette / Elmira Star-Gazette
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
