Dungy, East-West Shrine Game Alumnus and Father of a Shriners Hospitals for Children Patient, Praises Joint Effort to Benefit FamiliesSuper Bowl-winning coach
Tony Dungy addressed the media yesterday evening at the Rosen Plaza Hotel in Orlando to announce a partnership between Shriners Hospitals for Children and the national nonprofit Family First, for which Dungy serves as a spokesman.
“I’m here today not representing the NFL, but Family First,” said Dungy. “We’re all about strengthening children and families, just as the Shriners are. We thought it was a natural partnership.”
At Shriners Hospitals for Children, patients receive care for orthopaedic conditions, burns, spinal cord injuries, and cleft lip and palate, without financial obligation. Family First is a national nonprofit that reaches thousands of parents each day through its programs All Pro Dad, iMOM and the Family Minute.
Imperial Potentate Jack H. Jones, president and CEO of Shriners International, and Peter F. Armstrong, M.D., chief medical officer of Shriners Hospitals for Children, also addressed the media to praise the partnership.
“I don’t know of two organizations that care for children better than Family First and Shriners Hospitals for Children,” said Jones. “We are so grateful to have this partnership with Family First.”
Dungy and his family have personally experienced the expert level of care provided by Shriners Hospitals for Children.
“We have a son who has special orthopaedic needs,” said Dungy. “We took him to the Shriners Hospital…and they did things that normally couldn’t be done.”
The press conference was one of many events taking place during the week of the Asset Protect East-West Shrine Game, benefiting Shriners Hospitals for Children, scheduled for Jan. 23 in Orlando. Dungy played in the 1977 East-West Shrine Game, America’s longest-running college all-star football game.
Every year, East-West Shrine Game players visit one of the 22 Shriners Hospitals for Children to visit with patients and experience first-hand the purpose behind the game.
“You would think the thrill would have been playing with those great athletes in a national all-star game,” said Dungy. “But it was secondary to the trip we took to the Shriners Hospital. It was such a thrill.”
At Shriners Hospitals for Children, care is provided in an environment that involves the patients’ families in the recovery process.
“Shriners Hospitals for Children prides itself in providing family-centered care,” said Dr. Armstrong. “We’ve just expanded our potential in family-centered care with our partnership with Family First.”
About Shriners Hospitals for Children
Shriners Hospitals for Children is a health care system dedicated to improving the lives of children by providing specialty pediatric care, innovative research and outstanding teaching programs. Children up to the age of 18 with orthopedic conditions, burns, spinal cord injuries, and cleft lip and palate are eligible for admission and receive all care in a family-centered environment with no financial obligation to patients or their families. For more information, please visit www.shrinershospitals.org.
About Family First
Family First is a national nonprofit organization based in Tampa, Fla. Family First reaches thousands of parents each day through its three primary programs: All Pro Dad, www.AllProDad.com; iMOM, www.iMOM.com; and the Family Minute, www.FamilyMinute.com.
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