Bandai America Incorporated is known by children all around the world for its toys and television shows, including Power Rangers, Tamagotchi and Dragonball Z. With the help of the Starlight Children’s Foundation, Bandai brought their fun and animation to the pediatric patients at Miller Children’s Hospital Long Beach.
Bandai first become involved with Miller Children’s through a Starlight Fun Center. Fun centers are mobile entertainment units containing a television, DVD player and Nintendo Wii gaming system. The entertainment units are perfect for hospitalized children in numerous situations: anticipating surgery, during long outpatient clinic treatments, waiting in the emergency room or fighting loneliness after visiting hours.
“One of my favorite parts about Bandai is seeing the impact we make in the lives of children through our toys and games, but especially The Bandai Foundation,” says Cynthia Nishimoto, Senior Vice President, Business and Legal Affairs, Bandai America Incorporated. “When Starlight came to us for a Starlight Site at Miller Children’s, we warmly embraced the opportunity to brighten the lives of these young patients right here in our backyard.”
Each year, Bandai hosts an annual giving event. Starlight came to Bandai in search of a grant for a Starlight Site at Miller Children’s. Starlight Sites create a more inviting hospital environment for pediatric patients and their families. The grant proposed a new lobby in the Miller West unit. Through the collaboration with Bandai and Starlight, the lobby was completely morphed from a normal modeled hospital environment, into an exciting, engaging colorful entryway for pediatric patients and their families to enjoy during their hospital stay.
“Hospital stays can be grueling, uneasy and sometimes frightening,” says Rita Goshert, manager, Child Life, Miller Children’s. “So, if we can provide patients and their families with any amount of reassurance and peace of mind, then we have successfully done our job. The patients and families at Miller Children’s are so grateful to Bandai for their generous gift that created our beautiful, newly remodeled lobby.”