Rockland comes out to support Nyack Hospital

Thousands of Rocklanders came out to local restaurants to help support the first ever Dine Out for Kids raising funds for the Pediatric Emergency Room at Nyack Hospital. In all 44 different eateries took part in the inaugural event, and donated 20 percent of their dinner proceeds to Rockland’s first and only pediatric emergency room.

Beyond just raising money for what we know is a much-needed service, Dine Out for Kids Rockland demonstrated how as a community we can come together in a meaningful way, said David Freed, President and CEO of Nyack Hospital. We have been thrilled by the support we received and plan to make Dine Out for Kids an annual event.

Rosie O’ Donnell served as honorary chairperson of the event and made a significant donation to the fundraiser. The evening was coordinated by the Nyack Hospital Foundation and was conceived by Peter Kelly, Chef Owner of Restaurant X in Congers, and Xaviar’s and Freelance Café in Piermont.

From the beginning we wanted to put something together that would involve as many restaurants as possible, said Mr. Kelly. I know all the restaurants involved felt good about their participation and the response they received from loyal customers as well as the new customers who sampled them because of Dine Out.

Thanks to a media sponsorship from The Journal News, there wasn’t a single person in Rockland County who didn’t know about the unique event. Ads promoting the participating eateries appeared twice weekly in the months leading up to Dine Out for Kids Rockland and the newspaper also featured it on its website.

Dine Out for Kids Rockland and The Journal News were a perfect fit, said John Tuller, Director of Public Relations for the paper. Initiatives like this are part of what we do. Having a pediatric emergency room equipped to handle any situation is critical to all of us.

Opened in 2003 the Pediatric Emergency Room at Nyack Hospital was designed with young patients in mind. Separate from the adult emergency room, children and adolescents are treated in a environment that is sensitive to their unique medical and emotional needs. The service is open seven days a week from noon to midnight.

Dine Out for Kids wasn’t just about going to dinner said David Kroning, M.D., Director of Pediatric Emergency Services at the hospital. “It helped build exposure for this wonderful facility that we are very proud of. We were effective in letting even more people in the community know that we are here if they need us.

According to Kevin McCarthy, Vice President for Public Affairs and Chief Development Officer at Nyack Hospital, it is that sense of community, more than any other dollar amount, that is the legacy of this first of many annual Dine Out for Kids events to come.

The community response has really transcended simple fund-raising, said Mr. McCarthy. All of our partners – the restaurants, The Journal News, and the Nyack Hospital family – have all commented on how the event really took on a life of its own, a true celebration for the county. It’s that feeling we want to build on in the future.

About The Author:

Steve Zubko is a successful author and regular contributor to http://www.1st-in-kids.com. Helping parents find kid-approved clothes, toys, games, books, activities and more.