News & Stories

During the holiday season, The Cooper Foundation’s conference room was transformed into a magical toy land. Instead of elves assembling tinker toys, AmazonSmile boxes filled with Lamaze Early Development, VTech and Fisher-Price toys, began to arrive.

It was all part of The Cooper Foundation’s new program, Cooper Cheers for Children benefiting the Children’s Regional Hospital at Cooper. Hundreds of toys were purchased and donated from the Cooper Cheers for Children Wish List on AmazonSmile. Amazon also made a donation to Cooper whenever online shoppers purchased their holiday gifts for friends and family on AmazonSmile.

While many of the gifts were purchased by individual donors, one local business supported the Cooper Cheers for Children Wish List as part of a Christmas gift. Managers of Cherry Hill Imports donated $1,200 in honor of Michael Hartung, owner of Mercedes-Benz of Cherry Hill and 2nd Vice Chair of The Cooper Foundation.

Meanwhile, Barbara McMaster, board member of The Cooper Foundation and president of The Cooper Women’s Board, was excited to learn about the AmazonSmile charitable contribution. An avid online shopper, Barbara began her holiday shopping in November. Every time she bought a gift for one of her grandchildren on AmazonSmile, she knew her purchase would bring joy to another child.

“I encouraged all the members of The Cooper Women’s Board to use AmazonSmile. Many of us already shop on Amazon,” said Barbara, who also shared the AmazonSmile on her Facebook page. “This is a wonderful way to feel that you are doing something worthwhile without any additional expense.”

The Cooper Foundation Board Members Kathleen Sweeney Jass and Amanda Hartung generously donated age-appropriate gifts to the Children’s Regional Hospital’s annual outpatient holiday party for children and families.

The Cooper Foundation and The Children’s Regional Hospital at Cooper would like to thank all the individuals who supported the Cooper Cheers for Children Wish List and AmazonSmile initiative.

“We are so grateful for the toys from the Cooper Cheers for Children Wish List and AmazonSmile. The first shipment we received was used to re-stock the playroom shelves and kids were playing with the toys as soon as they were out of the wrapping!” said Brittany Spaeth, Child Life Coordinator at the Children’s Regional Hospital at Cooper. “This program is great because it provides us with exactly what we need to make the hospital experience more enjoyable for the children.”

The Cooper Cheers for Children Wish List and AmazonSmile will continue as a year-round initiative. For more information please visit foundation.cooperhealth.org/cooper-cheers-for-children.

“I’m very excited that it will continue to be an ongoing initiative,” Barbara said. “In the future, if I’m going to place an order, I’m definitely going to use AmazonSmile.”