News & Stories
Local Nonprofit Donates Art Cart to Benefit Children at Children’s Regional Hospital at Cooper
At the Art Cart unveiling (L to R): Michael Goodman, MD, Chairman and Chief, Department of Pediatrics, Childrens Regional Hospital at Cooper; Elena Piperno, corporate social responsibility manager A.C. Moore; Mario DiNatale, co-founder ARVF; Kathleen Woodring, ARVF; Gisele DiNatale, co-founder ARVF; Pepe Piperno, owner A.C. Moore; Jeremy Noll, ARVF board member; and Susan Bass Levin, president and chief executive officer of The Cooper Foundation.
Camden, NJ – Young patients at the outpatient pediatric clinic at Children Regional Hospital’s at Cooper will be able to nurture their creative sides thanks to the donation of “Alicia’s Art Cart” from the Alicia Rose Victorious Foundation.
The Arts & Crafts Cart is stocked with age-appropriate products from arts and crafts retailer A.C. Moore, and is designed to give children receiving medical treatment an opportunity for creativity and expression during that treatment.
Susan Bass Levin, president and chief executive office of The Cooper Foundation, was joined by representatives of the Alicia Rose Victorious Foundation in unveiling the art cart on January 31, 2018 at the clinic located in the Sheridan Pavilion on Cooper Health Science campus.
“The Alicia Rose Victorious Foundation has partnered with us for many years to benefits teens and young patients here at Cooper,” said Bass Levin. “Going to the doctor or suffering from an illness is stressful, particularly for children who may not fully understand everything. We are so grateful for this generous donation which will benefit our young patients and help reduce stress and create a positive experience for them.”
In the past, the Alicia Rose Victorious Foundation has funded a teen lounge and an additional art cart at the Children’s Regional Hospital’s inpatient unit, as well as other donations.
“We are so pleased to introduce our latest program, Alicia’s Art Cart,” said Gisele DiNatale, executive director and co-founder of the Alicia Rose Victorious Foundation. “Alicia’s Art Cart was created in the memory of our daughter who passed away from cancer, at the young age of 16. We are so appreciative for our long-standing relationship with Children’s Regional Hospital at Cooper, and A.C. Moore Arts & Crafts.”
“We are also thrilled to expand our Art Cart program to Cooper Hospital,” said Pepe Piperno, owner and CEO of A.C. Moore. “At A.C. Moore, we know that art is therapeutic. Being creative relaxes us, reduces stress, gives an outlet for personal expression, and most importantly, it’s fun! Our hope is that the activities on the Art Cart will inspire children and teens battling illness in our communities, and make the tough days just a little bit brighter!”
About Alicia Rose Victorious Foundation
Strength and Support for Hospitalized Teens.
Since 2002, the Alicia Rose Victorious Foundation (ARVF), has been providing “Victorious 4 Teens” programs and activities to hospitalized teens battling cancer and other life-threatening illnesses. It’s mission and dedication is to strengthen and support these courageous teens. ARVF provides age-appropriate Teen Lounges, Teen Activities, and Teen Programs to over 100 children’s hospitals in 37 states throughout the country. ARVF has placed 64 Teen Lounges, and annually provides over 2,000 Teen Kits & Bandana Pillows to hospitalized teens. To learn more about the Alicia Rose Victorious Foundation, visit: www.victoriousfoundation.org
About A.C. Moore
A.C. Moore is a specialty retailer offering a vast selection of arts, crafts and floral merchandise to a broad demographic of customers. Established in Moorestown, N.J. in 1985, A.C. Moore has since expanded to more than 135 stores, located in the Eastern United States from Maine to Florida. A.C. Moore is devoted to being the first choice for product selection, value and service that inspires and fulfills unlimited creative possibilities. For more information, visit www.acmoore.com/about.
About The Cooper Foundation/Cooper University Health Care
The Cooper Foundation serves as the philanthropic, community outreach and community development arm of Cooper University Health Care, one of the largest health systems in southern New Jersey with more than 100 outpatient offices and its flagship, Cooper University Hospital located in Camden, N.J. Cooper University Hospital is the premier university hospital serving South Jersey and the Delaware Valley. Cooper has reaffirmed its role as a leader in medical education and research with the opening of Cooper Medical School of Rowan University in 2012, the first four-year allopathic medical school in South Jersey. Cooper is renowned for signature programs in cardiology, cancer, critical care, pediatrics, trauma, orthopaedics, and neurosciences. Cooper is also home to the only state designated children’s hospital in South Jersey—the Children’s Regional Hospital at Cooper. Over the last decade, Cooper has transformed its Camden City neighborhood into the Cooper Health Sciences Campus. In October 2013, the new MD Anderson Cancer Center at Cooper, a freestanding cancer center for comprehensive care, opened on the Health Sciences Campus.