The Graffiti Project: Building a Future with Akron Children's Hospital Patients

AKRON, Ohio, Jan. 8, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Akron Children's Hospital is honoring its patients by making them part of its future with the "Graffiti Project."

A component of the hospital's $200 million campus expansion, the Graffiti Project honors current and former patients in the construction of its medical building. The names of 200 patients, nominated by Akron Children's employees, doctors and board members, will be spray-painted in 15-inch tall letters on the concrete slabs of the new building.

"As Akron Children's grows to meet the current and future needs of children and their families, it was important to us to keep our patients at the heart of it all," said Gretchen Jones, director of principal giving for the Akron Children's Hospital Foundation. "Our patients' names will forever be a part of our new building and they will continue to inspire us as we serve them and other families."

Hailey Casler, 5, was the first name painted on the building. She spent the first 8 months of her life in the NICU after weighing just 11½ ounces at birth. As a newborn, Hailey stayed in an incubator donated by local philanthropist Eileen Burg in honor of her late husband, Peter.

The names are visible from the street but will eventually be covered by the exterior of the building when construction is completed in 2015. Akron Children's broke ground on the new building in early 2013, which will include a high-risk delivery area, 100-bed NICU with private rooms, emergency department and outpatient surgery center.

About Akron Children's Hospital
Akron Children's Hospital is one of the largest pediatric hospitals in the U.S. We are proud to be ranked among the best children's hospitals in the country for pediatric specialty care and nursing excellence. More than 780 providers strong, our dedicated staff handles more than 700,000 patient visits a year. As an integrated, independent pediatric healthcare delivery system, we have two hospital campuses and 80+ primary and specialty care locations throughout northern Ohio. We are a teaching affiliate of Northeast Ohio Medical University, training a new generation of pediatricians and specialists, and our research institute is advancing pediatric medicine and improving patient care. Akron Children's has been caring for children regardless of a family's ability to pay since 1890. For more information, visit akronchildrens.org.

Video with caption: "At Akron Children's Hospital, our patients are the foundation for everything we do. Our latest project makes them a permanent part of our new medical building in Akron." Video available at: http://origin-qps.onstreammedia.com/origin/multivu_archive/PRNA/ENR/FX-MM42987-20140108-01.mp4

Image with caption: "Hailey Casler, 5, was the first name painted on the building. She sits with local philanthropist Eileen Burg who donated the incubator she stayed in as a newborn in the NICU." Image available at: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140108/MM42987-a

Image with caption: "Akron Children's Hospital is honoring its patients with the "Graffiti Project" by spray-painting 200 of their names on the concrete slabs of its new medical building under construction." Image available at: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140108/MM42987-b

SOURCE Akron Children's Hospital