Central Florida Stores Raise Nearly $1 Million in Four Years for Children’s Health and Education
ORLANDO, Fla. (August 22, 2011) – Kohl’s and Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children are teaming up to prevent injuries in young athletes throughout Central Florida. The Kohl’s Cares® program has donated $313,602 to continue supporting the Play It Forward program which it has funded since its inception at the hospital’s Pediatric Sports Medicine Center.
Since 2007, Kohl’s has donated $934,127.12 to Arnold Palmer Hospital through the Kohl’s Cares® merchandise program, where net profits from the sale of special merchandise supports children’s health and education programs.
“We’re honored to have the support of Kohl’s as we look to provide great medical care to the young athletes of Central Florida,” states Jay Albright, M.D., Medical Director of the Pediatric Sports Medicine Program at Arnold Palmer Hospital. “By educating coaches, parents, and young athletes on safe practice, training, and game play techniques, we can help lower the incidence of sports-related injuries and encourage our kids to enjoy sports safely.”
Each year, more than 3.5 million children in the U.S. under age 15 are treated for sports injuries. Twenty-six percent of Central Florida’s population is under the age of 18 and many of these children play year-round sports. This translates into a large number of sports injuries in the region.
Play It Forward is designed to meet the growing needs of active children in Central Florida by sending sports medicine professionals into the community to instruct coaches, parents and children on safe training, how to decrease risk of injury, and how to treat minor injuries.
Since its inception in 2008, Play It Forward has certified 888 coaches and parents in Central Florida in cardio-pulmonary resuscitation; provided various forms of injury prevention education to more than 20,000 people; and, provided medical attention for more than 13,500 athletes participating in underserved athletic events. Additionally, 131 local athletes have participated in Play It Forward’s jump training program called Sportsmetrics, which reduces the incidence of torn anterior cruciate ligaments in young female athletes.
A check presentation took place before the first Orlando City Soccer playoff match at the Citrus Bowl on Saturday, August 20, 2011 at 7:30 P.M. Photos and video of the check presentation are available upon request.
ARNOLD PALMER HOSPITAL for CHILDREN
Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children, supported by the Arnold Palmer Medical Center Foundation, is a 158-bed facility dedicated exclusively to the needs of children. Located in Orlando, Arnold Palmer Hospital provides expertise in pediatric specialties such as cardiac care, craniomaxillofacial surgery, emergency and trauma care, gastroenterology, nephrology, neurology, oncology, orthopedics, pulmonology and sports medicine. Visit www.arnoldpalmerhospital.com to learn more about all of our specialties.
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