Amazon operation leaders and employees from fulfillment centers throughout the Central Valley came together on Tuesday to provide a surprise for 200 pediatric patients at Valley Children’s Medical Center.
The company partnered with Santa Claus, with support from a team of Amazon elves, to deliver smiles to patients this holiday season.
Each child received a stuffed puppy toy and an Amazon Fire Kids tablet.
Due to the pandemic, this is the first holiday season in three years that the hospital has been able to host in-person patient visits with Santa Claus.
“We are invested in the Central Valley community and today we’re honored to be giving back to Valley Children’s Healthcare to help make the holidays feel more like the holidays for these families,” said Craig Norris, general manager of Turlock’s MCE1 fulfillment center. “Our team at MCE1 in Turlock was joined by our colleagues from nearby operations in Visalia, Fresno, and Bakersfield to pass out stuffed animals and Amazon Kids Fire tablets to patients. Amazon also donated $100,000 to Valley Children’s Angel Fund, which will directly support the families.”
Amazon presented Valley Children’s with a check for $100,000 that will go toward the Claude and Betty Lou Laval Angel Fund.
The intent of the Angel Fund is to allow families to focus on supporting their children through the medical treatment process by easing some of the financial burdens brought about by transportation, lodging, food, utilities, and other necessities.
“We are incredibly grateful for Amazon’s generous gift this holiday season advancing the mission of the Laval Angel Fund that directly benefits patients and families,” said Robert Saroyan, president of Valley Children’s Healthcare Foundation. “It is an honor to welcome both corporate and local leaders from Amazon to our hospital to see firsthand the positive impact they are making through philanthropy.”
Recognized by U.S. News and World Report as one of the best children’s hospitals in the nation, Valley Children's has grown from a 42-bed hospital into one of the largest pediatric healthcare networks in the country.
