St. Joseph's Children's Hospital Foundation Hosts Christmas in July Celebration

Santa, Mrs. Claus and a young elf, inflatable Christmas decorations, and the notes of upbeat holiday music created magical experiences at St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital in Tampa, and St. Joseph’s Hospital-South, in Riverview. The BayCare hospitals hosted their annual Christmas in July fundraising event, raising funds and collecting toys for thousands of children who receive treatment each year.  

The first donation drop-off to arrive at St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital was a caravan of several colorful Jeeps. Members of the Jeep Girls of Florida estimate that they collected approximately $10,000 in toys. Throughout the day, volunteers unloaded car trunks and truck beds overflowing with toys, games, plush characters and many other recreational items to brighten the days of sick children. Local celebrities including professional baseball players, restaurant mascots, superheroes and more, adorned with holiday gear, gathered to celebrate children braving hospitalization.  

Each July, St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital Foundation hosts the fundraising campaign to raise crucial funding for special therapies, activities and toys that help children cope with being in the hospital. The donations help provide creative and entertaining bedside activities, which can especially benefit pediatric patients in isolation who cannot visit the hospital’s playrooms, as well as prize bin items, birthday and holiday gifts, and much more.  

“When a child or teen is facing a cancer diagnosis, traumatic injury or catastrophic medical condition and suddenly carefree days turn into chemotherapy treatments, surgeries and long hospital stays, it creates a lot of worry for them and their families,” said St. Joseph's Children's Hospital President Sarah Naumowich. “The support we receive from the Christmas in July campaign enables us to offer the special attention and added comfort that is just as important to their healing as the world-class medical care they receive. Our team provides comprehensive, family centered care. Contributions to this campaign help support the hospital’s art, yoga, music and massage therapies, which provide an important outlet for kids to express their feelings and better manage their stress and anxiety.” 

In addition to physicians and nurses and other specialty health care clinicians, child life therapists are part of a child’s care team during treatment. “Child life is a specialized area of care that focuses on helping children and their families cope with stress and anxiety associated with hospitalization and medical procedures,” BayCare Child Life Supervisor Kacie Webster said. “Child life specialists are trained professionals who use therapeutic play, education and support to help children understand and manage their emotions, reduce fear, and improve their coping skills.” They also provide emotional support, offer developmentally appropriate explanations about medical procedures, and create a more comfortable and supportive environment for children in the hospital. Their goal is to enhance the child’s well-being by alleviating fear and providing comfort and joy to them during their stay. 

Families enjoyed an arts and crafting center at the Christmas in July event and a music therapist gently strummed a ukulele and sang many childhood favorites. However, it was Chase, a young boy with complex medical needs and longtime patient, who stole the audience’s attention while dancing around a Christmas tree decorated with beach toys. 

While the Christmas in July event provides a great deal of toys for the hospital’s inventory each summer, they continue to collect items year-round to ensure there is always something fun to offer children of all ages on a difficult day. If you are interested in getting involved, St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital Foundation president Kate Sawa shared the following opportunities:   

• Become a Sponsor: Help brighten the spirits of hospitalized kids by becoming a corporate or individual sponsor. Monetary donations in any denomination provide crucial funds to purchase recreational items like the most up-to-date video games, special sensory items, and other toys and entertainment enjoyed by children receiving treatments.  
• Join the Challenge: Invite your community to get involved by creating your own fundraising page or collection drive. Challenge your colleagues, athletic teams, church groups, family and friends to meet a fundraising goal. 
• Rally your Customers: Get your customers involved through donating a percentage of sales, register campaigns, and hosting spirit nights. 

For more information, contact St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital Foundation at (813) 872-0979 or visit give2stjoeskids.org.