As seen in the Wheaton Leader
Published January 14, 2009
Staff Reports

Dorothy’s Family Fund, created by Wheaton native Tim Traver in honor of his mother, continues to raise money to support pediatric projects at Central DuPage Hospital. Among the most popular gifts is a Nintendo Wii for sick children to use while receiving treatment.

“Providing assistance for pediatric oncology patients and their families in the DuPage County area is important to us,” said Tim Traver, the youngest son and leader in the initiatives.

The Travers held an inaugural bean bag tournament in August and the second annual two-mile run/walk held at Benedictine University in September. Tim Traver collected the funds raised and met with the Central DuPage Hospital Foundation to determine the most pressing needs for pediatric oncology patients.
 
“There are many ways funds can support patients and projects at Central DuPage Hospital,” said Kurt Wolbrink, manager of major and planned gifts. “In the case of pediatric oncology patients, these children typically spend long periods of time in the hospital while receiving their individual treatments. Donations like this Nintendo Wii game system can make treatment and waiting time much less stressful for children.”
 
Trina Krischon, a child life specialist at the hospital, is very grateful for the support.

“Tim and his family have been so wonderful to support our kids,” she said. “This is just one of many programs Dorothy’s Family Fund has sponsored in the last two years. People like the Travers bring gifts that help make our hospital even more comfortable for children.”  
 
The Wii system is part of the new Fun Center, available for hospitals through the Starlight Starbright Children’s Foundation, and features a Sharp AQUOS flat-screen television, a DVD player, a Wii system and a selection of family-friendly Wii games like Super Mario Galaxy, Wii Sports and Mario Party 8. The Fun Centers were created specifically to offer children an entertaining respite during difficult hospital stays.
 
Previous versions of the Fun Center owned by Central DuPage Hospital most recently featured Nintendo GameCube video game systems and earned praise from families, doctors and hospital staffers alike for their ability to brighten moods, boost morale and reduce feelings of isolation among ailing children. The new Fun Center offers an enhanced entertainment experience by incorporating the Wii console’s distinctive motion-sensing controls and an array of popular games.

“Everyone who has spent time in a hospital knows how scary and lonely it can be,” said Paula Van Ness, CEO of Starlight. “Our Fun Centers transform the hospital experience for children, bringing enjoyment and laughter to an otherwise daunting experience. And as an added benefit of this new model, the Wii technology can be used to encourage children to do physical therapy and motor coordination exercises.”
 
For more information about Fun Centers, visit www.starlight.org/funcenters. For more information on Dorothy’s Family Fund, visit www.dorothysfamily.org.