Papa Murphy’s Enhances the Lives of Pediatric Patients and Families in Phoenix

April 8, 2014 /3BL Media/ - In an effort to improve the life and health of kids and families in Phoenix, Papa Murphy’s has partnered with CBS EcoMedia Inc. through its WellnessAd advertising program to fund eight Starlight^® Tablets for six Phoenix-area hospitals.

The hospitals receiving Starlight Tablets include Banner Thunderbird Medical Center, Cardon Children’s Medical Center, Phoenix Children’s Hospital, Arizona Burn Center at Maricopa Medical Center, Arizona Children’s Center at Maricopa Medical Center, and Los Niños Hospital. Papa Murphy’s generous support to the Starlight Children’s Foundation will serve an estimated 3,896 pediatric patients per year.

Starlight Tablets are a program of Starlight Children’s Foundation, a leading global charity that partners with experts to improve the life and health of kids and families around the world. Healthcare professionals use Starlight Tablets as a critical resource to support the ongoing needs of kids while in the hospital. Housed in a protective cover that complies with hospitals’ strict infection control protocols, Starlight Tablets come loaded with award-winning Starlight educational programming, a list of recommended applications and a link to the Starbright World^® online community, the world’s first private social network for teens with chronic and life-threatening medical conditions, and their siblings.  

Feedback from Child Life Specialists and other healthcare experts indicates that Starlight Tablets are a critical resource that allow them to deliver superior patient care and aids them in easing patients’ fears while empowering kids to cope with their diagnosis. The Starlight Tablet is an invaluable way to serve the evolving needs of hospitals and children through education, distraction and the healing power of play.

Starlight Global CEO Jacqueline Hart-Ibrahim praised the partnership saying, “Papa Murphy’s and CBS EcoMedia are strong allies in our mission to improve the point-of-care experience for kids and families. The Starlight Tablets funded through this partnership will enable healthcare professionals at these six facilities to help kids understand their diagnosis and keep the hospital experience as child-friendly as possible.”

A special “Power On!” luncheon was held at Z’Tejas Southwestern Grill and kicked off this exciting program. Hosts of today’s special event included Ed Holmes, Local Franchise Owner, Papa Murphy’s; Greg Joelson, Franchisee, Papa Murphy’s; Michelle Plasse, Global Partnerships Director, Starlight Children’s Foundation; Seth Zimmerman, Director, Sales and Business Development, CBS EcoMedia

Prior to the “Power On!” lunch reception, representatives from Papa Murphy’s took private tours at Phoenix Children’s Hospital and Los Ninos Hospital to witness firsthand the impact of their WellnessAd advertising.

“Papa Murphy’s has always looked for unique ways to give back to our community and make a difference,” said Ed Holmes, local franchise owner. “Witnessing the joy we brought to the faces of these children was so rewarding. This is what it is all about!”

With one in four children in the United States suffering from a chronic illness, Papa Murphy’s funding helps Starlight Children’s Foundation expand the reach of its vital programs locally and around the world.

“Papa Murphy’s recognizes the importance of improving the quality of people’s lives in the communities it serves,” said Paul Polizzotto, Founder and President, EcoMedia. “This donation will help nearly 4,000 pediatric patients cope with the experiences of their illness, improve their health outcomes, and it supports the emotional well-being of the entire family.”

About Papa Murphy's

Papa Murphy's Pizza has been voted “America’s Most Craveable Pizza” through the 2013 NRN Consumer Picks survey. The company currently operates more than 1,425 franchised and corporate-owned fresh pizza stores in 38 States, Canada and United Arab Emirates. Papa Murphy’s core purpose is bringing families together through food people love with a goal to create fun, convenient and fulfilling family dinners. In addition to scratch-made pizzas, the company offers a growing menu of grab 'n' go items, including salads, sides and desserts. Love at 425°. For more information, visit www.papamurphys.com. Find Papa Murphy’s on Facebook at www.facebook.com/papamurphyspizza.

About Starlight Children’s Foundation 

Founded in 1982, Starlight Children’s Foundation is a leading global charity that partners with experts to improve the life and health of kids and families around the world. Collaborating with innovators in pediatric healthcare, entertainment and technology, Starlight provides a unique blend of family-centered programs and services from hospital to home. Starlight partners with more than 1,750 healthcare facilities in Australia, Canada, Israel, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States, serving millions of children every year. To learn more, visit www.starlight.org, or follow us at facebook.com/StarlightChildrensFoundation and twitter.com/StarlightOnline.

About Maricopa Integrated Health System

Maricopa Integrated Health System is headquartered in the heart of Phoenix and is the public health care system serving Maricopa County and the State of Arizona. The cornerstone of MIHS is Maricopa Medical Center (MMC), a major teaching hospital with a history dating back more than 100 years. Best known for its critical care services, Maricopa Medical Center is the only hospital in Arizona with Adult and Pediatric trauma centers verified by the American College of Surgeons. MIHS is also home to the Arizona Burn Center, one of the largest Burn Centers in the United States, as well as the Arizona Children’s Center, an attendant care program and two in-patients psychiatric care centers. MIHS also operates eleven Family Health Centers conveniently located across Maricopa County and is one of the Valley’s foremost employers with 4,500 employees.

About Cardon Children's Medical Center

Cardon Children's Medical Center provides pediatric care for children, from newborns to teens. Services include Emergency care, a Level III neonatal intensive care unit, general pediatrics, surgical and rehabilitation services, hematology/oncology, urology, gastroenterology, neurology, outpatient services and children's wellness community education. For more information, visit www.BannerHealth.com/CardonChildrens.

About Banner Health

Headquartered in Phoenix, Banner Health is one of the largest, nonprofit health care systems in the country. The system manages 24 acute-care hospitals, the Banner Health Network and Banner Medical Group, long-term care centers, outpatient surgery centers and an array of other services including family clinics, home care and hospice services, and a nursing registry. Banner Health is in seven states: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Nebraska, Nevada and Wyoming. For more information, visit www.BannerHealth.com.

About Banner Thunderbird Medical Center

Banner Thunderbird Medical Center in Glendale, Ariz., specializes in heart care, surgical services, obstetrics and gynecology, Emergency care, behavioral health, cancer care and pediatrics including the West Valley's only pediatric intensive care unit, pediatric Emergency department and Level III neonatal intensive care unit. The hospital is part of Banner Health, a nonprofit health system with 24 hospitals in seven states. For more information, please visit www.BannerHealth.com/Thunderbird.

About Phoenix Children’s Hospital

Phoenix Children’s Hospital, ranked in U.S. News & World Report’s Best Children’s Hospitals, is Arizona’s only licensed children’s hospital, providing world-class inpatient, outpatient, trauma, emergency and urgent care to children and families in Arizona and throughout the Southwest. As one of the largest children’s hospitals in the country, Phoenix Children’s provides care across more than 75 pediatric specialties. The Hospital is poised for continued growth in quality patient care, research and medical education. For more information about the Hospital, visit www.phoenixchildrens.org.

About Los Niños Hospital

Los Niños Hospital Inc. was founded in 1994 as Arizona’s first and only standalone sub acute children’s hospital. Located only two miles east of Downtown Phoenix, our 15-bed hospital provides a full spectrum of care to medically fragile/complex children who need more time to heal before going home. This continuum of care is extended beyond the hospital by mobilizing vital programs and services, and bringing them into a child’s home. To learn more about Los Niños Hospital, visit www.HaciendaHealthCare.org/losninos. Los Niños Hospital Inc. is a registered 501(C)(3) nonprofit organization, and is an affiliate of Hacienda HealthCare.

About CBS EcoMedia Inc.

At EcoMedia, we’re propelled by the desire to create positive social change; that’s been our mission since we founded the company in 2002. In 2010, after successfully partnering with CBS on a wide range of environmental projects, EcoMedia became the newest addition to the CBS Corporation portfolio, exponentially scaling our reach across television, radio, interactive, publishing and outdoor media.

Through our patent-pending EcoAd, WellnessAd and EducationAd programs, an innovative twist on traditional advertising, advertisers are able to support much-needed local projects which in turn creates jobs, saves taxpayer money and improves the quality of life in communities nationwide. In the process, we’re fundamentally altering the advertising landscape, elevating the ordinary, traditional commercial – and media, in general – into a catalyst for tangible, quantifiable social change. Please visit ecomediacbs.com, like us at facebook.com/EcoMediaCBS or follow us at Twitter.com/EcoMediaCBS.

By participating in EcoMedia’s EcoAd, WellnessAd and EducationAd advertising programs, EcoMedia’s advertisers agree to provide funding for projects we believe will have a beneficial effect upon the environment, health and/or education within local communities.  EcoMedia’s advertising programs are not certification programs nor are the EcoAd, WellnessAd or EducationAd logos seals of approval. EcoMedia does not in any way certify, endorse or make any representations about EcoMedia program advertisers, their products or services.