Safti First plans holiday celebration at children’s hospital

Safti First will host a holiday celebration again this year at the Children's Hospital Central California in Madera, Calif., on Friday, Dec. 21. Spearheaded by the company's manufacturing facility in Merced, Calif., the holiday giveaway includes a custom Nintendo Wii Fun Center mobile entertainment unit and a gift-giveaway with Santa Claus for the children who are currently receiving care in the hospital. Called the "Child Life Event," the day also includes a special luncheon with the kids and hospital staff in the Main Starlight Conference Room, according to a company release.

The custom Fun Center mobile entertainment units contain a Sharp AQUOS LCD television, DVD player, and Nintendo Wii gaming system specially customized for hospital use. It includes a library of 22 pre-loaded games and dozens of DVDs to start, and will continually be updated with new games and movies. The sponsorship also includes administration, repair and maintenance. Whether hospitalized children are nervously awaiting surgery, sitting restlessly during a long treatment, or feeling lonely in their hospital room, Fun Centers help them cope by providing endless hours of fun and distraction, according to the release.

"We started working on a holiday program with the Children's Hospital last year," said Ron Drew, general manager for Safti First/O'Keeffe's Inc., in the release. "With our manufacturing facility located in California's Central Valley, we have a deep connection with the community, and that includes the Children's Hospital. All of us here have either had someone or know someone who has been treated at this hospital; this makes the experience of giving back all the more special."