NFL Players Deliver 'Baskets of Hope'

Recently four former NFL players visited Children’s Hospital of New Jersey (CHoNJ) in Newark to deliver Super Baskets of Hope as part of the Baskets of Hope foundation.

The 7,000 Super Baskets of Hope were assembled in Indianapolis on January 30th and then shipped to the 32 NFL city hospitals. The baskets were filled with a Pillow Pet, five games from Fundex, a journal and pen from Vera Bradley, a hat from Lids, toiletry items, a mini football and basketball, and other fun things for the hospitalized children.

The hospital received 50 baskets, 50 pillow pets and 50 tote bags for the parents. CHoNJ was visited by Mike Stephens, former Rutgers football player; Bill Neill, former NFL player for the New York Giants and the Green Bay Packers; Ryan Neill, former NFL player for the Buffalo Bills; and Lou Rouson, former NFL player for the New York Giants.

“We are grateful to Baskets of Hope and to the NFL players for their visit and for the beautiful baskets and the hope and smiles that they brought to our children,” says Anne Reilly, Director of Child Life.

The organization’s mission is to give hope to newly diagnosed children and their families affected by cancer or other serious illnesses by the delivery of a Basket of Hope “filled with inspirational materials to nourish them mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.”

“Children’s Hospital of New Jersey is the recipient of many charitable donations, and these gifts greatly enhance the patient experience for our young patients,” says John A. Brennan, MD, MPH, President and Chief Executive Officer of Newark Beth Israel Medical Center and CHoNJ.