Metro Health Hospital Foundation to Host Feelin' Grand Sept. 22 to Support the Metro Health Child Life Program

WYOMING, MI, August 30, 2012 (Press-News.org) The Metro Health Hospital Foundation will host Feelin' Grand on Saturday, Sept. 22.

Proceeds from the annual black-tie fundraiser will benefit the Metro Health Child Life Program, which uses developmental interventions and play to make help young patients and their families understand and adjust to their medical experiences. Metro Health is one of only a handful of community hospitals in the country to provide dedicated child life specialists, who provide activities such as medical play, preparation and education before surgery, pain management techniques and others.

"Children are often confused and frightened when they have to visit the hospital," said Laura Staskiewicz, executive vice president of the Metro Health Hospital Foundation. "Their emotional reaction can complicate treatment and daily healing, not to mention leave them with an aversion to coming back to their doctor when they are older. The Child Life Program was established to help take some of that confusion and fear out of a child's experience at the hospital. We have been extremely successful in helping children of all ages through the toughest of times.

"Support of Feelin' Grand this year will insure that children continue to have the most positive hospital experience possible no matter what their circumstances."

Feelin' Grand will begin at 5:30 p.m. with a reception and social hour at DeVos Place Steelcase Ballroom in downtown Grand Rapids. Dinner will follow at 7 p.m. Comedian Ivan Pecel will provide entertainment for the event.

In addition, this year's Feelin' Grand will include an after-party, sponsored by Merrill Lynch and Bank of America, beginning at 9:30 p.m. After-party attendees will enjoy food, drinks, football and music and dancing by Soul'd Out.

Feelin' Grand, is Metro Health's annual black-tie event that has been held since 1993 with a special beneficiary for each year. In 2011, the Foundation raised more than $380,000 to support the hospital's Community Clinic, which provides health services to more than 25,000 West Michigan residents annually who are uninsured or underinsured.

Tickets are $200 per person or $35 per person to attend just the after-party. Fifty percent of the ticket price is tax-deductible. To purchase tickets or to receive information regarding sponsorship opportunities, call the Metro Health Hospital Foundation at 616.252.5000 or visit metrohealth.net/foundation.

About Metro Health Hospital Foundation
The Metro Health Hospital Foundation is a charitable organization dedicated to improving the health and well being of the West Michigan community through philanthropy. The Foundation's support of Metro Health Hospital, a 100 Top Hospital for the third consecutive year, allows individuals, organizations and businesses to contribute funds that prevent catastrophic illnesses, provide life-saving education and screenings, improve overall patient care and fund a wide variety of programs and services. For more information, visit http://www.metrohealth.net/foundation.

About Metro Health Hospital
Metro Health Hospital is a 208-bed general acute-care osteopathic teaching hospital that serves more than 250,000 patients in Kent and surrounding counties. Metro Health, which earned status as a Top 100 Hospital for the three consecutive years, offers a broad range of services, including inpatient and outpatient services, emergency, surgery, intensive care, rehabilitation, wellness and community education. Metro's work is supported by the Metro Health Hospital Foundation, which is a charitable organization dedicated to improving the health and well being of the West Michigan community through philanthropy. For more information, visit http://www.metrohealth.net.

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