UCONN Fraternity, Target and Putnam Lions Get in the Spirit of Holiday Giving

Lucas Hebert inspects the book he chose from the boxes donated by the Pi Beta Phi sisters from the University of Connecticut.

Day Kimball’s Pamela Watts, interim development director, Dr. Marc Cerrone and Shannon Grauer, LPN, eagerly accept the book donations from Pi Beta Phi sisters along with brothers Zachary and Lucas Hebert.

Day Kimball Healthcare’s Pediatric Patients Receive Gifts of Reading

PUTNAM, CT – Day Kimball Healthcare’s Pediatric Centers recently received over 300 books from the Sisters of Pi Beta Phi Fraternity for Women at the University of Connecticut, along with $500 from the Putnam Lions Club and $1,000 from Target to provide books for children during well-child visits to the pediatric centers.

Pi Beta Phi sisters presented boxes of reading books and colored pencils to Day Kimball Healthcare’s Putnam Pediatric Center. The fraternity ladies were greeted by brothers Lucas and Zachary Hebert, who came dressed as Santa’s helpers to unload the gifts.

“We are so pleased by this generous donation,” said Dr. Marc Cerrone. “Our free book program is a wonderful way to encourage parents to read to their children by providing each child from ages 6 months to 5 years with a brand new book after each well-child visit. This donation helps to keep the program available and brings smiles to children’s faces. I am very grateful to these young ladies for their thoughtful work.”

The UCONN students say literacy is this year’s philanthropic project and they began collecting the books last summer. After an alumnus mentioned the hospital’s support of children and reading, Pi Beta Phi decided to donate books to Day Kimball. These books will also be used by the pediatricians as developmental diagnostic tools.

The Day Kimball Pediatric Center’s reading program is supported by other community organizations. At their recent “Night of Giving,” the Putnam Lions donated $500 specifically for the Pediatric Center’s reading program. Also, Target generously donated $1,000 to the pediatric centers for books as part of its effort to inspire education, make the arts affordable and accessible, and foster safe families and communities nationwide.

“We are extremely grateful to these organizations for their generosity,” said Pamela Watts, Day Kimball’s interim director of development. “On behalf of our Pediatric Center staff and patients, I want to express a heartfelt ‘thank you’ to the young women of UCONN for all their efforts, to the Putnam Lions Club and to Target for helping to keep our reading program alive.”