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Gift Wrapping Party for Hospitalized Children at SUNY Downstate

By Office of Communications & Marketing | Dec 19, 2019

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 19, 2019
MEDIA CONTACT: John Gillespie | john.gillespie@downstate.edu | (718)270-2262

Thousands of Donated Presents Will Make Holiday Wishes Come True for Children

BROOKLYN, N.Y. (December 19, 2019) – Staff and volunteers from SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University and several businesses will come together on Friday, December 20, in the Child Life Center at University Hospital of Brooklyn to wrap nearly 1,500 presents that have been donated to brighten the holidays for hospitalized children.

The donations are the result of the efforts of SUNY Downstate employee Jimmy Doyle, who 8 years ago founded Santa’s Keepers. This informal group of Doyle’s family, friends and co-workers has grown to include elves from dozens of different business and organizations. Among the largest benefactors is Manhattan Venture Partners, led by Doyle’s high school friend Jared Carmel, which each year fulfills the individual gift wishes of more than 40 chronically ill children.

WHAT:     Gift wrapping party for donated holiday presents for children hospitalized at University Hospital of Brooklyn

WHEN:     Friday, December 20, 2019
                11:00 A.M. – 12:00 P.M

WHERE:   University Hospital of Brooklyn at SUNY Downstate
                The Child Life Center
                450 Clarkson Avenue
                Brooklyn, NY 11203

WHO:       Jimmy Doyle – Founder of Santa’s Keepers
                Lisa Smith, Coordinator, Child Life Program

*** Media Interested in covering this event should arrive at the main entrance of University Hospital of Brooklyn, 450 Clarkson Avenue, by 11:00 AM to be escorted to the Child Life Center.

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About SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University

SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University is the borough’s only academic medical center for health education, research, and patient care, and is a 342-bed facility serving the healthcare needs of New York City, and Brooklyn’s 2.6 million residents. University Hospital of Brooklyn (UHB) is Downstate’s teaching hospital, backed by the expertise of an outstanding medical school and the research facilities of a world-class academic center. More than 800 physicians, representing 53 specialties and subspecialties—many of them ranked as tops in their fields—comprise Downstate's staff.

A regional center for cardiac care, neonatal and high-risk infant services, pediatric dialysis, and transplantation, Downstate also houses a major learning center for children with physical ailments or neurological disorders. In addition to UHB, Downstate comprises a College of Medicine, College of Nursing, School of Health Professions, a School of Graduate Studies, a School of Public Health, and a multifaceted biotechnology initiative, including the Downstate Biotechnology Incubator and BioBAT for early-stage and more mature companies, respectively. For more information, visit www.downstate.edu or follow us on Twitter at @sunydownstate.