LI Ducks’ Quakerjack and Co-owner Pay Special Visit To Patients at Stony Brook Children’s
Holiday Visit Part of LI Hospital Toy Drive
STONY BROOK
, N.Y., December 23, 2010 – QuackerJack, the Long Island Ducks professional baseball team mascot, flopped his way around the whole inpatient Pediatric Floor at Stony Brook Long Island Children’s Hospital on December 20 bringing wrapped toys to hospitalized patients. His visit, along with former New York Mets star shortstop and Ducks co-owner Buddy Harrelson, brought smiles to the children’s faces.
The visit was part of the Ducks’ annual Holiday Toy Drive, where QuackerJack and team members deliver toys to children in pediatric units at Long Island hospitals. The month-long effort resulted in hundreds of children receiving toys.
One lucky “duck” at Stony Brook was Nicholas Rodriguez, 9, of Mount Sinai, N.Y. Together, QuakerJack and Harrelson greeted Nicholas in his hospital room – surprising him – and handing him a gift. The talkative and energetic Nicholas was very happy to receive Loopz™, the memory game that challenges players to repeat patterns of light and music.
Popular to thousands of families on Long Island, the Ducks are members of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball and have led all of independent baseball in attendance for 11 consecutive seasons.
Through the Child Life Program at Stony Brook Long Island Children’s, professionals provide therapeutic, educational, and recreational activities to meet the unique emotional and developmental needs of hospitalized children. Activities include medical play therapy, games, arts and crafts, as well as specialized programs such as animal assisted therapy, music therapy, and birthday and holiday parties. For more information about the Child Life Program call 631-444-3840, or online at /pediatrics/childlife.
