Ultimate Medical Academy Toy Drive Spreads Joy to Sick Children and Their Families at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital

Tampa, Fla., December 16, 2016 – Ultimate Medical Academy is spreading joy to the patients at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital this holiday season by donating 408 new toys and gifts from a toy drive at the educational institution.

UMA collected the hundreds of toys and gifts from students, faculty and staff from Dec. 7 – 14 and will deliver these items at 1:45 p.m. on Dec. 16 to the All Kids Wonderland shop at the hospital in St. Petersburg.

Any extra toys from the All Kids Wonderland shop, where parents and caregivers shop for free during the holidays, will be donated to the Child Life Department at the hospital. Those toys will be given out to children and families who come to the John Hopkins All Children’s Hospital throughout the year.

“Part of UMA’s mission is to improve healthcare through education. Through the generosity of students, faculty and staff, I know we will be creating a lot of smiles among Tampa Bay’s smallest patients and their families,” said Dan Soschin, UMA vice president of Marketing who oversees philanthropic initiatives at the nonprofit healthcare school. “We know that a positive outlook can go a long way in the healing process. We want every child and family to be able to celebrate and enjoy the holidays, especially those needing some extra support during a time of need.”

Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital provides expert pediatric care for infants, children and teens with some of the most challenging medical problems. During the past five years, the All Kids Wonderland event has collected thousands of toys for parents to give to their sick child and siblings.

“We are so appreciative of all the businesses, organizations and individuals who contribute to the All Kids Wonderland,” said Kristin Maier, director of the Child Life program at Johns Hopkins all Children’s Hospital. “An event like this means so much to the families and children in the hospital for the holidays. The gratitude that these families have is truly heartwarming.”

UMA’s involvement with Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital is one of the many service projects and outreach initiatives the institution participates in each year. For more details about UMA’s involvement in the community, visit ultimatemedical.edu/about/community-outreach/.