Cooper University Hospital Cape Regional welcomed 45 kindergarten students from Glenwood Avenue Elementary School in Wildwood for the debut of “Teddy Goes to Cape,” a hands-on educational program designed to introduce young children to the health care environment in a fun, supportive and approachable way.
Through programs like “Teddy Goes to Cape,” Cooper is expanding opportunities for young residents to learn about health and health care in an engaging environment while building familiarity and trust with their local hospital.
The event builds on a long-standing partnership between The Cooper Foundation (formerly the Cape Regional Foundation) and Glenwood Avenue Elementary School.
Following Cape Regional’s merger with Cooper University Health Care, the partnership has expanded to include health-focused seminars, assemblies and educational sessions focused on wellness and healthy habits.
“Programs like ‘Teddy Goes to Cooper’ reflect our commitment to meeting families where they are and building trust in health care from an early age,” said Philip A. Norcross, Esq., chairman of The Cooper Foundation board.
“As Cooper continues to grow across South Jersey, expanding initiatives like this from Camden to Cape May County helps ensure children and families throughout the region feel supported and connected to their local hospital.”
This year marks an expansion of that collaboration, bringing students directly into the hospital for an immersive medical learning experience.
Upon arrival, each student received a Cooper Foundation bag containing a teddy bear, a coloring page, sunglasses and a registration sheet to complete at the triage table.
Students then rotated through child-friendly interactive stations representing different areas of health care, where they “treated” their teddy bears while learning about medical care in an engaging environment.
“We are grateful to the donors and community partners whose generosity makes programs like this possible,” said Lisa Morina, senior vice president and chief philanthropy officer of The Cooper Foundation.
