Elizabeth Earley: Elizabeth.Earley@CHKD.org or (757) 668-9049
NORFOLK, Va. – Children’s Hospital of The King’s Daughters is proud to announce the opening of the Panda Cares® Center of Hope, made possible by Panda Express® guests and associates, whose generosity helps change kids’ health, and change the future.
Panda Express® provided a generous $1.5 million commitment for healing activities and a 12th floor family lounge in the 14-story Children’s Pavilion, a $224 million project designed to provide mental health services for children.
The Panda Cares® Center of Hope inspires hope and promotes healing by providing specially curated programs that address each child’s entire well-being. The donation supports therapeutic play, art therapy, meditation, counseling services, and a family lounge in the pavilion, which opened to inpatient psychiatric care in October. The donation aligns with Panda’s “Four Pillars” philosophy to address each child’s well-being, including their mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual needs, and by giving children the courage and strength to thrive.
“Panda Cares® has been a generous supporter of CHKD, and this gift will add to their legacy in supporting some of the most vulnerable members of our community,” said CHKD President and CEO Jim Dahling. “The space and activities this donation supports in Children’s Pavilion will provide healing and comfort to our patients and their families.”
The mental health facility at 401 Gresham Drive brings together aspects of the best pediatric psychiatric facilities in the country, including private inpatient rooms, a rooftop recreation area where hospitalized children can get exercise and fresh air, and therapeutic rooms for art and music therapy.
“We are proud to partner with Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals to bring the vision of the Panda Cares® Center of Hope to life and are humbled to be able to be part of the healing journey for the families and kids at these hospitals,” said Dr. Peggy Cherng, co-founder and co-CEO of Panda Restaurant Group. “Children are our future, and we hope that through this partnership and curriculum designed to give children the strength to thrive, we will bring smiles and hope to communities nationwide.”
The numerous Panda Cares® Centers of Hope across the country are made possible by donations from Panda Express® guests and associates. Funds raised in-store and online at Panda Express go towards each store’s local community. Following a multimillion-dollar commitment to Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals to fund Panda Cares® Centers of Hope, Panda and CMN Hospitals have debuted Center of Hope locations at several hospitals in the U.S. from California and Texas to Hawaii and Washington D.C.
Since 2007, Panda Express and Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals have partnered together to change kids’ health and change the future. To date, Panda has raised more than $128 million for numerous CMN Hospitals, including CHKD. Panda Express guests and their associates in Hampton Roads have raised more than $500,000 for CHKD since 2007.