Making kids smile! What could be a better mission than that? That’s exactly what the Detroit Lions players set out to do this week at St. John’s Children’s Hospital. Teammates Nick Bawden, Leo Koloamatangi , Trevor Bates, Jamil Demby, Brandon Powell spent the afternoon playing with the kids in the Children’s Play Room and walking room to room to meet with kids who were unable to leave their beds. A visit from an NFL Football player can really make the day of a child too sick to play and go to school. We thank the Lions players for giving back to the Detroit community.

When an athlete wants to make a hospital visit and they call Athletes for Hope they are often connected to a children’s hospital in the Starlight Children’s Foundation network. Starlight Children’s works within hospitals to bring moments of joy and comfort to hospitalized children and their families. They do this through several programs that provide crafts and games, fun and soft character gowns, playground equipment and fun toys within the hospital setting and now through a new program called Starlight Xperience. This virtual reality experience transports hospitalized kids virtually anywhere.

Athletes for Hope is a proud partner of Starlight Children’s Foundation and we hope to connect even more athletes to kids in hospitals all over the country. If you are an athlete and are interested in this opportunity, please contact our team. We will be glad to make a connection for you!