Perkins Square Park resembled a family reunion on Aug. 13 when patient families and Akron Children’s employees came together to celebrate the conclusion of the Graffiti Project.
The Akron Children’s Hospital Foundation created the Graffiti Project as a way to honor, remember and celebrate the hospital’s current and former patients. Between November 2013 and February 2014 more than 200 nominations were submitted and stenciled on the concrete facade of the new medical building on the Akron campus.
During the event, patient families received a photo of their loved one’s name on the building as well as the nomination that was submitted in their honor.
President and CEO Bill Considine spoke at the event, explaining why the project began and how vital the patients and their families are to the hospital.
“The real foundation of this campus – the real foundation of the new medical tower—are the children and the families that we are so privileged to serve,” said Considine.
More than 250 people attended the party, including twins William and Georgia Victory, who spent 2 months in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).
“It’s so exciting and such an honor to be a lasting part of Akron Children’s,” said the twins’ mother, Bianchi Victory. “They wouldn’t be here without Children’s, and now it will forever be a part of our lives.”
Many others shared their stories as they enjoyed ice cream and the beautiful weather. Some even took pictures with their photos and nominations in front of the new building, which has since been covered with a brick exterior.
“Even though we’re covering up the names, they are going to be with us relative to everything we do and all the wonderful services that are going to be provided in this medical tower,” Considine said.
The new building is set to be completed in early 2015 and will begin providing services to the community in May 2015.
