Children to Benefit Most from this Year's Crystal Ball

COON RAPIDS, Minn. 03/15/2006--If you've ever ridden a bicycle through sand, then you can begin to imagine what it would be like for a child to maneuver a wheelchair through sand or pea rock. Yet that's exactly what most handicap accessible playgrounds have on their surfaces.

Part of the proceeds of this year's Crystal Ball, an annual fundraiser for Mercy & Unity Hospitals, will be used for a new outdoor playground for Kenny Kids Rehabilitation Program where 200 children come each week for physical, occupational and speech therapy.

"Accessible play for all children is near and dear to the Kenny Kids staff," Julie Nelson Gotham, executive director of the Mercy & Unity Hospitals' Foundation said. "Children of all abilities need a safe place to play and interact with others."

The playground would include a rubber surface that would be accessible to wheelchairs, walkers and children with limited mobility. Playground equipment would encourage movement, coordination and language skills. The surface and equipment are estimated to cost $58,000.

Women's and Children's Services at Unity Hospital is the other beneficiary of the Crystal Ball. To reflect the staff's family-centered and child-friendly philosophy, pediatric patient rooms and a short-stay area for pediatric outpatients would be remodeled for an estimated $62,500.

The Crystal Ball will be held April 1 at the Courtyards of Andover. To date, the gala has more than 40 sponsors, including the lead sponsor The Minnesota Vikings, and platinum sponsors Timco Construction, The 3M Championship, Columbia Park Medical Group, MA Mortenson Company, Metropolitan Cardiology Consultants, BWBR, BAE Systems, HDR/Jordan Architects, Suburban Imaging and Avalon Fortress Security.

This year's theme is "Under the Sea." Those who attend will be able to bid for exotic vacation packages and luxury items such as a baby grand piano, a one-carat diamond and mounting, and more practical items, such as a canoe and plasma televisions. For more information, to make a donation or buy tickets call 763-236-8198.

Mercy & Unity Hospitals, located in Coon Rapids and Fridley, are non-profit hospitals that serve the northern Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area. Mercy & Unity respond to a wide range of health care needs with specialty services including bariatric weight-loss surgery, behavioral health, cardiac care, emergency, oncology, orthopedics, neurosciences and women's and children's services. The hospitals, which are part of Allina Hospitals & Clinics, are located on the Internet at www.mercyunity.com.

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