LONG BEACH, Calif. – Joy and laughter were brought to young patients at Miller Children’s Hospital Long Beach, thanks to the generous partnership of The Bandai Foundation and Starlight Children’s Foundation™. Bandai sponsored and placed a Starlight Fun Center™ mobile entertainment unit in the general pediatrics unit featuring a Nintendo Wii™, DVD player and a Sharp AQUOS™ LCD TV.

A ribbon cutting ceremony was held to welcome the Fun Center. Ribbon cutting participants included Rita Goshert, Child Life manager, Mel Marks, M.D., executive vice president and Colleen Coonan, general pediatrics director of Miller’s Children’s Hospital Long Beach, Cynthia Nishimoto of Bandai America Incorporated and Jacqueline Hart-Ibrahim of Starlight Children’s Foundation™.

“The Bandai Foundation is proud to be a longtime supporter of Starlight Children’s Foundation, and we’re delighted to extend our commitment to Starlight’s vital work through our Fun Center sponsorship,” said Mark Schaffner, Bandai Foundation board member and executive vice president of Toys for Bandai America Incorporated. “At Bandai, we aspire to provide children with a creative, inspiring and carefree playtime, a goal we share with Starlight and its Fun Center program.”

Miller Children’s care team members were impressed with the ease with which Fun Centers roll right up to the side of young patients’ beds or anywhere in a hospital setting. The entertainment units are perfect for hospitalized children in numerous situations: anticipating surgery, during long outpatient clinic treatments, waiting in the emergency room or fighting loneliness after visiting hours. The Fun Center is a welcome distraction for children when other visitors aren’t around because it uniquely counters the isolation and fear often experienced by sick children.

“We are so grateful for the generous support from The Bandai Foundation and Starlight,” says Rita Goshert, manager, Child Life. “Our patients, families and care team all thank Bandai and Starlight for providing a Fun Center to help them cope during hospitalization.”