Falcon Cove Middle School Students Aid Patients and Families at Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital

National Junior Honor Society students at Falcon Cove Middle School in Weston have been busy selling Domino’s coupon cards, but it’s not because they’re hungry for pizza.

Students used the discount cards to fuel a fundraising campaign for Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital Foundation. Their efforts resulted in a $5,000 donation that will be used to purchase car seats for needy families that wouldn’t otherwise have a safe way to transport small children.

“We see lots of children that come that are injured and their families don’t have an age-appropriate car seat installed, either because they don’t have the financial resources or the knowledge of their importance,” said Oliver Lao, MD, medical director for pediatric trauma at Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital. “It can be a vicious cycle when kids don’t have a car seat to keep them safe after being discharged from the hospital and injuries keep happening.”

Dr. Lao, whose daughter, Isabella, is the president of the National Junior Honor Society at Falcon Cove, says it’s the goal of the “Car Seats that Care” program that every child leaves the children’s hospital in a properly-fitted, properly installed car seat.

This is the fourth consecutive year Falcon Cove honor society students have made a $5,000 donation during the time the school has participated in the Joe DiMaggio All-Stars program. Previous contributions have supported the pediatric facility’s expansion, equipment used in its Child Life Zone, art, and bibliotherapy programs.

“The kids at our school are very selfless and very giving,” said Stella Stringer, the faculty advisor to Falcon Cove’s honor society. “They just want to help kids, so it’s very easy for them to be motivated and inspired to help Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital because they’ve been treated there, know of someone who has, or know the reputation of the hospital.”