Driscoll Children’s Hospital and Panda Express team up to establish Panda Cares Center of Hope for kids and families

On Friday, August 12, Panda Express committed to donating $1 million over 10 years in support of Patient and Family Services at Driscoll Children’s Hospital. Panda Express committed another $25,000 to create the Panda Cares Center of Hope Endowment, benefiting Patient and Family Services.

The gifts are made possible by Panda Express guests and associates, whose generosity help change kids’ health, help change the future. With the donation, Driscoll will help kids get back to being kids.

To show thanks for the generous gift, Driscoll named its classroom at the hospital the Panda Cares Center of Hope at Driscoll Children’s Hospital. Working with trained, dedicated teachers with the Corpus Christi Independent School District (CCISD), Driscoll offers South Texas kids undergoing long-term treatments a comforting learning space where they can keep up with their school lessons while staying at the hospital.

The teachers at Driscoll work closely with school districts throughout South Texas to ensure patients’ minds remain sharp as they undergo the healing process. Every effort is made to accommodate the health needs of the patient as they continue their quest for knowledge.

“Thank you to Panda Express for this most generous gift. These precious funds will go far to help support the vital services provided through the departments under Patient and Family Services – services designed to help families cope with the stress and anxiety caused by injury, illness and hospitalization,” said Robin Smith, Director of Patient and Family Services at Driscoll Children’s Hospital. “We are so excited to start this grand adventure with Panda Express and our new Panda Cares Center of Hope.”

“For more than a decade, our partnership with Panda Express has enabled Driscoll Children’s Hospital to provide the very best care for the children in our communities. This latest gift will ensure that Driscoll continues to serve all of South Texas, fostering our commitment to never turn away a child in need of care. For that, we are extremely grateful to our friends at Panda Express,” said Sean Pieri, Vice President of Development for Driscoll Children’s Hospital.

“We are proud to partner with Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals to bring the vision of the Panda Cares Center of Hope to life and are humbled to be able to be part of the healing journey for the families and kids at these hospitals,” said Dr. Peggy Cherng, co-founder and co-CEO of Panda Restaurant Group. “Children are our future, and we hope that through this partnership and curriculum designed to give children the strength to thrive, we will bring smiles and hope to communities nationwide.”

The Center of Hope inspires hope and promotes healing by providing specially curated programs that address each child’s entire well-being, including their mental, emotional, physical and spiritual needs, which are considered the Four Pillars of Panda Express.

Patient and Family Services at Driscoll Children’s Hospital provides much-needed support for families that address a child’s entire well-being. Services include the Hospital-Based School, the Social Work Department, the new Behavioral Health Team, the CARE Team, Child Life, the Duff Guest Rooms, and the Family Resource Center.

Panda Cares Center of Hope programs include therapeutic play, art therapy, meditation and counseling services, designed to give children the courage and strength to thrive.

Panda Express has raised more than $620,000 for Driscoll Children’s Hospital since their partnership began in 2011. Since 2007, Panda Express and Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals (of which Driscoll is a member) nationwide have worked together to improve kids’ health and change the future. To date, Panda Express has raised more than $100M for numerous CMN Hospitals across the nation.

The numerous Panda Cares Centers of Hope across the country are made possible by donations from Panda Express guests and associates. Funds raised in-store and online at Panda Express go toward each store’s local community.