The Carolina Panthers, Levine Children's Hospital and Carolinas HealthCare Foundation will hold the inaugural Keep Pounding Patient Support Drive before the team's regular season home opener against the Seattle Seahawks on Sept. 8 at 1 p.m. at Bank of America Stadium.
Fans are encouraged to bring the most in-demand toys for pediatric patients – including bubbles, Play-Doh®, crayons, coloring books, hand-held travel games, craft kits, rattles, earbuds, UNO cards and DVD movies. All toys collected from the Keep Pounding Patient Support Drive will be donated to patients ages infant to 21 who are currently receiving treatment at Levine Children's Hospital. For patient safety, all toys should be new and unwrapped.
The first 10,000 donors to participate in Sunday's Keep Pounding Patient Support drive will receive a Keep Pounding awareness bracelet.
Any financial donations received during the Keep Pounding Patient Support Drive will benefit the team's Keep Pounding Fund, started in 2004 in honor of beloved Panthers player and coach Sam Mills. Funds will be designated to support pediatric cancer research efforts at the Levine Cancer Institute and Levine Children's Hospital.
Volunteers from Levine Children's Hospital and Carolinas HealthCare Foundation will be at each gate when the stadium opens at 11 a.m. to collect the toys. Fans can drop off donations in the collection bins at each gate.
"This is a good opportunity for Panthers fans to have an active role in the world class care children receive at Levine Children's Hospital," said Riley Fields, Carolina Panthers director of community relations. "By donating simple toys, DVDs or activities which children can enjoy while in their hospital rooms, fans can help provide joyful diversions for patients and their families."
For more information about the Keep Pounding Patient Support Drive or Levine Children's Hospital please visit www.levinechildrenshospital.org. Information about the Keep Pounding Fund can be found at www.givecarolinas.org.
