STATE COLLEGE — This summer, a bridge of hope, creativity, and smiles is being built between the streets of State College and the rooms of Penn State Health Golisano Children’s Hospital in Hershey.
Marking its fifth consecutive year as a proud festival sponsor of Kids Day and The Kids Zone, Penn State Health is introducing a brand-new digital selfie/video station designed to connect young festival-goers directly with pediatric patients undergoing care.
A beautiful “Where Hope Blooms” backdrop will be on display at the Penn State Health Kids Zone in MLK Plaza throughout the festival. Parents and kids can capture fun photos and record videos of encouragement and well-wishes for patients and families receiving treatment at Children’s Hospital. These images and videos will be compiled into a presentation that will be shared with the patients and staff at Children’s Hospital.
This endeavor is part of the State-of-the-Art Care initiative and Our Kids to Your Kids Campaign started in 2021 by the State College region of Penn State Health. The program also features a 2-part collaborative art project between children visiting the Arts Festival and children currently in Children’s Hospital.
Add your artistic touch to the project at PSH Kids Zone, Thursday and Friday, July 9-10, from 12 to 5 p.m. and Saturday, July 11 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Thursday through Saturday, the mural banners will move to the Penn State Health Kids Zone in MLK Plaza on Fraser Street. There, hundreds of children and their families can add their own vibrant touches as well as take advantage of the “Where Hope Blooms” selfie station to share pictures and videos with the pediatric patients in Children’s Hospital.
After Arts Fest
The compilation video from selfies and videos collected at the festival will be delivered to the Penn State Health Golisano Children’s Hospital along with the banner mural. There, pediatric patients and their families will add their creative flair by painting flowers, butterflies, and other symbols of hope that will be attached to the banner. The banner will then travel back to State College for finishing touches, and will be on display during Arts Fest 2027.
Visit phscc.org/artofcare to learn more about this project.
