Young Patients at Wolfson Children's Hospital Receive the First 100 Big Fun Boxes

Jacksonville, Florida, October 18, 2006 -- The first 100 Big Fun Boxes will be delivered to Wolfson Children's Hospital on Friday, October 20, 2006 at 10:30 a.m. The colorful boxes, which provide creative outlets and fun for kids during extended hospital stays, were made possible by a grant from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida. They will be distributed to young patients at Wolfson without charge.

"We're thrilled to be the first hospital to be able to give the gift of fun to our young patients," says Larry Freeman, administrator of Wolfson Children's Hospital. "Medicine may not be all fun and games, but for a kid spending long periods in the hospital, the more fun and games, the better."

The boxes will be delivered by a caravan of four Mini Coopers, the use of which is provided by Tom Bush Mini. "The cars we sell may be small, but we have a huge commitment to the community," says Ernest Criss at Tom Bush Mini. "This is a win-win for young patients, their families, the hospital, everybody. We're honored to participate."

Each Big Fun Box is filled with toys, games and activities that entertain and foster an active imagination. The boxes are the brainchild of 24-year-old Grant Prather and his mother, Jo Anne McKinney. Born with cystic fibrosis, Prather spent much of his childhood in and out of hospitals (including Wolfson) and knows about the importance of fun and games.

"Long hospital stays are not fun," he explains, "so we improvised our own. Creating the Big Fun Box is my family's way of giving back.

The Big Fun Foundation, a 501(c)(3) corporation based in Jacksonville, creates, produces and distributes the boxes to hospitals for donation to children undergoing long-term hospital stays due to any illness or injury. Information about supporting the foundation's work through financial, in-kind or component donations is available at Big Fun Box.