More than 100 families receive free Museum admission in 2009
The Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) and The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) in Toronto partner to provide 120 families with free tickets to the Museum in 2009. Starting this month, ten families per month will have an opportunity to explore the ROM and its galleries and exhibitions free of charge. This collaborative initiative is made possible by the generous support of the ROM Governors and builds on the Museum’s Community Access Network, or ROM CAN, an innovative program launched in 2008 that provides free Museum tickets directly to communities and individuals who may not otherwise visit the Museum.
"We are delighted to expand our accessibility program to include a wonderful organization like SickKids,” said Dr. Marie Bountrogianni, President & Executive Director, ROM Governors. “We hope that a day of wonder and discovery at the Museum will provide some special moments for these children and their families.”
We are very excited about this opportunity. The passes that will be donated to the patients and families at SickKids will enable us to provide our patients with the opportunity to venture outside the hospital to enjoy a special experience with their families, give them a sense of normalcy, have fun and be KIDS!" said Caron Mills, Child Life Specialist, SickKids.
The passes, administered and distributed through the child life program at SickKids, are valid for the entire year, ensuring that families with children undergoing care can visit when it is convenient for them. For more information on this program, please contact Matet Nebres, SickKids Media Relations, at 416.813.6380.
The Child Life Program at SickKids focuses on the social and emotional impact that hospitalization and illness can have on patients and families. Child Life Specialists use play and child development knowledge to promote effective coping strategies, prepare and educate children about their hospital experience, and create a normal environment where children can grow, learn and play.
The Royal Ontario Museum Governors supports excellence in the work of the Royal Ontario Museum. Established in 1992, the ROM Governors coordinates all private-sector fundraising to ensure the stability and growth of the ROM’s endowments and to enhance its programs, collections and research. Currently the ROM Governors are engaged in supporting the work of Renaissance ROM, one of the largest museum projects in the world and one of the most significant cultural projects in Canada. Renaissance ROM has doubled the number of artifacts on display, enhanced public accessibility to the Museum, and sparked city-wide excitement in art, culture and the natural world.
For more information on the ROM’s Community Access Network, please visit www.rom.on.ca/visit/tickets.php#romcan.