Let Your Light Shine - The 2012 Brenner Prom
Prom is a milestone on the journey to high school graduation. It’s a time to dress up, dance, socialize and just have fun. But many of our teen patients in the Hematology/Oncology Unit miss their school’s prom.
Last year, 15-year-old patient Hailey Parker had a brilliant idea—a Brenner prom.
“She wanted Brenner teens to have an opportunity to go to prom, just like any other teen,” said Stacy Peterson, CCLS, Child Life Department, Brenner Children’s Hospital. “We made a list of items needed, and I started making calls to rally community support. We held a prom for the first time last year.”
On August 4, Brenner held its second annual prom at the Hawthorne Inn ballroom in Winston-Salem. The theme was “Let Your Light Shine.” All Hematology/Oncology patients from ages 13 to 18 were invited to attend and bring a guest.
“The prom is a way for these teens to feel beautiful, forget about their illness, and just have a good time,” said Peterson. “You see the smiles on their faces, and you know it’s worthwhile.”
Generous Sponsors
“Thanks to generous donations from our own Medical Center as well as community members and businesses, we held a very successful event,” said Peterson.
Community sponsors and donations included the following:
- Olive Garden – pasta
- Oso Eats Restaurant – pasta
- Cold Stone Creamery – ice cream cart
- Ketchie Creek Bakery – cake
- Savory Spoon – salad
- Mellow Mushroom– pizzas
- DJ Glenn Snider Mobile Entertainment – DJ services, equipment
- A Daisy a Day Florist – floral arrangement, greenery for photos, table decorations
- BoTy Florist – corsages and boutonnieres
- Prints Charming Photo Booth – photo booth services at reduced rate
- The Hawthorne Inn – ballroom, glassware, dinnerware and water
- Childhood Dreams Foundation, Inc. – decorations
- Lori Snyder Jewelry – jewelry
- Jenna Stephenson with JWest Salon – on-site hair services before prom
- Wendy Bowman with Bobbi Brown Cosmetics – on-site makeup and nail services before prom
- Julie Hartsell with Stella and Dot Jewelry – 75 percent of sales consultant’s profit from private party and necklace for raffle
Services donated by the Medical Center are listed below:
- The Child Life Department - hosts of event
- Security staff - security for event venue
- Creative Communications - photography
- Food & Nutrition Services - tea, lemonade and breadsticks
- The Gift Shop - gift bags and helium-filled balloons
- Internal Communications - video
Hailey’s Legacy
Sadly, Hailey passed away earlier this year. Her parents attended the Brenner prom in support of their daughter and her legacy she has left for other teens at Brenner.
“This event, born of a patient’s dream, is a beautiful example of I CARE at its best,” said Julie Barnes, RN, BSN, Family Centered Care Manager, Brenner Children’s Hospital. “This is what patient-centered care is all about.”