Patients at St. Joseph's Children's Hospital in Tampa received a visit and gifts from a future NFL Hall of Famer Friday morning: Tony Dungy.
The 2016 Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee and one-time head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, along with his wife Lauren, delivered more than 300 gift-filled baskets to patients and families as part of a program called "Super Baskets of Hope."
The program, led by Dungy and the Basket of Hope Foundation, seeks to provide children and families with comfort as they deal with medical challenges.
"Hospital stays are very difficult and Blake's been in in the hospital numerous times,” said Tami Zinke, who along her son Blake met the Dungys at St. Joseph's on Friday. "They made [Blake] feel very important and gave him an excellent day and a fantastic memory, better than the hospital memory."
Many of the baskets given out by the Dungys Friday at St. Joseph's were assembled in Santa Clara, CA, the site of Super Bowl 50 last week. They contained an array of toys, games, stuffed animals, and crafts.
The Dungys and the Basket of Hope Foundation also provided a number of Vera Bradley totes that were offered to parents of patients at St. Joseph's. The totes contained spiritually uplifting and comforting books, CDs, an inspirational journal, and other comfort items.
"It's just something to bring a little energy, a little emotion, a little fun and know that it's going to be OK,” said Dungy. "Sometimes the parents recognize us and say 'Oh, didn't you used to be the Bucs coach?' But for the kids, it's just, 'Who are those people who brought us those toys?' ”
Baskets of Hope plans to deliver more than 5,000 similar gift baskets to hospitalized children throughout 2016.
For more information about the Super Baskets of Hope program, visit BasketofHope.org.