Spreading Joy
Brianna Kurz, RN (left), an ED nurse from Cooper University Hospital Cape Regional, and Ava Builione, Founder of Creature Comfort (right) give a pediatric patient a “Bigfoot Kin” Comfort Creature Huggable Companion.
Creature Comfort Foundation Focuses on Spreading Joy to Pediatric Patients at Cooper University Hospital Cape Regional
For Immediate Release September 12, 2024
(CAPE MAY COURT HOUSE, NJ) – Ava Builione is on a mission to bring joy and encouragement to children undergoing medical care through her Creature Comfort Foundation. Her vision is simple but powerful: to provide huggable companions that offer comfort and a sense of security to young patients in hospitals. “I founded Creature Comfort to combine my passion for medicine with my love for children,” said Ava. “These aren’t just toys – they are ambassadors of comfort, chosen to bring warmth to children during challenging medical experiences.”
Recently, Ava made a special visit to the Emergency Department at Cooper University Hospital Cape Regional delivering 100 Creature Comforts plush companions which will be distributed to children being cared for at the hospital. The hope is that these cuddly creatures will help alleviate the fear and anxiety many children experience when receiving medical care.
“A hospital emergency room visit can be a very scary experience for a child,” noted Thomas Piratzky, Executive Director of Cooper University Hospital Cape Regional’s Foundation. “The Creature Comfort Program helps our youngest patients feel at ease, and their parents are equally grateful. We’re thrilled to have this wonderful program here!”
Jackie Noll, Director of the Emergency Department at Cooper University Hospital Cape Regional, added, “I love seeing the smiles on children’s faces when we give them a stuffed animal. These toys provide comfort, which helps our staff deliver more effective medical care.”
The Creature Comfort Foundation continues to spread its message of compassion and comfort, ensuring that children facing medical challenges receive not only the care they need but also a little extra warmth and joy along the way.
About Creature Comforts - A Story of Compassion and Hope – Ava Builione, Founder of Creature Comfort
During her volunteer shift at her local hospital, Ava noticed a crying child and his anxious parents trying to console him. After asking permission, Ava handed over a teddy bear to the child who immediately smiled and hugged his new best friend, much to the relief of his parents. That day, Ava realized the power of such a small act of kindness for children and their loved ones, and she proposed a partnership with the head nurse at her local hospital to start a non-profit organization to help children in regional hospitals everywhere. Creature Comforts aims to bring smiles to every child undergoing medical care. Visit creaturecomfort.org for more information.
About Cooper University Health Care
Cooper University Health Care, with its MD Anderson Cancer Center at Cooper and affiliation with Cooper Medical School of Rowan University, is a leading academic health system. Cooper has more than 11,000 team members, including nearly 1,600 nurses, more than 1,000 employed physicians, and more than 550 advanced practice providers.
Cooper University Hospital has been recognized as a top-performing regional hospital by U.S. News & World Report’s Best Hospitals annual survey for six years.
Cooper has revenues of more than $2 billion and, along with its new upgraded “A” rating from S&P, recently received an A+ credit rating from Fitch Ratings. Cooper University Hospital is the only Level 1 Trauma Center in South Jersey and the busiest in the region. More than two million patients are served annually at Cooper’s 663-bed flagship hospital in Camden and 229-bed Cooper University Hospital Cape Regional in Cape May Court House.
Cooper’s ambulatory network encompasses three outpatient surgery centers, several urgent care centers, a wound care center, and more than 130 physician, physical therapy and radiology offices extending from the Delaware River to the New Jersey shore. Cooper has been named as one of America’s Best Employers by Forbes for three consecutive years.
The Cooper Health Sciences campus in Camden, New Jersey, is home to Cooper University Hospital, MD Anderson Cancer Center at Cooper, Children’s Regional Hospital at Cooper, and Cooper Medical School of Rowan University.
Visit CooperHealth.org to learn more.
Photo caption: Brianna Kurz, RN (left), an ED nurse from Cooper University Hospital Cape Regional, and Ava Builione, Founder of Creature Comfort (right) give a pediatric patient a “Bigfoot Kin” Comfort Creature Huggable Companion.
Susan G. Staeger
Manager, Marketing and Public Relations
Cooper University Hospital Cape Regional
609.463.2059 office | 609.369.7894 cell