It's the 8th such play area by Brooks' foundation in a US hospital
Country music superstar Garth Brooks came to Phoenix on Friday to dedicate another "Child Life Zone," a state-of-the-art play area for kids from toddlers through teens at Phoenix Children's Hospital.
It's the eighth such play area funded by the Garth Brooks-Troy Aikman Teammates for Kids Foundation, which works to raise money for children's charities nationwide. Since 1999, the foundation has raised over $100 million, distributing over $80 million in cash, gifts, and scholarships, and building a $25 million endowment to ensure that the fight for kids' needs continues in the future.
Each "Child Life Zone" costs approx. a million dollars.
Brooks acted as the grand marshal for a parade – complete with a marching band – down the main hallway of Phoenix Children's Hospital on Friday afternoon, then attended the official dedication ceremony for the play room.
Brooks told KFYI News that the goal of the room is "to make sure kids get to be kids. It's hard enough for a kid to be sick, but then never getting to be a kid while they're sick is tough."
The play rooms have amusements including air hockey, Wii, board games, and video games, as well as music videos.
Brooks told several dozen children at the dedication ceremony, many of whom were in wheelchairs with multiple IVs hooked up to their bodies, "This zone is yours. I'm challenging you today to wear it out. If you wear it out, we'll rebuild it."
PHOTO: Garth Brooks leads a parade down a hallway filled with patients, their parents, and employees at Phoenix Children's Hospital.
