The Panda Cares Foundation, the charitable arm of Panda Express, has donated nearly 20,000 protective masks to Nicklaus Children’s Hospital. With COVID-19 cases on the rise in Florida and protective gear supplies still in record demand, the generous mask donation will continue to keep frontline healthcare workers and patients safe.
The Panda Express donation includes 18,000 single-use surgical masks and 1,980 KN95 respirator face masks. The donation will make a difference at Nicklaus Children’s Hospital, where approximately 20,000 protective face masks are used per week. The hospital has ramped up its elective surgeries and appointments with new safety precautions in place, but higher supply costs have been a challenge.
“The safety of our patients and healthcare workers is our top priority as we continue to serve children and families in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, and we are grateful to Panda Cares Foundation for their generous donation of protective gear,” said Perry Ann Reed, Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Nicklaus Children’s Health System and President of Nicklaus Children’s Hospital. “With help from generous donors in our community, we continue to ensure safety and peace of mind for our staff, patients and families.”
“Supporting the healthcare community has always been a priority for Panda Express, and we are blessed to have a partner with shared values of giving and inspiring better lives,” said Dr. Peggy Cherng, Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Panda Restaurant Group. “It is our privilege to be able to protect and provide comfort to the selfless hospital staff and patients at CMN Hospitals. We thank our guests and associates for their generosity and support that make these donations possible. We stand together to be stronger together.”
Panda Express is a corporate partner of Nicklaus Children’s through Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals®. Nicklaus Children’s Hospital is the exclusive Children’s Miracle Network Hospital in Miami-Dade, Broward and Monroe Counties. Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals® (CMNH) is a non-profit organization dedicated to raising funds and awareness for 170 children’s hospitals across North America. Its core philosophy is to keep 100 percent of donations in the local area in which they are raised.
Learn more about how Nicklaus Children’s Hospital is responding to the COVID-19 pandemic at nicklauschildrens.org/COVID19. For more information on how you can support the greatest needs at Nicklaus Children’s Hospital during this time, visit nicklauschildrens.org/COVID19Fund.
About Nicklaus Children’s Hospital Foundation
Nicklaus Children’s Hospital Foundation (NCHF) is a not-for profit 501(c)(3) organization established to support the creation of a world-class pediatric hospital so no child needs to leave South Florida for superior medical care. “Funding World-Class Care” and following the principle that all children deserve state-of-the-art pediatric care, NCHF, now a part of the Nicklaus Children’s Health System, has helped the 309-bed Nicklaus Children’s Hospital become a leader in pediatric healthcare with nearly 800 attending physicians and more than 475 pediatric subspecialists. For more information, visit www.give.nicklauschildrens.org
About Panda Express®
On a mission to inspire better lives, Panda Express, home of American Chinese comfort food, is the largest Asian dining concept in the U.S. Family-owned and operated since 1983 by co-founders and co-CEOs Andrew and Peggy Cherng, Panda Express is best known for creating a wide variety of industry-first recipes, including its best seller the Original Orange Chicken® and award-winning Honey Walnut Shrimp, which have defined the category of authentic American Chinese cuisine. Each dish at Panda Express, including the Wok Smart® selections, is thoughtfully crafted with quality ingredients and inspired by bold Chinese flavors and culinary principles. The restaurant brand has more than 2,200 locations throughout the U.S. and has introduced American Chinese cuisine to more than ten international countries. Powered by this global family of associates, Panda Cares, the organization's philanthropic arm, has raised more than $196 million and countless volunteer hours in bettering the health and education for over 12 million youths as well as supporting communities in need since 1999. In 2020, Panda established the Panda Cares Scholars Program to provide the necessary funding, academic support and leadership development to help high school and college students learn, lead and thrive towards a bright future. For more information, visit pandaexpress.com, or find us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.
About Children's Miracle Network Hospitals
Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals® raises funds and awareness for 170 member hospitals that provide 32 million treatments each year to kids across the U.S. and Canada. Donations stay local to fund critical treatments and healthcare services, pediatric medical equipment and charitable care. Since 1983, Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals has raised more than $7 billion, most of it $1 at a time through the charity's Miracle Balloon icon. Its various fundraising partners and programs support the nonprofit's mission to save and improve the lives of as many children as possible. Find out why children's hospitals need community support, and learn about your member hospital, at CMNHospitals.org and facebook.com/CMNHospitals.