Kids at Phoenix Children’s Hospital get special visit from former NFL head coach

PHOENIX — Just because they’re in the hospital doesn’t mean the kids at Phoenix Children’s Hospital can’t get into the Super Bowl spirit, and getting a visit from a former NFL head coach is a good way to do that.

Tuesday, former NFL player and coach, now turned NBC Analyst Tony Dungy stopped by Phoenix Children’s Hospital to visit with some of the kids and help pass out gift baskets.

“There’s a lot of toys, a lot of games, a lot of reading material – books and things, basically things that kids would enjoy,” Dungy said about the gift baskets passed out to the kids.

About 4,000 baskets were packed by more than 200 volunteers, including Dungy, at Vineyard Church in Glendale, Ariz. on Monday. Those baskets will be sent by FedEx to more than 20 children’s hospitals around the country, with about 250 distributed at Phoenix Children’s Hospital.

Alongside Arizona Cardinals players Mike Leach and Lorenzo Alexander, Dungy passed out the baskets to children and spent time speaking with them.
He said it’s a unique opportunity to help lift the kid’s spirits and let them know people are rooting for them.

“This is a great project to help them connect with kids who are in the hospital with all kinds of ailments,” Dungy said. “Bringing just a little joy and just a little hope is what the project is all about.”

Dungy said he has been volunteering with the Baskets of Hope organization that puts on the event for about 10 years.