Endowment Set to Fund Wellness Programs for Children in South Texas
(Edinburg, TX) Little Bear Produce Inc. has announced the development of the Little Bear Produce Child Life Endowment, with Driscoll Children’s Hospital. The endowment will be used to support the development of healthful programming and play activities in the South Texas based Children’s hospital.
Jimmy Bassetti, President and CEO for J&D/Little Bear said, “We are deeply humbled to be able to support the amazing work at Driscoll. Family is at the heart and soul of everything we do at Little Bear; we are blessed to be able to give back and provide a bit of comfort, support and love to South Texas children and their families who find themselves in difficult circumstances.”
Driscoll Children’s hospital was founded in 1953. It is a designated children’s hospital with a focus on delivering lifesaving care, groundbreaking research, and cutting-edge treatments for sick children throughout the South Texas region including the Rio Grande Valley, Corpus Christi, Victoria, and Laredo. The Child Life program enhances the patient and family experience during the hospital stay and ensures future follow-up care and good living habits long after a child’s hospital care is complete.
James Bassetti, COO said, “Food is our medicine; healthy fruits and vegetables play a foundational role in our overall health and food brings families together, all of which are essential components of our company’s core values. The beauty of this initiative is that it will go on in perpetuity; it will always exist with the sole purpose of delivering loving support, health and nutritional education, physical activities, and emotional support for sick children and their families.”
Matt Wolthoff, President of Driscoll Children’s Hospital Rio Grande Valley said, “Driscoll Children’s Hospital Rio Grande Valley, the Valley’s first designated children’s hospital, is scheduled to open and provide care for our first patient in May 2024. Among all of the dedicated pediatric services offered at the hospital, the Child Life Program is critical to world class pediatric care. Child Life Specialists are highly trained members of the care team and ensure a pediatric focused experience that includes opportunities for play, activities, health, and socialization.”
Founded by Jimmy & Diane Bassetti in 1986 in Edinburg, TX, Little Bear Produce is a year-round grower, packer, shipper, and fresh-cut processor of greens, melons and tearless Honey-Sweet Onions. Find out more about Little Bear at www.littlebearproduce.com.
Driscoll is the premier healthcare provider for kids in South Texas. We are a nonprofit healthcare system that has served communities in the Lone Star State since 1953. Today, Driscoll is the largest and fastest-growing healthcare system in the region, offering care at Driscoll Children’s Hospital in Corpus Christi and at specialty centers and clinics across South Texas. Soon, we’ll open Driscoll Children’s Hospital Rio Grande Valley, providing more access to care for kids in the region.