PRSSA Community Service Initiative 2012– UCSF Children’s Hospital

Posted on Oct 12, 2012 in PRSA 2012 International Conference | 0 comments

By Brian Price,  PRSSA 2012-13 Vice President of Chapter Development

More than 1,000 college students spread coast to coast are gathering in San Francisco for the Public Relations Student Society of America 2012 National Conference. As part of the Conference, an annual community service initiative takes place. This year PRSSA members are making homemade cards to lift the spirits of pediatric and adult patients at University of California, San Francisco Benioff Children’s Hospital and Medical Center. 

“We wanted to make a positive impact and to also localize our efforts,” National President Lauren Gray said. “We also wanted to create something our members would feel good about participating in and be a part of something special.”

Students are using their creative brainpower to come up with inspirational and uplifting messages along with helping patients celebrate Halloween. A number of distraction cards, used primarily with children during medical tests to divert attention, are also expected.

Some Chapters of PRSSA have turned this initiative into a miniature competition, making challenges to see who could create the most cards.

“A lot of members know each other from past national events. It was really fun to see them talking through social media, daring a friend’s Chapter to try and make more cards than theirs,” Vice President of Chapter Development Brian Price said.

Price, who organized the initiative, also said that PRSSA is donating unused card-making supplies such as markers, crayons, stickers and craft scissors to the Benioff Children’s Hospital. 

The PRSSA National Committee will personally deliver the homemade cards to UCSF at the conclusion of the Conference. 

Both the UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital and Medical Center are recognized throughout the world as leaders in health care innovation, specializing in a variety of conditions such as cancer, neurological disorders and women’s health. They are also both ranked as nation-leading hospitals according to U.S. News & World Report. 

Aside from the card-making drive, the PRSSA National Conference will also include workshops to develop successful public relations practitioners, sessions on industry sectors, a career exhibit and the opportunity to network with peers and professionals.