Panda Express Commits $8 Million Gift to Support Children’s Hospital Colorado
June 25, 2021
Largest corporate commitment to date will fund patient and family makerspace.
AURORA, Colo. (June 25, 2021) — Panda Express®, the largest family-owned and operated Asian dining concept in the U.S., committed to a gift of $8.3 million to Children’s Hospital Colorado over the next 10 years through its Panda Cares Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Panda Restaurant Group, which owns Panda Express®. This multi-million-dollar gift is the largest corporate commitment in the history of Children’s Hospital Colorado Foundation.
The Panda Cares® Center of Hope is a nationwide initiative in partnership with Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals (CMN Hospitals). The Panda Cares® Centers of Hope across the country are made possible by donations from Panda Express® guests and associates. The Centers of Hope promote healing by providing specially curated programs that address each child’s entire well-being, including their mental, emotional, physical and spiritual needs. Funds raised in-store and online go to each store’s local community.
The more than $8 million donation will support the establishment of a Panda Cares® Center of Hope at Children’s Colorado, which will host a Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (STEAM) makerspace for patients and families. The space will include new computers, 3D printers, green screens, laser cutters, digital instruments and more. The Panda Cares® Center of Hope will be a place where patients and families at Children’s Colorado can create, learn and explore as children heal. Panda Express® will also provide mobile makerspace carts to ensure that patients who cannot leave their hospital rooms can also take part in these opportunities to design and construct various activities.
Since 2007, Panda Express® and Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals have partnered together to change kids’ health and change the future. To date, Panda has raised more than $100 million for numerous CMN Hospitals, including over $1 million for Children’s Colorado.
“We are so grateful for our partnership with Panda Express® at Children’s Colorado,” said Jennifer Darling, president and CEO of the Children’s Colorado Foundation. “This extraordinary gift will allow our Child Life teams to provide kids with a space to be creative, inspired and inventive as part of our healing environment. On behalf of all the patients and families we serve, we are so proud to be the recipient of this donation – and are so grateful for Panda Express® and the Panda Cares Foundation for their incredible generosity and commitment to our mission.”
Media Contact
Erin Bodine, 720-470-2965
ebodine@childrenscoloradofoundation.org