The holidays will be brighter for hundreds of South Jersey children this year, thanks to the Joseph Lacroce Foundation. The Haddonfield, N.J.-based charitable organization recently delivered a box truck filled with toys, games, and craft sets to Virtua Voorhees Hospital.
About 150 volunteers unloaded and sorted the holiday gifts, which will be distributed over the coming weeks to children in pediatric units at Virtua hospitals and those served by other Virtua programs across Burlington, Camden, and Gloucester counties (details below).
A festive parade of about 75 classic and exotic cars accompanied Virtua’s two Pediatric Mobile Services Units to help deliver the toys.
“I’m grateful for the many generous supporters who donated and assisted with this year’s event—the 14th consecutive Toy Run for Virtua,” said Sam Lacroce, founder and president of the Joseph Lacroce Foundation. “Helping children truly lifts all of our spirits, especially during the holidays.”
Earlier that day, Lacroce presented a check toward its second, $1 million pledge made in 2023 to help expand Virtua’s Pediatric Mobile Services Program. The organization’s first $1 million pledge in 2016 fueled the launch of the program. Learn more about the Joseph Lacroce Foundation’s support of Virtua here.
During the event, volunteers unloaded and passed the toys – bucket-brigade style – into the hospital, where pediatric staff and other employees sorted the gifts by ages and interests.
The donated toys will be given to children served by:
- Virtua’s pediatric hospital units, which are located at Virtua Mount Holly and Virtua Voorhees hospitals and operate in partnership with Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.
- Virtua’s Pediatric Mobile Services Units as they visit sites across Burlington, Camden, and Gloucester counties
- CASTLE, Virtua’s pediatric behavioral health program in Berlin, Camden, and Willingboro.
| Pediatric Mobile Services is an innovative program on wheels featuring two specially designed vans staffed by pediatric specialists who provide vital services, including dental and developmental screenings, blood lead level testing, lead poisoning education, vaccinations, back-to-school physicals, vision and hearing screenings, and referrals to additional services and resources.Sam Lacroce founded the local non-profit Joseph Lacroce Foundation in 2011 in memory of his son Joseph, who passed away from leukemia in 1975 at age 12.Virtua Health is South Jersey largest health system, and has a partnership in pediatric care with Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. |
About Virtua Health:
Marlton, N.J.-based Virtua Health is an academic health system committed to helping the people of South Jersey be well, get well, and stay well by providing the complete spectrum of advanced, accessible, and trusted health care services. Virtua’s 16,000 colleagues provide tertiary care, including renowned cardiology and transplant programs, complemented by a community-based care portfolio. In addition to five hospitals, two satellite emergency departments, 42 ambulatory surgery centers, and more than 400 other locations, Virtua brings health services directly into communities through Hospital at Home, physical therapy and rehabilitation, mobile screenings, and its paramedic program.
Virtua has 3,000 affiliated doctors and other clinicians, and its specialties include cardiovascular and gastrointestinal health, orthopedics, advanced surgery, and maternity. Virtua is academically affiliated with Rowan University, leading research, innovation, and immersive education at the Virtua Health College of Medicine & Life Sciences of Rowan University. Virtua is also affiliated with Penn Medicine for cancer care and neurosciences, and the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia for pediatrics.
As a not-for-profit health system, Virtua is committed to the well-being of the community and provides innovative outreach programs that address social challenges affecting health, most notably the “Eat Well” food access initiative, which includes the unparalleled Eat Well Mobile Grocery Store. Discover more at virtua.org.