All Children’s Hospital Receives EduCat Mobile Classroom From USA Funds

Nine-year old Blake Smith of Venice, Fla., had big plans for the summer. He was going to ride his all-terrain vehicle and attend summer camp with friends. Blake’s plans drastically changed as the result of several leg fractures he suffered while riding his ATV, however. Blake will need to spend several weeks at All Children’s Hospital in St. Petersburg, Fla., as he recovers, and his friends will attend summer camp without him.

During Blake’s stay, a new EduCat mobile classroom, donated by USA Funds^®, is allowing him access to educational programs and to chat online with his friends at camp. USA Funds presented All Children’s Hospital the state’s first EduCat multimedia mobile classroom on June 19.

“We’re fortunate that USA Funds is so committed to helping youngsters overcome all types of obstacles to their academic success,” says Gail Armstrong, All Children’s patient academic services coordinator. “The EduCat helps conquer communication and academic challenges that may arise from an extended hospital stay and encourages kids to not only complete their schoolwork, but stay connected with friends and family.”

The EduCat mobile classroom is designed to be a link from hospitalized students to their schools and teachers. The EduCat includes a laptop computer, printer, school supplies, Internet access and other media tools. The mobile classroom will provide bed-bound patients with a private workspace and the tools to keep them current with their studies.

Featuring imagery of Garfield the comic-strip cat, the EduCat is decorated to make the cart fun for children. Garfield is the product of cartoonist Jim Davis, who has partnered with USA Funds and other organizations on a number of education-related initiatives.

Armstrong states that staying current on schoolwork and in contact with friends are normal activities in an otherwise unfamiliar hospital routine. The EduCat will make it easier for young patients at All Children’s Hospital to keep up with their peers in the classroom, and that can be important when they are well enough to return to school.

“This gift will permit children who are confined to their beds in the hospital to access computer equipment, books and other activities so they can follow their lessons and keep pace with their classmates in school,” says Kyle Malone, USA Funds scholarship and philanthropy manager. “Promotion of education is USA Funds’ primary focus, so we have a special concern that children who are hospitalized for extended periods don’t fall behind in their studies because of their hospital stay.”

Enhancements to future EduCat mobile classrooms will be developed based on feedback from patients, their families and hospital staff. The technology eventually will allow students to connect with their home schools, participate in lectures and communicate with peers and teachers from their hospital rooms.

USA Funds donated the first EduCat to Phoenix Children’s Hospital in Arizona in March. Carlos Sosa, president and design director of SosaGroup, designed the cart in conjunction with hospital educators at Phoenix. USA Funds plans to fund the development of future EduCat mobile classrooms.