Former MSU QB Drew Stanton delivers in the clutch for Sparrow Hospital
Cody Tucker
LANSING – Bright-colored toys line the shelves. Doll houses. Board games. Miniature castles. Stuffed animals.
The room is bright and inviting, done in light shades of blues and tans. Child-sized chairs are decorated with ducks, owls and frogs.
A wooden train set sits near one of the five large plate-glass windows that let in natural light and give a beautiful fifth-floor view of north Lansing.
This safe, fun play area, would not have been possible without Drew Stanton.
Stanton is best known for his exploits on the football field. He threw for more than 6,500 yards and 40 touchdowns as the quarterback of the Michigan State Spartans, numbers that made him a second-round NFL draft pick.
Thursday, the back-up QB of the Arizona Cardinals wasn’t reading a defense or preparing for a Monday night showdown. He was bent over, shaking hands with a patient in the Pediatric Playroom at Sparrow Hospital, a place his charity, The High 5ive Foundation, helped to pay for.
Stanton was born at Sparrow Hospital 33 years ago. It’s a place that is near and dear to his heart.
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“It started out small, and this vision is continuing to grow and grow,” Stanton said Thursday afternoon. “It’s the culmination today of what we have been able to accomplish as far as the playroom.”
Stanton’s mission with his foundation is to improve the lives of those with disabilities. He wants to raise awareness, help those in need reach their goals.
His foundation gave $75,000 for the Pediatric Playroom. But his work at Sparrow, along with the contributions of partner, Summit Contractors, Inc., is just the tip of the iceberg.
The High 5ive Foundation focuses on fundraising campaigns for several organizations, including Special Olympics Michigan, Children’s Miracle Network, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and Orchard’s Children’s Services.
In the end, he just wants to see a smile on a kid’s face.
“That’s what it’s all about,” Stanton said, looking at children playing throughout the room. “A playroom is meant to be played in. There should be toys everywhere, and there should be fun being had by everybody. That’s the goal of all of this.
“Seeing kids out here doing this, that’s what warms your heart because you know you had an impact. Hopefully there will be many more kids that come through here that get to enjoy it equally as much.”
Tom Hollandsworth, secretary treasurer of Summit Contractors, said it was important to his company to give back to a hospital and community that has done so much for them and their employees.
“Lots of local families work for us,” Hollansworth said. “The kids here are important. Plus, we live here.”
Stella Cash, vice president of development and strategic partnership for Sparrow, approached the large steel door that leads to the new playroom.
“Wow, this looks so nice up here now,” she said.
Cash talked about Sparrow being one of the only hospitals in the country with a “teen room,” a space for older kids to play video and board games. There is a new room for giving children shots so they don’t have to receive that painful treatment in their beds. Stanton helped with those projects, too.
“That shows the commitment and character of Drew,” Cash said. “It’s so important to our kids here. They are sick and in this weird place. They need a place to have fun.”
Kristin Stanton stood near the back of the room as her husband was honored. She has been as big a part of this as anyone. From charity golf outings to dinners, Kristin Stanton has been by her husband’s side working to give children in her home state a better life.
She graduated from MSU. Both of her nieces were born in this hospital. Watching children enjoy the toys and games The High 5ive Foundation has provided, for her, is seeing a big goal accomplished.
“We’ve been greatly blessed, so we want to spread that to the community,” she said. “It just feels right. To pull this off means so much.”
Contact Cody Tucker at (517) 377-1070 or cjtucker@lsj.com and follow him on Twitter @CodyTucker_LSJ.