Ryan Seacrest, Selena Gomez Bring TV Studio To CHOP
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - Children's Hospital of Philadelphia now plays host to "The Voice," an in-house TV, radio and new media operation set up for patients to enjoy on both sides of the mic. It's a gift from TV and radio host Ryan Seacrest, along with NBC-Universal.
The kids were excited not just because their answer to Dick Clark was there. He brought teen sensation Selena Gomez along for the unveiling of this, the second such operation his foundation has set up. The first in Seacrest's home town of Atlanta.
"The courage that these kids have, the fearlessness that they have is the reason why I wanted to do this," Seacrest says. His foundation, with help from NBC-Universal, made sure all the bells and whistles were in this studio, along with hookups to each and every patient room, "This facility is a radio studio, as well as a TV studio and a new media studio, one that, quite frankly, I would be thrilled to work in every single day."
Doctor Stephanie Fuiller, a cardiothoracic surgeon at CHOP, sees "The Voice" as a great outlet for patients, "We can fix what's in the inside with our kids. What we can't do is replace what they're missing when they spend weeks, months up to a year in the hospital."
Mary Wilt of Clayton, a 15-year-old cancer patient, is one of those fearless kids. She says, "I think it'll help kids like me cope with what they are going through while being treated here."
Each room has a video and phone link to the studios in the lobby, so no one misses out on a thing. Interns will train the kids on how to use the equipment so they can put together their own shows for all inside to see and hear.
Reported by David Madden, KYW Newsradio 1060
