Encompass Group selected Starlight Children's Foundation as its national charity partner last year and then enlisted Starlight’s children to help design its next line of pediatric patient apparel, professional staff apparel, bedding and patient care products. Encompass and Starlight are pleased to announce the winners of its Starlight Pediatric Gowns design contest:

• Myron Laban, 16, of Des Plaines, IL
  
• Noah Yosif, 15, of Chicago, IL
  
• Anna Kristina Alfaro, 11, of San Antonio, TX
  
• Rebecca Gordon, 14, of Manhattan, IL

Encompass Group is a leading manufacturer and marketer of reusable textiles, professional apparel, therapeutic support surfaces and disposable and single use medical products.

"At Starlight, we understand what families go through when a child is critically ill and how important it is to find relief from constant worry and isolation," said Jacqueline Hart-Ibrahim, Chief Executive Officer at Starlight. "It was heartwarming to see Starlight children create artwork to produce fun patient gowns. We are so proud of the winning designs and are excited to partner with Encompass in bringing joy to young patients."

Starlight's seriously ill children and their siblings - all too familiar with hospital stays - submitted more than 325 designs from across the US and Canada based on the theme of what should be on a pediatric gown to cheer up patients during a scary and lonely hospital stay.

Encompass employees then selected four winning designs.

"We were genuinely moved by this opportunity," said Michelle Daniels, Director of Marketing at Encompass. "The project reinforces Encompass' mission of creating safe and comfortable environments for patients, staff, residents and guests. By being involved in the creation of these gowns, Encompass hopes to help make the hospital experience a little more fun and comforting for the children and their families faced with difficult situations."

The four winning artists unveiled their designs and were honored during two separate Starlight Hospital Happening® events that took place at hospitals where they or a sibling regularly receive treatment for a serious illness.

On Dec. 8, 2010, winners Myron Laban, Noah Yosif and Rebecca Gordon unveiled their designs at Advocate Lutheran General Hospital in Chicago, IL.

On Dec, 15, 2010, winner Anna Kristina Alfaro unveiled her design at Methodist Children's Hospital in San Antonio, TX.

"It felt really great to know that my design was selected," shared Noah. Diagnosed with asthma when he was just 10 years old, Noah's biggest goal in life is to overcome his disease, finish school and travel around the world. The Great Wall of China, Taj Mahal and Golden Gate Bridge are some of the inspirations behind his design, "One Small Star."

He continues, "My design was meant to motivate young hospitalized patients to never stop dreaming about the great places and great experiences they will have one day. My design tells young patients that hoping for better days isn’t a bad thing. In fact, it will only make them stronger."

"One Small Star" and the contest's other winning designs are featured at www.starlight.org/encompass.

The Starlight Gowns are available now.

About Encompass Group
Encompass Group, LLC (McDonough, GA) is one of the leading manufacturers and marketers of reusable textiles, professional apparel, therapeutic support surfaces and disposable and single use medical products.

For nearly a century, Encompass has been helping health care and hospitality organizations create safe and comfortable environments for patients, staff, residents and guests.

By focusing on innovation, product knowledge and customer service, we strive to always meet the needs of our clients and surpass their expectations.

Our people and services, combined with our comprehensive distribution and manufacturing facilities, allow Encompass to offer our customers the broadest spectrum of textile related solutions in the health care marketplace today.

About Starlight Children's Foundation:
When a child or teenager has a serious medical condition, everyone in the family is affected. For more than 25 years, Starlight Children's Foundation™ has been dedicated to helping seriously ill children and their families cope with their pain, fear and isolation through entertainment, education and family activities. Starlight's programs have been proven to distract children from their pain, help them better understand and manage their illnesses, and connect families facing similar challenges so that no one feels alone. Through a network of chapters and offices, Starlight provides ongoing support to children, parents and siblings in all U.S. states and Canadian provinces with an array of outpatient, hospital-based and Web offerings. Programs are also delivered internationally through affiliates in Australia, Japan and the United Kingdom. To learn more visit www.starlight.org.

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