Mandela Day: Emperors Palace makes Dream Room a reality at hospital

For two decades, Emperors Palace has been in the business of making dreams come true, and in keeping with its generous disposition, the casino donated R400 000 to Reach for a Dream to create the room at a paediatric oncology ward.

Peermont human resources executive Fihliwe Molefi and Emperors Palace's general manager for hospitality, Rekha Sohun, are with one of the patients who will benefit from this sanctuary for children with life-threatening illnesses, Ntlhakanipho Jada, at the opening of the Dream Room. (Photograph by Yolanda van der Stoep)

Emperors Palace has joined the prestigious list of companies who have funded a Dream Room through Reach For A Dream.

This serves as a sanctuary for children with life-threatening illnesses at the Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital.

An initiative that launched in 2018, Dream Rooms are dedicated spaces at hospitals for children and their families.

The Emperors Palace Dream Room is designed to help families escape an unfamiliar, and often intimidating, clinical environment to instead spend time in a colourful area that inspires delight in the people who visit.

In attendance at the opening of the facility was Emperors Palace’s general manager for hospitality, Rekha Sohun, and Peermont human resources executive Fihliwe Molefi, the CEO of the hospital, Gladys Bogoshi, and one of the patients who will benefit from this sanctuary for children with life-threatening illnesses, Ntlhakanipho Jada. (Photograph by Yolanda van der Stoep)

“Thanks to Emperors Palace, this is now our fifth room and we have 10 more rooms to complete before the end of 2019,” said Reach For A Dream Foundation CEO Julia Sotirianakos.

Sotirianakos said the Reach For A Dream Foundation has committed to 30 Dream Rooms at various hospitals around the country that supply critical care to hospitalised children between the ages of three and 18.

“Our 2019 aim is an ambitious one, and it is only thanks to partners like Emperors Palace that these dreams of ours can be brought to life.”

Peermont human resources executive Fihliwe Molefe (right) is with Dr Glenda Moonsamy (head of the paediatric oncology unit), Reach for a Dream’s Julia Sotiriakanos (CEO), Kevin Klaff (treasurer), Carla da Silva (director) and Mervyn Serebro (chairperson) at the ribbon-cutting ceremony. With them are three of the patients who will benefit from this sanctuary for children with life-threatening illnesses, Junior Royland Booysen, Ntlhakanipho Jada and Tumelo Kgoale. (Photograph by Yolanda van der

Emperors Palace general manager Clive Tavener said they are proud to be able to support a foundation that does so much to help and care for children suffering from severe illnesses and life-threatening conditions.

“We hope that the Emperors Palace Dream Room will help in a small way to provide a safe and comfortable haven for these children and their families, while they are undergoing treatment.”

Sotirianakos concluded: “Every year we help fulfil thousands of dreams for children, and our hope with the roll-out of these Dream Rooms is to help make a very difficult time a little easier, and hopefully a little happier, while they’re in hospital.”

To support other Dream Rooms around the country contact Natalie Lazaris at natalie@reachforadream.org.za