Fun, festive and fulfilling

The Green Bay Holiday Parade, hosted by Downtown Green Bay, Inc. has been a staple of the holiday season for the thousands of people who line the streets along its route, but for parade sponsor HSHS St. Vincent Children’s Hospital, the Holiday Parade is about more than just festive floats and holiday cheer — it’s about giving back to a community that has given so much to them.

“Our children’s hospital was fully funded by the community and we are forever grateful for that… Our friends and neighbors donate things so that when kids are harem they have experiences through our childlife program that we wouldn’t be able to offer them if we didn’t have the support from our community,” said HSHS St. Vincent Children’s Hospital Director of Nursing Amy Bardon. “We are blessed to be able to give back in ways like supporting the parade, where families and neighbors can come together and celebrate during a festive time.”

Over the Children’s Hospital’s history, a consistent goal has been bringing healing and happiness to local children and families — whether that’s within the hospital’s walls, out in the community, or even at the Holiday Parade.

“We have been serving children and kids in Green Bay for decades — over 130 years — and have been the only children’s hospital in the Green Bay area for the past decade,” Bardon said. “[The parade] really aligns with our mission which is really being there for families, our neighbors and our kids in all that we do, encompassing hope and joy and ensuring that they have well-being and get back to doing what they love most. We are beyond excited to be part of this long-standing tradition.”

What’s the best part of parade day? Bardon said, “It’s the smiles and the excitement and the joy… The fun thing is seeing everybody interact and really come together as a community and celebrate during a fun, festive time.”

And the parade has proven to be not only fun and festive, but also fulfilling for the Children’s Hospital staff members who participate in the parade.

“When you walk through the hospital and see some of our patients that may have not been here just once, but more than once, and then you see them when we’ve been part of their healthcare journey and we’re able to help them heal and get back to doing what they love most and they’re on the streets and they’re waving and our teams are walking in the parade and they can see them and they have smiling faces… That’s one of the most fulfilling things for us as a team, to be able to see that we can make a difference,” Bardon said. “Really, that encompasses what we do and fulfills all of us. It really brings it all together.”

Find more details about this year’s Green Bay Holiday Parade at downtowngreenbay.com/explore/downtown-events/holiday-parade.

Learn more about HSHS St. Vincent Children’s Hospital at hshs.org/st-vincent-childrens.