In February, Utah Jazz President Randy Rigby and the team’s mascot, Bear, helped Primary Children’s Medical Center open a new Jazz-themed interventional radiology suite. Rigby and Bear participated in a ribbon-cutting ceremony with Primary Children’s new chief executive officer, Katy Welkie, hospital staff and 11-year-old patient Hunter Shipman.
The team, in conjunction with Primary Children’s, renovated the radiology suite into a child-friendly environment that features the Jazz logo and colors, oversized player and mascot photos, autographed ceiling tiles, signed memorabilia and video greetings from Jazz players.
Rigby said, “The Utah Jazz values its long-standing relationship with Primary Children’s Medical Center and is grateful for the opportunity to collaborate on a project that will benefit so many children. Our goal was to create a comfortable and welcoming environment that would help young patients feel at ease.”
The Utah Jazz has supported Primary Children’s for many years by participating in fundraising events, contributing donations, and offering donated tickets to patients and their families. Shortly after the franchise moved to Utah, Jazz coaches and players began visiting children at the hospital each December, a tradition that continues today.
