Good Humor T-Shirts Support Akron Children’s

BOARDMAN, Ohio – Akron Children’s Hospital is close to the heart of Linda Barton, CEO of New Dawn Design. So much so that her newest products will support the health care system that aided her daughter after she spent two weeks there recuperating from an illness.

“I feel like they saved my daughter,” she said. “For me to have a fundraiser linked to something that is so close to my heart motivates me.”

Barton joined hospital officials Friday to celebrate the launch a new line of T-shirts, proceeds of which will be donated to Akron Children’s.

“Community is huge,” Barton said. “Akron Children’s raises money to help kids in our community, so they’re raising money for the next generation of people who are going to take care of us when we get old.” 

At least 20% of the proceeds from every T-shirt sold will go to the hospital’s Neonatal Intensive Care unit, said Jillian Chahine, development associate at Akron Children’s Hospital Mahoning Valley Foundation said. The funds could also be used for gas gift cards for parents to get from one place to the next, every day needs, equipment and beds for the unit, which run for $40,000 each.

“We live by the three promises of the hospital – to treat every child as if they were our own, to treat everyone how they would want to be treated and to turn no child away including with an inability to pay,” she said. “Because of the philanthropic support, we are able to live up to those three promises.” 

Since April 2019, Barton worked with Unilever to acquire the license to print the history of the Good Humor ice cream brand, which originated in Youngstown, onto T-shirts. Through her Sweet Memories Vintage Tee Designs side company, Barton is honoring the 100-year anniversary of Good Humor with T-shirts printed with vintage advertisement designs. 

The Beeghly Campus, which opened 10 years ago, employs 800, Chahine said. In 2019, the hospital saw more than 1 million patient visits, she said. 

Pictured: Akron Children’s Hospital Mahoning Valley Foundation development associate Jillian Chahine and New Dawn Design founder Linda Barton.

Copyright 2024 The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.