Columbus Children's Hospital... of course I mean Nationwide Children's Hospital made the New York Times today... for a controversy over Abercrombie & Fitch donating $10 million... to the hospital and naming the new emergency facility, The Abercrombie & Fitch Emergency Department and Trauma Center.
A number of childrens advocacy groups and individuals make up the coalition protesting the hospital ... taking the money? or letting them use the A&F name on the facility.... ? I know they are saying it is not right ... but I am not sure if they are saying "don't take the money" or 'take the money just don't name the new facility Abercrombie & Fitch. Quoting Jon M. Fitzgerald the president of the Nationwide Children’s Hospital Foundation, the New York Times says:
“We don’t sell naming rights,” Mr. Fitzgerald said. “We as a nonprofit accept gifts to support our mission. We’re looking for philanthropic support.”
Even bad publicity is good publicity for Abercrombie & Fitch? The New York Times article quotes a member of the coalition protesting the "naming rights" :
"One school of thought holds that complaints from parents and the establishment only elevate the brand’s appeal with the target audience."
I'd love to hear from you if you have a comment on the topic of Nationwide Childrens Hospital and Abercrombie & Fitch. All comments are moderated so you will not see your comment immediately. Thanks. Copyright 2008 Discover Columbus and Maureen McCabe
Mar. 12, 2008 - RE: Columbus Children's Hospital...
Posted by Sue Fisher
This is pathetic. If this money is indeed a "gift", there should be absolutely no strings attached to it, such as being required to plaster the corporate name all over the hospital facility. It is not a "gift". It is a way for A&F to make themselves feel better about the disgusting marketing they do to young people today.
Here's a question for Children's......If Hustler magazine offered you $20 million to rename the ICU the "Hustler ICU", would you? The sad thing is that, most likely, the administrators would not like to answer that question.....in case Hustler gives them a call tomorrow!
The pediatrician CEO who led Children's, Dr. Tom Hansen, left almost a year ago and was replaced (cherry picked by Abigail Wexner) by an anesthesiologist who does not feel strongly about advocating for children, only his own paycheck. With Ms. Wexner steamrolling herself to the top of the heap at Children's (not to mention most other prominent positions in the city of Columbus), I shudder to think what could possibly come next.
Thanks for the comment Sue. The question re: Hustler is interesting... Do you think the name of the hospital should not have been changed to Nationwide?
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Originally named "Columbus Best Blog," it was never the best blog in Columbus Ohio. It was a blog about the best in Columbus and Central Ohio! Best restaurants, best real estate company, best schools, best neighborhoods..... written by Maureen McCabe a licensed real estate agent with Columbus Ohio's best real estate company, Real Living HER.
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