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Started in 2006, 'Look Beyond the Walls' is a program designed to familiarize those working outside the hospital walls with those who will benefit from their efforts.
'Look Beyond the Walls' involves direct interaction between the Simon Family Tower construction crews, Riley Hospital for Children patients and their families and has created some unique bonds and lasting, meaningful relationships.
"We have some special people working on our building," says Donnie Reed, construction engineer, overseeing the Simon Family Tower construction. "And they understand who is inside."
The 'Look Beyond the Walls' program has several activities to help connect construction crews and patients:
- Bring Your Families to Work – Construction workers were encouraged to bring their families to the Simon Family Tower site for donuts, coffee and milk to help them understand the significance of this project to the Indiana community and beyond. Children of the workers were also invited to put their hand and foot prints in wet cement that will be incorporated into the landscape of the Simon Family Tower, thereby making their families a part of the project as well.
- Construction Day – Coordinated with Riley Hospital for Children's Child Life Services, construction workers volunteer to be part of 'Construction Day' where they participate in construction activities with Riley patients. Kids and construction workers decorate hard hats and tool pouches, create a Lego © Simon Family Tower construction site, design construction scenes with stickers, build their own cookies and draw their own building plans.
- Blood Drives – To continue helping the patients inside the hospital, Simon Family Tower construction crews participate in onsite blood drives. This makes their contact with the patients much more personal and allows them to be a part of the patient's healing process in more ways than building a new portion of the hospital.
- Operation 'Hard Hat' - When patients leave notes on their windows for the construction crews, workers will autograph a hard hat and deliver it to the patient's room, as well as other items such as safety glasses and a safety vest, so they can meet the child 'beyond the walls.'
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