Bobby Ina says the motivation behind his annual toy drive is to bring smiles to children’s faces.
Bobby (second from left) and his family: Aunt & Uncle Rowena and Mike Ina, Mother Gizelle Ina & sister Danielle Zawoyski.
It’s now an annual autumn rite for Bobby Ina – invite your family, friends, and clients to a shopping spree for toys benefitting the patients of Akron Children’s.
Bobby’s latest shopping spree – his 10th – took place at the Fairlawn Target on Oct. 25 where a cool $12,000 was dropped on Legos, Bluey playhouses, Spiderman masks, dolls, action figures and many other toys for Akron Children’s patients. An additional $5,000 would be made in a donation.
All together, Ina and his donors have raised and spent $175,000 on toys across the ten years.
Ina, who is the managing partner of Metropolis Consulting, LLC, singled out his client, Sheet Metal Workers Local 33, for its generosity, donating more than $60,000 over the decade.
The child life specialists assisting with this year’s shopping spree were (bottom, left to right) Katie Fleck, Olivia Dujanovic, Renee Redenshek, Jaclyn Kickel and Sarah Gurbal.
Before the shopping began, Ina dedicated this year’s shopping spree to Akron Children’s child life specialists and even explained their role as health care professionals who help children and families cope with the stress and anxiety of illness, injury and other medical challenges.
“In other words,” said Ina, “they are angels.”
The child life specialists helped Ina develop their shopping lists, so there would be a good representation of toys for patients of all ages, genders and abilities. Because they work closely with children in all areas of the hospital – the ER, the critical care units, radiology, the inpatient units – they have a good understanding of what’s popular with kids and also what toys may be used by the hospital’s therapists to make their work more fun and engaging.
The vast majority of the toys, though, will be passed out on Dec. 23 when Santa Claus comes to visit Akron Children’s during his annual “Flight Before Christmas.”
Bobby got shopping assistance from some of his friends and clients: (left to right) Parma City Councilman Kevin Kussmaul, Ohio State Rep. Nick Santucci, Ashtabula County Auditor David Thomas and Heidi Workman. Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost and U.S. Rep. Max Miller also helped out with some toy shopping.
Mike Polk Jr, from WKYC TV, is intrigued by “surprise ball” toys.
Helen Aberegg, volunteer training specialist for Akron Children’s, is all smiles at check out.
A final group photo before departing! Until next year!
