Oceans of Hope foundation recognizes Florida Hospital

VOLUSIA AND FLAGLER COUNTIES, March 1, 2017 On Feb. 27, the Oceans of Hope Foundation recognized the Florida Hospital East Florida Region which is composed of the six Florida Hospitals in Volusia and Flagler counties with the Maverick Sponsors award for their on-going support. The Oceans of Hope Foundation is a non-profit organization based in New Smyrna Beach that provides adaptive ocean sport opportunities to individuals with limited mobility. With a mission to broaden the horizons for those challenged in life, the Oceans of Hope Foundation provides empowering ocean experiences that give hope to individuals and loved ones with mobility challenges. During 2016, the Florida Hospital East Florida Region was one of three corporate sponsors and hospital staff volunteered at the Oceans of Hope Foundations four key events. It is an amazing experience, as a volunteer, to meet the participants and share in their overwhelming joy to be able to get into the surf and, for that brief time, forget their physical handicap, said Marlene Thomas, Florida Hospital New Smyrna director of operations. Oceans of Hope Foundation was created by Danny Paltjon and Chris Sharpe. In May 2003, Paltjon sustained a serious spinal cord injury while playing in a men's softball game. The outdoorsman and athlete found himself now in a wheelchair and missing the beach. A decade later, Chris Sharpe was surfing in Hawaii and noticed an organization helping disabled individuals in the ocean. With that experience in mind, the duo formed the Oceans of Hope Foundation in 2014. About Florida Hospital East Florida Region A member of Adventist Health System, Florida Hospitals mission is to extend the healing ministry of Christ. Encompassing six Florida Hospitals in Volusia and Flagler counties, the Florida Hospital East Florida Region is the largest hospital system in the area, with 923 beds and more than 6,000 employees. The Florida Hospital East Florida Region includes Florida Hospital DeLand in DeLand, Florida Hospital Fish Memorial in Orange City, Florida Hospital Flagler in Palm Coast, Florida Hospital Memorial Medical Center in Daytona Beach, and Florida Hospital Oceanside in Ormond Beach. In April 2016, the sixth facility was added to the Florida Hospital East Florida Region family: Florida Hospital New Smyrna (formerly Bert Fish Medical Center) in New Smyrna Beach. Photo Caption: On Feb. 27, the Oceans of Hope Foundation recognized the Florida Hospital East Florida Region which is composed of the six Florida Hospitals in Volusia and Flagler counties with the Maverick Sponsors award for their on-going support. From left to right: Florida Hospital New Smyrna CEO Ken Mattison, Oceans of Hope Foundation fundraising director Bob Lovelace, Florida Hospital New Smyrna director of operations Marlene Thomas, and Oceans of Hope Foundation cofounder Danny Paltjon.