The Ryan Seacrest Foundation recently announced a new initiative to build broadcast media centers within pediatric hospitals and recently began construction of its first center in Seacrest’s hometown at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta.

“Throughout my 20-year career in the entertainment business, I’ve visited numerous hospitals and centers across the country that have the weighty task of caring for children facing challenges because of life-threatening disease or injury,” said Seacrest, the “American Idol” host who launched the nonprofit to enhance the quality of life for seriously ill and injured children through unique programs that utilize multimedia and interactive platforms to enlighten, entertain and educate.

“I have consistently been amazed by the courage of the children and their families and in awe of the tireless dedication and brilliance of doctors and hospital staff who work to give hope and solutions to so many families on a daily basis,” he added. “As a result of my experiences, I wanted to have a more lasting impact on children’s lives.”

The foundation’s aim is to contribute positively to the healing process for children and their families during their stay by developing these centers to bring an uplifting spirit to the hospital community. The first center will be located in the lobby of Children’s at Egleston in DeKalb County and will also be linked to Children’s at Hughes Spalding in downtown Atlanta and Children’s at Scottish Rite in Sandy Springs. Future plans include links to the two Atlanta Ronald McDonald Houses, which are located near the Egleston and Scottish Rite campuses.

“Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta is proud to be the recipient of the Ryan Seacrest Foundation’s first broadcast media center. We are thrilled to be able to provide this unique opportunity for our patients to experience the exciting realm of radio and television during their hospital stay,” said Donna Hyland, president and CEO of Children’s. “We are grateful to Ryan and his family for their generosity, and we are especially honored Ryan chose to start this initiative at Children’s and contribute to making this such a special environment for our patients and their families."

The center also will involve students from local journalism schools, colleges and universities to provide them with the opportunity to gain first-hand experience in broadcasting, programming and operating a multimedia center. The center at Children’s will be named THE VOICE in homage to Seacrest’s early broadcasting days at Dunwoody High School. It is scheduled to open in early November.

Information: (404) 250-KIDS or visit www.choa.org.