Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, one of the largest pediatric health care systems in the country, expects more than 1,200 patients in their hospitals during the last two weeks of this year.

In a news release late last month, Children’s announced it is partnering with the Verizon Foundation to launch the second Share the Hope campaign. This year’s video and digital sharing campaign, which encourages people to send supportive messages to patients who must spend their holidays in the hospital, launched last month on www.ShareWithChildrens.org.

The Share the Hope video, created by local advertising agency BKV, shows some of the inspiring faces of children who were treated at Children’s this year. As viewers watch the heartfelt video, they are invited to submit an encouraging message for patients to read over the holidays. Donations will also be accepted, with the initial contribution coming from the Verizon Foundation, who has pledged a gift of $3 per message, up to $30,000.

“The messages the community sent our patients last season spread joy through the halls of our hospitals,” said Scott Hodoval, vice president of development at Children’s. “We want to provide that same message of hope to patients and families this year and look forward to surpassing the 8,000 messages we collected in 2011.”

Lex Money, a 4-year-old boy from Cornelia who recently received his second heart transplant at Children’s, participated in this year’s Share the Hope video. Last year, Lex and his family were deeply moved by the 2011 campaign messages they viewed while staying at Children’s over the holidays, so they understand firsthand the importance of the hope-filled campaign.

Messages for the patients will be displayed on closed-circuit TVs throughout the hospital during the last two weeks of the year.

Information: www.ShareWithChildrens.org.