NSU will host the 14th annual A Day for Children, a health fair for children ages 2 through 16, on Sept. 21 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the Alvin Sherman Library Quad.
Representatives from local health groups, organizations and companies such as Children’s Services Council, Crime Stoppers, Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital and Florida Blue will have informational and activity booths set up to answer questions about child health and well-being and to engage with the community. The event will include 27 sponsors and 175 vendors and 15,000 are expected to attend.
Ronnie Oller, chairperson of the event, said it is important to her that the people in the county know about the health services that surround them.
“We are looking to enhance the education of everyone [who attends],” Ronnie Oller said. “You can leave your wallets at home; you can come here and enjoy the entire day with your kids; and you can go home with a wealth of material of what’s available to children.”
NSU’s health care centers will also provide free assessments for hearing and balance, vision, speech-language and dental health. Attendees will also be able to acquire free fingerprint and ID cards from the Broward County Sheriff’s Office, haircuts from AVEDA hair salon and a library card from the Alvin Sherman Library.
The event will feature games, a bounce house and food from local vendors, such as Hungry Howie’s. A local theater group will perform scenes from the Disney movie “Frozen.” Other entertainment will include a performance by the South Florida Cloggers and a gymnastics program by the Broward County Special Olympics.
When people first arrive, there will be a registration table where families will receive an event program, free food vouchers and a bingo board with numbers on it that coincide with the numbers on the vendor booths. If people visit all of the booths indicated on their cards, they will be eligible for a door prize that will be given away in the afternoon.
Originally, the health care event’s purpose was to introduce NSU’s medical facilities to the community. Because the original event coordinator left, Ronnie Oller was appointed by the CEO of the Division of Clinical Operations Robert Oller to continue the fair.
“I have always been out in the community,” Ronnie Oller said. “When it comes to children, it’s my passion.”
Ronnie Oller said she agreed to help, but that she wanted to see the fair develop and engage with the community at a larger level. In its first year, the health fair had five sponsors and 500 attendees.
All services and food are free and open to the public. No registration is necessary. For more information, call 954-678-2273.
