July was a big month for our Balladeer Children’s Program, highlighted by a pool party, a block party, family photos and storytelling.
The program, a free benefit for Ballad Health employees, is intended to strengthen family bonds and relationships among our Ballad Health family. Activities include visits to area attractions, picnics in local parks, holiday celebrations and activities, sports activities, discount tickets for attractions or events, treats, take-home projects and much more!
Click here to visit the Balladeer Children’s Program page on the Ballad Health intranet.
Check out what our Balladeers have been up to lately, and if you’re interested in joining, see the information at the bottom of this article!
July events
- Fun Fest block party – There was a great turnout of Balladeer families for the block party at Indian Path Community Hospital in Kingsport, with many kids getting their faces painted by face-painting artists, compliments of the Balladeer program!
- Photo shoot – Family photo shoots – provided for free and sponsored by the Balladeer program – were held at three locations, providing professional portraits for dozens of families. MayPop Media did the photos, with shoots at Rooster Front Park in Bristol, Warriors’ Path State Park in Kingsport and Willow Springs Park in Johnson City. Families were extremely grateful, with several mentioning this was their first time having professional photos made because the cost was normally so prohibitive.
- Storytelling performances – Balladeers were treated to stories by members of the Jonesborough Storytellers Guild, and nationally known storyteller Regi Carpenter, at the International Storytelling Center in Jonesborough. Tellers included Betty Ann Polaha, the Storyteller-in-Residence at Franklin Woods Community Hospital, who serves as a bedside storyteller to patients. Each family who attended received a free pass for a future storytelling event, with one family winning the grand prize of a pass for 10 free events!
- Wellness Center Pool Party – The month culminated in a party at The Wellness Center in Johnson City, with swimming in the outdoor pool, basketball on the court inside, and other fun things like music, a tie-dye project, and handprints from the kids on a Balladeers banner. Participants also received free popsicles and water. More than 100 people attended and fun was had by all! (Special thanks to the staff at The Wellness Center for staying open after normal hours, and to Kelcie Cornett from Strong Starts for her great support at the different party stations.)
July event photos
Family portraits
Pool party
Fun Fest Block Party
Storytelling
Upcoming events
August
Aug. 12 – Balladeers at Bright’s Zoo in Limestone, Tenn., 5:30-8 p.m. (registration now open)
Aug. 26 – Mini golf at Big Stone Gap Golf, 10 a.m.-noon (registration opening soon)
September
Sept. 16 – Balladeers at Fender’s Farm, 4-8 p.m. (registration opening soon)
Sept. 23 – Balladeers at The Stickley Farm, 1-4 p.m. (registration opening soon)
How to enroll in the Balladeer Children’s Program
If you’re not already enrolled in the program and would like to join, click here or visit the Balladeer page on the HR site on the Ballad Health intranet.
- You MUST be enrolled in the Balladeer Children’s Program in order to participate in the program’s events. The Balladeer Children’s Program is ONLY open to Ballad Health team members with a child between the ages of 3 through 18.
- Eligibility note: Only team members hired directly by Ballad Health are eligible to join.
- While enrolling in the program is free, there may be a cost associated with some activities.
