There is nothing like a new baby to put smiles on the faces of family and strangers alike. They are so darned cute. Their cherub faces immediately fill us with a moment of joy.
Tiger Nation is excited to announce yet another partnership with Hays Medical Center (we have many). Each beautiful baby delivered at HaysMed will now be sent home in the loving care of their parents with a Fort Hays State University onesie.
The program started this summer after HaysMed CEO Eddie Herrman approached FHSU Foundation CEO Jason Williby about the onesie idea.
“It seemed like a great way to give back to our community while building upon the strong ties of partnership between HaysMed and FHSU,” Williby said.
Over 100 babies have been sent home with their FHSU “Born to be a Tiger” onesie in the first month. The onesies are placed in a basket with a meal-to-go for Mom and Dad, another fantastic gesture from the HaysMed staff.
“Parents love the meal-to-go they receive on the day of discharge and have commented numerous times how great it is to go home and not have to worry about what’s for dinner,” said Kristy Schlaefli, director of Women Infant Care at HaysMed.
Nurses report that parents are loving the newly added FHSU onesie. Second-time parents have even commented how much they like the onesie and that they would have loved one when their first baby was born. The nurses are especially enjoying the HaysMed-delivered babies sporting their Tiger gear on social media – and so are we!
To our great delight, one such social media rockstar is Drake Pilkington, son of FHSU softball coach Adrian Pilkington and her husband, Blake. Drake wore his FHSU onesie on his way home from the hospital – an extra special treat given that both Adrian and Blake graduated from FHSU.
"We were so excited to receive our FHSU onesie upon departure from HaysMed,” Adrian said. “Blake and I are both FHSU alumni so it was an awesome surprise and a great way to introduce our son, Drake, as the newest member to Tiger Nation."
“We often refer to FHSU as a community – or a family. When a member of the family has a baby, you send a baby gift,” Williby said. “It is never too early to begin recruiting the future freshman class of Tigers.”
I love this program.
A special thank you to Tiger alum Nate Meder of Redeem Designs for designing and executing Herrman’s idea. I would also like to thank Nate, a 2003 graduate, and his family for their commitment and generosity to the university. The “Born to be a Tiger” onesies are available for other Tiger fans to purchase at https://fhsutigeronesies.itemorder.com.
Go Tigers!