NEW YORK – Toni Millar, a nationally recognized leader in the Child Life field, will join Project Sunshine as the Director of Program Innovation, a newly created leadership role that oversees programming across the organization. Ms. Millar ran the Child Life Departments at Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital and Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital in Ohio. Most recently, Ms. Millar was Vice President and a member of senior administration at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital (NYPH); there she oversaw a team that provided coaching and consultation for patient experience improvement initiatives and programs for NYPH Manhattan-based hospitals and later for the NYP Regional Hospital Network sites.
Ms. Millar will begin her work at Project Sunshine on February 11. Whitney Namm Pollack, Executive Director, said of Toni, “Toni has a well-earned sterling reputation as a leader in the Child Life and pediatric community. She has deep compassion for patients and families and brings an entrepreneurial and collaborative spirit that will help Project Sunshine grow and scale.”
Of her new role, Ms. Millar says, “I am so excited to join the Project Sunshine team. As a former Child Life Director, I saw first-hand how Project Sunshine made a difference in the lives of pediatric patients and families. In this new position, I will utilize my professional skills and expertise while contributing to the organization’s commitment to providing innovative, patient and family-focused programming.”
Ms. Millar is a past recipient of the prestigious Gallup Organization’s “Manager of the Year Award.” She has served in several active board positions for the national Association for Child Life Professionals (ACLP) contributing to the organization’s governance and professional standards of practice for its 5,000+ members. Her tenure at ACLP culminated as President, overseeing the strategic plan that required higher academic requirements to reach credential eligibility to be a Certified Child Life Specialist (CCLS).
Ms. Millar holds a M.S. in Child Life and Family Studies from Wheelock College in Boston, MA and a B.A. in Education and American Studies from Hobart and William Smith Colleges in Geneva, NY.
About Project Sunshine
Project Sunshine is a New York City headquartered organization that addresses the psychosocial and developmental needs of pediatric patients and their families. Over 18,000 trained volunteers bring evidence-based, immersive programming to more than 150,000 children facing medical challenges and their families in 175 cities across the United States and in three international locations: Canada, Israel, and Kenya.
Volunteer-led programs provide opportunities for play, intellectual stimulation, and socialization – ensuring childhood remains a place of wonder. Programs are adapted to the strengths of each patient, family, and community to ensure recognition of their own agency and achieve behavioral and generational change. More information about Project Sunshine is available at www.projectsunshine.org.
Contact
Project Sunshine
media@projectsunshine.org
