Giant Food Stores has jumped on the donation wagon, promising $1 million toward the creation of a Pediatric Cancer Pavilion at the Penn State Children's Hospital in Hershey.

"This is the same project that [the Interfraternity/Panhellenic Dance Marathon] has committed the $10 million to over a six-year period," Craig Hillemeier, Penn State's Children's Hospital pediatrics chair, said.

Giant's donation will be put toward building a new $80 million facility, which will house a new inpatient and outpatient clinic service.

"Giant's donation will be designated to the waiting room and play areas in the new outpatient clinics and primary care center," Jennifer Groff, coordinator of the Children's Miracle Network, said.

Giant has asked the hospital to put the money toward a specific purpose.

"The notion is that Giant wants the money to go towards creating more family friendly waiting areas and family gathering areas in the facility," said Dr. Darrell Kirch, senior vice president for health affairs and dean of the College of Medicine.

Denny Hopkins, Giant Food Stores vice president of advertising and public relations, said the company has always seen the importance of helping the community.

"Part of Giant's mission statement is to give back to the community and two major areas are to help eradicate hunger and to improve the well-being of our children," Hopkins said. "Last year Giant contributed $1.4 million to six different Children's Miracle Networks hospitals."

Vanessa Viozzi, Penn State Children's Hospital strategic services specialist, said Giant has been a valuable partner since becoming a Children's Miracle Network corporate sponsor nationally in 1997.

"They've been supporters for many years, so they see the benefits the children's hospital provides to the community," she said. "They have donated $1.7 million to the Children's Miracle Network over the last eight years."

The corporation raises money for donations in various ways.

"We raise money by selling paper balloons in the spring and summer, and around Christmas we sell paper candles for a dollar a piece," Hopkins said. "Our big fund-raiser is our golf event in July where vendors pay to come play in the tournament."

Hillemeier said the Penn State Children's Hospital is looking for donations to help build the $80 million project.

"We have been actively working with many potential donors throughout central Pennsylvania," he said. "I think that this donation is a further indication of the commitment that Giant Foods has towards the employees that the company serves in central Pennsylvania."

Hopkins said Giant decided to donate the money to Penn State Children's Hospital because their company serves the same geographic area that the hospital does.

"Penn State is right in our core market area for about 40 of our stores, and they are in the process of raising money for the new hospital, so we were one the first corporations to step up and raise a major contribution," he said. "This is above and beyond the amount of money that we would typically donate."

Hopkins said he hopes this donation will set a trend among other corporations.

"We're just hoping that other corporations will see us do this and step up and donate to this very worthy cause as well," he said.