At first, Parkland resident Jason Leach found it puzzling that his four children were not eagerly lining up to receive the many gifts they’d earned on the Chuck E. Cheese prize wall.
Last summer, when the Heron Bay family was at a Chuck E. Cheese in Boca Raton, Jason purchased a “gold” summer fun pass, which they used regularly at many of the popular restaurant entertainment chain’s locations. The pass allowed them to play unlimited games. The pass covered the entire family for June, July, and August.
Jason was curious and asked Austin, 7; Lucas, 6; Capri, 5; and Paris, 3, “Why aren’t you guys getting anything?”
They told him they wanted to save up for something big.
This kept up throughout the summer. By that time, they had amassed more than 200,000 redeemable points.
Finally, when the family was seated at a Chuck E. Cheese restaurant at summer’s end, the kids told them what they intended to do with their winnings.
Jason admits that it caught him and his wife, Melissa, entirely by surprise.
“My wife and I were not expecting it at all,” he said.
The children explained that instead of redeeming their points to purchase toys and other prizes for themselves and make just four kids happy, they could go to a children’s hospital and give their prizes away at Christmas time, making lots of kids happy instead.
“I asked if they were sure, even the two younger ones, and they immediately said, ‘yes.’”
The idea originated from their two older children who remembered that two years ago, when they had received “too many” toys for Christmas, they went and handed them to the front desk at Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital in Hollywood.
“The nurses said, ‘Wow,’” Jason recalled. “Now they realize we can give a bunch of toys.”
Melissa and Jason Leach with their children at Nicklaus Children’s Hospital {courtesy Nicklaus Children’s Hospital}
From there, Jason got the ball rolling. He contacted Chuck E. Cheese headquarters in Texas, which contacted him in September. Alejandra Brady, senior director and head of public relations for Chuck E. Cheese Entertainment, emailed Jason back, saying, “This is truly incredible and a testament to the great job you and your wife are doing in raising these beautiful children. Your kids are superstars.”
Chuck E Cheese doubled the Leach children’s donation of points.
The family decided on Nicklaus Children’s Hospital to receive the donation because of a personal experience. When their daughter, Capri, 5, was younger, she had trouble moving her joints. They took her to Nicklaus, where she was diagnosed with a case of acute juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. She underwent treatment there and is now better. The memory stayed with Capri. “I want to give back to my hospital,” Capri said, according to Jason.
Jason said Chuck E. Cheese put it together and worked with them and the hospital. It took seven months to come to fruition. Then, on Jan. 6, 2025, four remarkably generous children’s ideas became a reality.
As a bonus, Chuck E. Cheese set up a mini replica of an actual restaurant for the kids—and their families—to enjoy as they selected their prizes. Of course, to the children’s delight, Chuck E. Cheese made a personal appearance.
Many hospitalized children were brought downstairs to choose from more than 200 toys and gifts.
“Some of these kids are terminally ill and will never be able to leave the hospital. Some of these kids will never see a Chuck E. Cheese,” recalls Jason.
The four Leach children were given a tour of the hospital. However, because many of the terminally ill youngsters might be immunocompromised, they were not permitted to interact with them.
TV channels 7 and 4 covered the event to make the occasion even more special. On the way home, when the Leach family stopped at a Rainforest Café restaurant to eat dinner, they looked up at the 6 o’clock news, and there they were.
In retrospect, Jason said, “You don’t need to be ‘big’ to do something great. It only takes a big idea.”
Melissa adds: “Be Kind, be happy, and help others.”
Send your news to Parkland’s #1 Award-Winning News Source, Parkland Talk. Don’t Miss Tamarac Talk, Coral Springs Talk, Coconut Creek Talk, Margate Talk, and Sunrise FL Talk.
Author Profile
Related
NewsJanuary 23, 2025Parkland Kids Donate Chuck E. Cheese Prizes to Children’s Hospital
NewsDecember 17, 2024JAFCO CEO, Eagles’ Haven Founder Sarah Franco Retires After Years of Healing Parkland Community
NewsDecember 5, 2024Parkland Family Brews Up Adventure After Wanderlust Sips Hits the Road
NewsNovember 3, 2024Aston Gardens Create ‘Garden Escape’ for Senior Residents
