Miss America brings treats, smiles to Cohen Children’s Medical Center

Amelia Camurati
Miss America Cara Mund, left, visited with children at Cohen Children's Medical Center on Wednesday. (Photo by Amelia Camurati)

A visit from the reigning Miss America brightened the faces of patients, families and physicians at Cohen Children’s Medical Center in New Hyde Park on Wednesday.

Chaaya Jonathan shares photos and memories with Miss America Cara Mund during her visit to Cohen Children’s Medical Center in New Hyde Park. (Photo by Amelia Camurati)

In honor of Miracle Treat Day, Cara Mund, who hails from North Dakota, walked the halls of the children’s hospital, playing with patients and handing out different ice cream treats from the Dairy Queen in Massapequa, one of four owned by The Long Island Treat Co. and President Laura Maier.

During Mund’s visit, one of a dozen she’s made to children’s hospitals across the country, she colored with children in the floor’s designated playrooms as well as went room to room, even giving some children in isolation the chance to talk and pose for photos with Miss America in her crown.

The Long Island Treat Co. President Laura Maier, right, delivered ice cream and popsicles to Cohen Children’s Medical Center on Wednesday. (Photo by Amelia Camurati)

“What’s amazing is how different the hospitals are, but they all have the same mission — to care for our kids,” Mund said. “One of the things I say is Miss America only lasts for a year, but that impact lasts a lifetime.”

Patients and their families were offered Dilly Bars or Starkiss popsicles courtesy of Dairy Queen, who also donates $2 of every Blizzard sale at the Massapequa, Levittown, Huntington and East Northport locations to Cohen Children’s Medical Center.

Miss America Cara Mund shared coloring books and smiles with patients at Cohen Children’s Medical Center. (Photo by Amelia Camurati)

“It’s great to see where our funds go that we raise,” Maier, a former Northwell Health employee, said. “It’s a great feeling, and to come here and see where that money is going and being able to bring ice cream and seeing a smile on their face is such a cool thing.”

Karen Navarro said during the visit her daughter, Adryana, had been in surgery that morning and lit up as soon as Mund walked in the room, offering ice cream and autographs to her and her brother.

“It brightens her day,” Navarro, of Hempstead, said. “She was down and out from the surgery, so this made her excited.”

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