The recipient of this week's Ben's Bell is Ralph Donsky, who entertains children in the Tucson Medical Center pediatric ward.
He was nominated by friends Len and Jane Spitzer, who described Donsky as tireless in giving "his time and money to make the lives of hospitalized children a little happier and less scary."
Donsky and his wife, Barbara, dress as clowns and put on puppet shows and singalongs every Saturday to entertain the children. Afterward, they give each child a clown nose. Donsky also mails thousands of noses to other hospitals across the country to help sick children "take their minds off their illnesses," the Spitzers wrote.
He has organized a team of other "clowns" to entertain children to make sure each Saturday is covered.
"He truly has a heart of gold," they wrote.
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Donsky began volunteering after surviving a potentially fatal illness.
"He went through a long fight and pulled through. He decided the best way to give back is to bring some joy and humor to children in the hospital," Len Spitzer said. Donsky is "striving to put a smile on their faces and their parents."
The project
Ben's Bells promote kindness and community. It was started in 2003 by the family of Ben Maré Packard as a way to honor the 2-year-old who died of croup a year earlier. Each week a person who betters Tucson is "belled." Go to www.bensbells.org/BellingForm to submit a name. Go to www.bensbells.org or call 628-2829 for information. Recipients also are featured on Friday's Morning Blend on KGUN 9.
Contact reporter Kimberly Matas at kmatas@azstarnet.com or at 573-4191.
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