Hospital employees deliver gifts to more than 400 Cerritos Elementary students

About 400 students who attend Cerritos Elementary School were surprised Tuesday when each of them received a gift, resulting in some shocked looks and cheers.

“Each of you is so precious to us,” said Cassie McCarty, director of mission integration at Dignity Health Glendale Memorial Hospital.

Leading up to the gift delivery, hospital employees, including physicians, board members and staff as well as volunteers, bought a gift for each of the 409 students who attend Cerritos.

Join the conversation on Facebook >>

Several of the hospital’s employees attended the assembly to watch the students receive their gifts.

“It means so much to our students to have that support from our hospital nearby,” said the school’s principal, Perla Chavez-Fritz. “It’s just such a great support to our families and students to have this day, and to know that there’s somebody out there that cares and that’s willing to provide for them a gift that’s more than just a gift — it’s an act of generosity and compassion.”

--

Kelly Corrigan, kelly.corrigan@latimes.com

Twitter: @kellymcorrigan