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Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh’s Life-Size Holiday Tradition a Treat for Downtown Visitors

PITTSBURGH – Dec. 5, 2003 - Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh’s life-size Gingerbread house is a sweet attraction downtown this holiday season.

Children’s Gingerbread House was delivered Nov. 14 to PPG Plaza and will remain until Dec. 31. This fairy-tale house stands more than 20 feet high, is 10 feet deep and 20 feet wide. The tasteful tradition began last year and attracted thousands of visitors throughout the holidays.

The delightfully tasteful design was donated by LDAstorino Companies and built by The Dick Corporation and many other contributors. A master from Las Vegas who creates fun sculptures for Disney and Universal Studios led plasterers in creating special treats like colorful candy-cane corners, a marshmallow chimney, basketball-sized gumdrops, licorice twists and Gummi Bears.

The house will serve as the central location for donations to the hospital’s Free Care Fund, which ensures children can receive medical care from one of the nation’s top pediatric hospitals and research institutions regardless of their families’ ability to pay. Children’s Hospital provided nearly $24 million in free care this past fiscal year alone.

This holiday season also marks the second annual Gingerbread House Competition. Contestants were encouraged to build their own edible fantasy house to be on display from Light Up Night, Friday, Nov. 21 through Dec. 20. All gingerbread houses will be sold to raise money for Children’s Free Care Fund. Prizes will be awarded for each level of competition and each individual participating in the competition is eligible to win a grand prize.

Contacts:
Melanie Finnigan, 412-692-5016, Melanie.Finnigan@chp.edu
Marc Lukasiak, 412-692-5016, Marc.Lukasiak@chp.edu

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