As part of a partnership with Companions in Courage (www.cic16.org), a non-profit organization, founded by NHL Hall of Famer Pat LaFontaine, Microsoft is delivering the first wave of Xbox 360 game kiosks to playrooms in children’s hospitals across the country.  The initiative is intended to help provide respite for young patients and give kids the chance to be kids.  

The initiative will be celebrated with events today at Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital of New York-Presbyterian, the Children’s Hospital & Regional Medical Center of Seattle and the Children’s Hospital of Orange County, California.  

At an event at the Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital of New York-Presbyterian in Manhattan, celebrities will gather to commemorate the delivery.  Those participating in the launch are actress Susan Sarandon, hockey great Pat LaFontaine, actor Michael Imperioli, Dr. Mehmet Oz (Oprah), Tom Cavanagh (Ed) and Rob Burnett (Letterman producer) and NY Islander goal-tender Rick DiPietro.  Microsoft Vice President of Worldwide Xbox Retail Sales, Mitch Koch, was on-hand for remarks. 

Companions in Courage is dedicated to supporting children and families who are overcoming life-threatening obstacles. In addition to select games, movies and television content, the Xbox 360 kiosks will provide a dedicated version of its Xbox LIVE online network that allows young patients across the country to connect with each other using voice, text, and video.