Newsflash: Athletes do good deed

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We are always quick, as journalists and fans, to condemn athletes who do stupid things. We’re not usually as quick to praise athletes who contribute to their communities.

That’s a shame, because there are a lot of athletes who give time and money to worthy causes, as a group of Ducks did Monday at Children’s Hospital of Orange County.

Players and their wives, led by Todd and Caroline Marchant, opened a new wing at the hospital. The facility includes a new playroom, a room for teens who are being treated for cancer, a lounge for families and a staff lounge.

Players helped cut the ceremonial ribbon and Caroline Marchant unveiled a painting that was created by CHOC patients and the players’ children. The Ducks organization, which has a longstanding relationship with CHOC, contributed $350,000 toward construction of the wing.

Things like this go unnoticed too often. They shouldn’t.

--Helene Elliott