On eve of spring game, Pitt football players visit Children's Hospital

As University of Pittsburgh football players Kedon Slovis and Nick Patti waited to ignite their battle for the Panthers top quarterback spot, the two took part in a game of bingo with kids at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh.

It was all part of Friday’s Pitt football day of service ahead of Saturday’s Blue-Gold Spring game at 1 p.m. at Heinz Field.

Slovis and Patti looked like they were having fun as they engaged the children in one of the hospital’s most popular games.

The action was streamed live for all inpatient children via Dream Big Studio, an independent TV and radio studio located inside of UPMC Children’s. Kids can follow along from their rooms and call in to participate.

“It was great,” Slovis said. “There are a lot of kids here going through something that’s difficult — really just a tough time — so to be able to hopefully brighten up their day and offer some relief from whatever’s going on is great.”

Dream Big Studio is part of what’s known as creative and expressive arts therapy, giving those in isolation a way to communicate beyond their hospital rooms with other kids involved in a variety of programming.

“It’s awesome,” Patti said. “I’ve been here for the last four years, and I always hear about Children’s Hospital and what great work they do. Having the ability to come in and see what it’s like and give back to the community is awesome.”

Other Pitt players taking time to visit the studio included quarterbacks Nate Yarnell, Joey Yellen, and Eli Kosanovich and offensive lineman Gabe Houy.