WARWICK – On Jan. 29 Balise Toyota hosted Billy Gilman, famed singer and Hopkinton native, for a meet and greet and autograph signing session to benefit Hasbro Children’s Hospital.
Mike O’Connell, general manager of Balise Toyota of Warwick, said Gilman “was not only a pleasure to host, but his genuine kindness and desire to support Hasbro Children’s Hospital mirrors the Balise philosophy of giving back to our local communities and organizations.”
More than 400 fans attended the nearly two-hour appearance and were treated to a short performance and were able to purchase signed photographs of the signer for $20 each. Voluntary donations combined with merchandise proceeds totaled $3,252 and were donated to the hospital’s Partial Hospital Program – the only day treatment program in New England for children experiencing both a medical and psychiatric illness.
Margaret M. Van Bree, president of Rhode Island Hospital and Hasbro Children’s Hospital, thanked Gilman and Balise for their support of the hospital.
“It is absolutely wonderful when a young person with the kind of talent Billy has uses it to help children,” she said.