CUMMING – A massive stork hung around some Falcons at a local hospital Friday morning, celebrating a relationship that officials hope will bring both healthy babies and wins to the area.
In one of his first public appearances since being named Atlanta’s head coach, Dan Quinn delivered a larger-than-life check to Northside Hospital-Forsyth’s Women’s Center.
The $30,000 represents a partnership between the professional football team and Northside Hospital Foundation that recently finished its first year.
“I like people who do things better than everyone else,” said Quinn, citing the women’s center’s high rate of newborn deliveries (represented by the center’s mascot, Sammy the Stork). “So I’m very excited about this partnership.”
During the 2014 season, the Falcons donated money to the hospital for every sack its players made.
The team also contributed funds for every reception made during the Oct. 12 Breast Cancer Awareness game in Atlanta, which was sponsored by the hospital.
Even though he was not with the team last season, the coach said the partnership will continue.
Quinn, who recently relocated to the Atlanta area from his position as defensive coordinator for the Seattle Seahawks, is getting settled in.
“Everyone’s been great,” he said.
The Seahawks won Super Bowl XLVIII in his first year as defensive coordinator in 2014. He had held other non-head coaching positions there from 2009-10 while becoming defensive coordinator at the University of Florida for a year in between. Quinn agreed to coach the Falcons on Feb. 2.
For the event Friday morning, the pedestrian walkway in the main entrance of the women’s center filled with guests, who ranged from Cumming-Forsyth County Chamber of Commerce members and business leaders to a crowd of hospital caregivers, patient families and staff.
Accompanying Quinn was defensive tackle Jonathan Babineaux and center Joe Hawley.