Lev Leytzan of Compassionate Clowns Alley, Inc. a not-for-profit organization whose program, Clowns on Call brightens the day of patients at New Island Hospital.

Ambitious youth use their time and compassion to deliver doses of laughter and joy to the community, and on Wed., June 25, they did just that at New Island Hospital.

Clowns visited patients there, bringing cheer and laughter, using well practiced humor and circus arts. They also encouraged New Island staff to donate their blood at the hospital's second Blood Drive this year. Last year New Island received a Bronze Award for the most blood donated in the history of the hospital.

Laughter has been shown to reduce the perception of pain in patients and New Island patients got a heavy dose of laughter. Even the staff appreciated the lightness and upbeat environment the clowns created everywhere they went throughout the hospital.

For more news about New Island Hospital, please call Community Relations at 516-520-2487 or visit the website at: www.newislandhospital.org.