Garth Brooks pays surprise tribute to longtime ‘all-star’ Cook Children’s staffer
A long time employee of Cook Children’s Hospital in Fort Worth thought she was picking up donations.
Instead, Jill Koss, Cook Children’s Director of Family Support Services, was honored by the Crown Council on Jan. 28 for her work with Child Life Zones, which are interactive spaces for patients and their siblings.
Koss, who has been with Cook Children’s for 31 years, has been instrumental in helping establish the Child Life Zones — not only in Fort Worth, but around the world.
One of the biggest supporters of Child Life Zones is Garth Brooks’ Teammates for Kids Foundation.
Brooks paid tribute to Koss’ dedication in an emotional video message played at the surprise presentation. He called Koss an all-star among all-stars.
“Truthfully, I’m here tonight to say thank you to Jill,” Brooks said in the video. “Jill, you have been amazing. They say that time is a friend to sincerity. They say that time is the time revealer of character and sincerity. That is all you. I love you so much.”
The Cook Children’s location includes a recording and broadcast studio, a patient library, and a teen game room. Brooks and Dallas Cowboys’ Hall of Famer Troy Aikman were on hand for the 2012 opening.
Brooks’ organizations helps establish Child Life Zones across the country.
“It is Garth’s humbled passion to support patients and families through direct support of his foundation and his personal time,” Cook Children’s Grant Harris said in a release. “But we all owe Jill so much gratitude for her work in making the Child Life Zones a fun, educational and safe place for our patients and her families.”
This story was originally published February 9, 2022 at 6:00 AM.
