About – The Project Pinball Charity

Project Pinball

Headquartered in Bonita Springs, Florida, The Project Pinball Charity is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that places pinball machines in Children’s Hospitals, Ronald McDonald Houses, and Assisted Living Facilities to provide recreational relief to patients, family members, and hospital staff. We have been donating to the placement of pinball machines since 2011, and have since become a nationwide organization with pinball machines in hospitals across the United States. We provide all the equipment, parts, supplies, and regular maintenance at no cost to the hospital.

Our Team

Daniel Spolar

Senior Founder/Director

Sierra Vermillion

Director of Operations

Brad Czernik

Technician Coordinator

Howard Levine

Fundraising Coordinator

Taj Kniceley

Marketing & Communications Specialist

Our Story

Project Pinball began with the discovery of a broken pinball machine at Golisano Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida. The machine, located at The Chrissy Brown Hematology and Oncology Unit was no longer functioning. The pinball community and many local benefactors raised funds and donated time to restore the machine to perfect condition.

This Spider-man pinball machine, by Stern Pinball, was a memorial gift donated to the hospital in the memory of Jimmy Schneeberger (February 17, 1989 – April 13, 2000).
We knew we had to help after seeing this memorial gift in such disrepair, we immediately decided to get to work and change that. During the restoration, a few changes were made to light bulbs and other high-use items in the machine so that it would last longer and not damage as easily as it did before. The members and friends of Project Pinball have not only made a commitment to restore the machine but to also keep it on a regular maintenance schedule so that it doesn’t end up in disrepair again.

Pinball machines give the young patients motivation to get back on their feet and it also provides the family members of the patients and the support staff a recreational lift.