Toy Industry Foundation Presents Nemours with $400,000 to Aid in Pediatric Research

November 21, 2016 | The Toy Industry Foundation (TIF) presented Nemours, one of the country’s largest pediatric health care systems, with a $400,000 check on November 8 to support research that will explore how pediatric patients with life-threatening illnesses and undergoing medical procedures cope and heal through play. As previously reported, research findings will be used to develop an innovative intervention program using play materials and other resources to support and comfort sick children and their families.

The check presentation event was held at Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children in Wilmington, DE. The hospital, along with Nemours Children’s Hospital in Orlando, FL, will be the first to implement the intervention program.

“The Toy Industry Foundation’s partnership with Nemours fits perfectly with our mission to bring joy and comfort to children in need through toys and play,” said Jean Butler, Executive Director of TIF. “We are thrilled to partner with Nemours and are excited to see how the use of toys, games and other playful ‘tools’ may bring healing and happiness into these children’s lives.”

Play is already helping one little boy at Nemours cope with his accident. While at the beach this past summer, Ronan (pictured right in wheelchair) was hit in the back of the head with a bocce ball and suffered  a traumatic brain injury and an aneurysm. Ronan is making progress at Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children. At the presentation, Ronan’s father spoke of the positive impact the use of play has had on his family during this difficult time. Ronan and his father will likely be a part of the new research project.

“We are very excited about the collaboration that is underway with the Toy Industry Foundation,” said Katherine Stenman, clinical research coordinator for the Center for Healthcare Delivery Science at Nemours A.I. duPont Hospital for Children. “The important work of exploring the impact of trauma-informed patient care and the role of play in helping children and families heal and cope would not be possible without the Foundation’s generosity. We look forward to using these research findings, in collaboration with the Toy Industry Foundation, to develop an innovative, high-quality program focused on trauma-informed care, using play materials and related resources designed to support and comfort children experiencing stress reactions due to life-threatening illness, injury, or painful medical procedures.”