Toy Foundation Announces New Round of Cash Grants to Children’s Hospitals
October 11, 2021 | The Toy Foundation’s Play Grants, in partnership with the Children’s Hospital Association, continues to help hospitals provide therapeutic support to children, especially those serving disadvantaged communities. As part of these efforts, a new round of cash grants has been awarded to six children’s hospitals across the country.
The grants will be used to provide more play-based resources in these facilities, including sensory-friendly play equipment in ER waiting areas, calming toys for patients being treated for mental and behavioral issues, and play spaces that help children understand and emotionally prepare for medical treatments.
The Toy Foundation has provided an additional $127,366 in funding to the following hospitals:
- Children's Minnesota - $25,000
- Valley Children's Hospital of Madera, CA - $25,000
- Children's Mercy in Kansas City, MS - $14,366
- MUSC Shawn Jenkins Children's Hospital in Charleston, SC - $23,000
- Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital in Tacoma, WA -$15,000
- The Children's Hospital at Montefiore in Bronx, NY - $25,000
“Whether undergoing treatment, awaiting procedures, or visiting loved ones, hospital settings can be overwhelming and intimidating places for children,” said Pamela Mastrota, executive director of The Toy Foundation. “But research has shown that play has the power to heal and ease the anxieties of young patients and comfort them − especially at a time when COVID-19 has made hospital visits more isolating and stressful. We are thankful to our toy company and individual donors for their generous support in helping make this funding possible.”
To date, The Toy Foundation has distributed nearly $216,000 to 11 hospitals. The Foundation continues to accept donations for future grants as well as requests for grant funding from hospitals.
The Toy Foundation’s decades-long work has been made possible through industry-wide toy donations and cash contributions, which continue to allow the Foundation to serve millions of children, whether they are in need of essential goods and services, coping with serious illness, enduring temporary home placements in the foster care system, living with domestic violence, or dealing with natural disasters.
To learn more about The Toy Foundation’s Play Grants signature program and its other initiatives, visit toyfoundation.org.