How The Toy Foundation’s Play Fund is Providing Play-Focused Upgrades at Children’s Hospitals

September 23, 2025 | Access to play at a children’s hospital is a powerful way to comfort pediatric patients and their families, and positively impact a child’s healing journey. This year, The Toy Foundation™ Play Fund distributed $405,000 to 23 children’s hospitals to support a variety of play-focused projects that will benefit more than 245,000 children in need.

Among this year’s funded initiatives are improvements to play spaces in waiting areas and dedicated playrooms away from medical equipment — and hospitals are already reporting positive outcomes from these enhancements.

Akron Children’s Hospital, a 2025 Play Fund grant recipient based in Ohio, utilized the funding to upgrade its Imagination Zone activity room; offer educational toys; build a STEM cart complete with craft items and building supplies; install bubble wall displays, and more to patients and families. The hospital reported that by providing an environment that fosters creativity and promotes fun, it has seen improvements in patients’ experiences and overall outcomes.

The family of a young patient hospitalized at Akron Children’s for more than two months takes daily walks to the hospital’s Imagination Zone for a change of scenery. In particular, the child enjoys watching the bubble display and becomes noticeably calmer when overwhelmed.

Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital in Hollywood, FL also utilized funding to transform a sensory room that was rarely used into a much-needed retreat for patients and families seeking a calm environment. New sensory tile mats, light boxes, and glow cubes have resulted in an immediate increase in the use of the space, especially among neurodivergent patients. The hospital plans to add more features, such as a body rocker and percussion wall panel, in the coming months.

In addition to dedicated playrooms, hospitals are providing children with opportunities to play in waiting areas. Two Play Fund grantees, Our Lady of Lake Children’s Hospital in Baton Rouge, LA and Children’s Hospital at Montefiore in Bronx, NY utilized their funding to install interactive projectors in waiting areas that offer hundreds of entertaining and educational games to engage one’s feet, hands, and body, providing a welcome distraction for children during their visits.

“The Toy Foundation’s Play Fund program is making a powerful, positive impact on children and their families in hospital settings. As a result, we look forward to expanding the program to fund more play projects in 2026 than ever before,” said Pam Mastrota, executive director of The Toy Foundation.

The Toy Foundation’s Play Fund program is the only industry-wide funding initiative that connects the toy industry to vetted children’s hospitals to deliver the power of play and create a greater impact together. Thanks to the industry’s generosity, nearly one million children have been comforted with the healing power of play since 2021.

To learn more about the projects The Toy Foundation has funded and explore partnership opportunities to support this work, visit ToyFoundation.org or contact the team.