The Toy Foundation funds projects to improve pediatric care for 240.000 children

The Toy Foundation, the philanthropic arm of The Toy Association, is proud to announce $380,000 has been awarded to 20 children’s hospitals and health systems that serve under-resourced communities, as part of its 2024 Childrens Hospital Play Grants program. More than 240,000 children in need will benefit from this initiative, which funds innovative play therapy projects proven to significantly improve care, wellbeing, and treatment outcomes of hospitalized children.

Supporting recovery

Recent research shows that access to play elevates the overall patient experience by 98 percent. To provide play therapy projects to patients and better support their recovery, hospitals are reliant on external funding or donations to offer this key aspect of the holistic pediatric care model. The Toy Foundation’s Children’s Hospital Play Grants program helps fill this need at hospitals that need it most, where 50 percent or more of patients rely on Medicaid.

Completed by the end of the year

The 2024 play projects funded by TTF include sensory toy stations, arts and crafts programs, and playroom and waiting area upgrades, among others, that the hospitals will complete by the end of the year.

"Play has a profound impact on a child’s healing journey during a hospital stay, providing physical, emotional, and educational benefits that you cannot get from medicine," said Pamela Mastrota, executive director at The Toy Foundation. "We are proud to expand the Play Grants program with a third annual distribution of grants that will support more hospitals and pediatric patients by giving them access to toys, art, and other play therapies to help improve children’s coping skills and medical outcomes."

Find more information at https://toyfoundation.org/ttf/work/chp/ttf/work/hopsital-program.aspx?hkey=f4535ba9-7668-4b66-8da2-4e1443cf6570

Source: www.toyassociation.org