The Toy Foundation is a nonprofit organization that works with the toy industry to provide play opportunities to children across the country.
Through a partnership between the foundation and Children's Hospital Association, The Toy Foundation Play Grants Program selected 18 children's hospitals to receive grants in 2021. By making play more accessible in children's hospital settings and through their community partnerships, these grants strengthen the social, emotional, physical and behavioral development of children.
2021 Play Grants Program Recipients
Arkansas Children's Hospital, Little Rock, Arkansas
- $25,000 - Mobile Sensory Playroom
- Objective: Support patients with intellectual or developmental disabilities (IDD), autism and behavioral issues using sensory toys and tools to provide stimulation and calming.
Baylor Scott & White McLane Children's Medical Center, Temple, Texas
- $10,150 - Play Resources for Pediatric Patients with Sensory Processing Difficulties
- Objective: Provide specialized play resources and support materials for pediatric patients who experience sensory processing difficulties during radiology or ultrasound procedures.
Children's Hospital of Alabama, Birmingham
- $25,000 – Making Play Accessible for All Patients
- Objective: Make play therapy and joyful activities accessible to all patients, especially patients with limited mobility.
Children's Hospital of San Antonio
- $10,414 - Children's Medical Play Project
- Objective: Incorporate medical play as a tool to help educate patients and lower stress levels so treatment can be received in a calm manner and recovery can begin more quickly.
Children's Mercy Hospitals and Clinics, Kansas City, Missouri
- $14,366 - Play for All and All for Play!
- Objective: Provide adaptive equipment for all infants regardless of diagnosis or developmental limitation.
Children's Minnesota, Minneapolis
- $25,000 - Play at Bedside and Beyond
- Objective: Expand and rejuvenate play at the bedside program.
Children's of Mississippi, Jackson
- $25,000 - MyChart Bedside: Virtual Playroom Kid PREP (Patients Receiving Education for Procedures)
- Objective: Promote accessible and equitable play opportunities that have changed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Golisano Children's Hospital at The University of Rochester Medical Center, NY
- $10,040 - Sensory Toy Carts for Children with Intellectual and Developmental Disorder
- Objective: Create sensory toy carts to provide items to comfort children with IDD as they are at increased risk for psychological distress secondary to medical procedures and frequent medical experiences.
Hennepin County Medical Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota
- $25,000 - Establishing Play-Based and Sensory-Sensitive Pediatric Waiting Areas in the Emergency Department
- Objective: Implement play areas for children who are patients, or the children of adult patients in a Level One Trauma Center.
Le Bonheur Children's Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee
- $25,000 - Establishing Play-Based and Sensory-Sensitive Pediatric Waiting Areas in the Emergency Department
- Objective: Increase play opportunities and incorporate positive distraction play for child patients and siblings in the Emergency Department waiting area.
Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children, Wilmington, Delaware
- $25,000 - Medical Play Therapeutic Kits
- Objective: Provide play-based opportunities for children and families through medical play kits
Mary Bridge Children's Hospital and Health Network, Tacoma, Washington
- $15,000 –Sensory-Friendly Play for Kids in Mental Health Crisis
- Objective: Provide sensory friendly play options to help provide a calm and comforting environment.
MUSC Shawn Jenkins Children's Hospital, Charleston, South Carolina
- $23,000 - Provide play for pediatric behavioral and mental health patients
- Objective: Purchase safe, appropriate toys and activities for mental and behavioral health patients awaiting psychiatric placement.
Nicklaus Children's Hospital, Miami
- $25,000 - Interactive Activity Book
- Objective: Design an exclusive interactive activity book that will engage patients and families throughout their hospital visit.
OSF HealthCare Children's Hospital of Illinois, Peoria
- $25,000 - Prescription for Play
- Objective: Develop a play program that provides opportunities for children to engage in developmentally appropriate play to develop healthy cognitive abilities and gross and fine motor skills.
St. Louis Children's Hospital
- $10,350 - Safe Toy Kits for Behavioral Health Patients in the Emergency Department
- Objective: Provide behavioral health patients with "safe" toy kits for patients with behavioral health needs.
The Children's Hospital at Montefiore, Bronx, New York
- $25,000 - Update Play Spaces and Bedside Play
- Objective: Provide toys and teaching materials for educational and therapeutic programming.
Valley Children's Healthcare, Madera, California
- $25,000 - South Lawn Beautification Project
- Objective: Create playground that addresses physical accessibility needs of patients and families.
