Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital Awarded Play Grant From the Toy Foundation™
March 28, 2024
Pediatric Facility One of 20 to Receive Funding for Patient Play Projects
Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital has been selected as one of the recipients of a $25,000 grant from The Toy Foundation’s Children’s Hospital Play Grants program. The Hollywood-based pediatric facility’s grant will support its “Shaping the Lives of Little Ones” initiative, which seeks to reduce the negative impact of extended hospitalizations on infants.
Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital is one of only 20 children’s hospitals and health systems in the U.S. selected to receive a grant. The Toy Foundation (TTF) will distribute a total of $380,000, which they estimate will support 240,000 children.
“We care for the tiniest and most critically-ill babies for extended periods of time,” said Caitlin Stella, CEO of Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital. “We’re grateful for this support from the Toy Foundation, which will allow us to introduce the healing power of play through specialized equipment that supports sensory integration, vision, head control, gross and fine motor skills, and social interaction. This is an amazing gift in support of healthy child development for our babies.”
TTF’s Children’s Hospital Play Grants focus on supporting hospitals that serve under-resourced communities, where many patients rely on Medicaid. The program has delivered the benefits of play to 360,000 children since 2021.
“Play has a profound impact on a child’s healing journey, benefiting their physical, emotional, and educational well-being,” said Pamela Mastrota, executive director at The Toy Foundation. “We are pleased to support Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital to help their patients heal and thrive.”
View the full list of 2024 TTF's Children's Play Grant recipients.
The Toy Foundation (TTF) is a 501 (c)(3) children's charity and philanthropic arm of The Toy Association. The uniting force for the collective philanthropy of the toy industry for the benefit of all children in need, TTF works with small, medium, and large companies to create a world where every child experiences the comfort, joy, and extraordinary physical, emotional, and educational benefits of play through three program areas – The Toy Bank, Play Grants, and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Pipeline Program. Thanks to the toy industry’s support, TTF has delivered play to more than 31 million children in need around the world.