Children's Specialized Hospital Foundation is one of 20 children’s hospitals and health systems to receive funding for play projects that will improve the care and well-being of their pediatric patients.
Children’s Specialized Hospital (CSH) Foundation has been selected as one of the recipients of a $25,000 grant from The Toy Foundation™’s (TTF) Children’s Hospital Play Grants program. CSH Foundation will support more than 1,100 children who attend programs through CSH’s Activity Connection program.
Activity Connection provides therapeutic recreation, sports, and social activities for children of all abilities aged one to 21. The various programs are focused on children with unique health challenges such as nonverbal children or teens with autism or physical disabilities, but all children are welcome. Siblings and friends without disabilities are encouraged to participate in Activity Connection programs and often do. All activities are led by CSH therapists, certified program instructors, coaches, and trained volunteers in an inclusive, safe, and fun environment. The purpose of the Activity Connection program is to teach kids with special healthcare needs important life skills and help them feel empowered and confident. Activity Connection programs are always operating at full capacity. This grant from TTF will help us expand access to more children and enhance the program selection currently offered.
Play is a powerful tool to significantly improve the care, well-being, and health outcomes of pediatric patients. Hospitals are reliant on external funding and donations to provide this key aspect of the holistic pediatric care model, and TTF’s Children’s Hospital Play Grants program helps fill this need. Focused on supporting hospitals that serve under-resourced communities, where 50% or more of patients rely on Medicaid, the program has delivered the benefits of play to 360,000 children since 2021.
“We are so grateful to The Toy Foundation for awarding us this grant,” said Alissa Memoli, President and Chief Development Officer at CSH Foundation. “Our foundation secures funds to ensure the hospital can provide world-class care to children in New Jersey and beyond who are living with unique health challenges. This grant will allow us to support the important Activity Connection program, extending care outside the hospital walls.”
Recent research shows that access to play elevates the overall patient experience by 98%. More than 240,000 children in need will benefit from TTF’s Children’s Hospital Play Grant initiative this year.
“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 Children’s Specialized Hospital Foundation in providing the power of play to help their patients heal and thrive.”
For more information about TTF’s Children’s Hospital Play Grants program and to see the full list of grant recipients, visit ToyFoundation.org.
Click here to learn more about the Activity Connection Program at CSH.
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