Grants

       

 

Promoting Child Health and Healing through Play

 

El Paso Children’s Hospital Foundation (EPCHF), in partnership with El Paso Children’s Hospital (EPCH), was awarded a $25,000 Play Grant by Children’s Hospital Association and The Toy Foundation (TTF) to support the hospital’s Child Life Program Services.  The Children’s Hospital Play Grant Program was created to bring the healing power of play to children in hospitals through projects that incorporate play therapy into care services. EPCHF was one of only 19 grantees selected nationally for the Healing Power of Play to Pediatric Patients Initiative.

A hospital stay is often a stressful experience for children and their families. Opportunities for play can help relieve this stress, improve children’s well-being, and enhance treatment outcomes. The Children’s Hospital Play Grant Program projects are designed to improve pediatric care at hospitals, particularly in underserved communities, and strengthen the social, emotional, physical and educational development of children whose needs may otherwise go unmet.

“The Children’s Hospital Association and The Toy Foundation has set a clear vision of doing meaningful and impactful work that helps support every child, especially those areas that are underserved. We, like the Children’s Hospital Association and The Toy Foundation, believe that every child should have the opportunity to experience comfort, joy, and the benefits of play. We are grateful for this grant as it will support and strengthen physical and emotional health through play - having a positive impact on the children, their families, and their caregivers.” Dr. Abigail Tarango, Executive Director of the El Paso Children’s Hospital Foundation.

TFF funds will be used to support the El Paso Children's Hospital play supplies. Serving over 4,000 children annually, the Child Life Services staff will purchase age-appropriate toys that will be used to: promote better self-management education to children and their families throughout health care experience; provide developmentally appropriate, trauma-informed education and care; conduct age-appropriate play-based activities with children; and provide activities to encourage creativity and self-expression among children.

TTF is a 501 (c)3 children's charity whose mission is to provide philanthropic support and the vital commodity of play to children and families in need, across the country and globe. TTF's donations represent the charitable works of TTF and the toy industry. Last year, TTF provided $360K in cash grants to nearly 4 million children severely impacted by the pandemic. Since its inception in 2003, TTF's signature Toy Bank has provided $225 million in toys to more than 26 million underserved children coping with serious illness, enduring temporary home placements in the foster care system, living with domestic violence, and/or dealing with natural disasters. TTF is also broadening its mission to provide grant funding to children's hospitals to encourage healing through play and to foster a diverse and inclusive culture and pipeline of talent for the toy industry.

 

The Children’s Hospital Association is the national voice of more than 200 children’s hospitals, advancing child health through innovation in the quality, cost and delivery of care. Follow the Children’s Hospital Association on Facebook @childrenshospitals and Twitter @hospitals4kids.