Where Does My Donation Go?

At Children’s, our child life specialists provide individualized care and support designed to meet the needs of infants, children and families as they cope with the stress and uncertainty of hospitalization. Child life specialists help our patients adjust to hospital life and their illnesses with opportunities to play and interact in our activity centers, and many other programs to support patients and their families, including:

• Art and music therapy, available to patients while they are in the hospital.
• In-hospital libraries that hold events and circulate reading materials for patients and their families.
• The Hospital School Program, which helps patients who must stay in the hospital remain on track in school and can help facilitate communication between schools and patients’ families.
• Chaplains who are available to families, and employees to provide support when it is needed most.

At Children's, our Mission is to make kids better today and healthier tomorrow. Strong4Life is one of the many ways we deliver on that promise. Programs and resources available through Strong4Life help busy families raise healthy, safe, resilient kids. Thanks in part to donor support:

• We are able to partner with schools to promote programs on nutrition, school health, wellness and resilience.
• We are able to provide parents and caregivers with tips and resources relevant to every stage of a child’s life.

Children’s camps are designed for kids with a chronic illness, disability or other life challenge to connect with other kids who understand the struggles they face, all while participating in fun, traditional camp activities. The generosity and support of our donors allows campers to attend at little to no cost to their family. Our camps provide meaningful ways for kids to find community and to have fun while being themselves.

• Campers create real connections with peers who have similar experiences and challenges.
• They get to experience the outdoors in ways they normally can’t.
• It’s an opportunity for them to have fun and feel like a regular kid!

Canines For Kids is a program that helps patients cope, heal and achieve treatment goals while at the hospital. The first program of its kind in the country, Canines for Kids is 100% donor funded.

Our dogs and their trained handlers work as a team to provide services and interventions to patients, families and staff.

• Physiological benefits include:
• Decreased pain, heart rate, blood pressure and stress responses in the body.
• Increased release of feel-good hormones (serotonin, oxytocin, prolactin).
• Psychological benefits include:
• Decreased loneliness, fear, emotional distress, negative behaviors and aggression.
• Increased socialization (with staff, peers), self-esteem and attention span (helpful for Hospital School Program).

This list is a sampling of just a few of the many programs and services at Children’s that are made possible with help from our generous donors. We appreciate all contributions, which are vital to our patients, families and community, as we depend on that support to enhance the lives of children.

At Children’s we care about the well-being of a child—whether it’s a visit from a facility dog or a chance for a child to experience summer camp, your support impacts the community more than you know.