The Toy Foundation’s Play Fund Supports Children With Special Needs - Sensory Room And Mobile Multi-Sensory Cart Deliver Comfort And Healing Through Therapeutic Play

The new project, C.A.T.C.H. (Creating a Therapeutic and Calming Hospitalization), is designed to enhance the hospital experience for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder, Neurodevelopmental Disorders and Behavioral Health Conditions by creating sensory-friendly environments that promote comfort, healing and emotional well-being.

The Grant was used to fund a dedicated sensory room in Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital’s Child Life Zone and a mobile multi-sensory cart that will allow staff to quickly create customized calming and enjoyable environments for patients in any area within the hospital. The sensory environments at JDCH now feature a variety of sights, sounds and textures to reduce stress and overstimulation. These tools augment the education of staff working with special needs patients.

“Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital Foundation is honored to be among the recipients of this impactful Grant,” said Kelley Morris, President of the Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital Foundation. “With this generous donation from The Toy Foundation we are enhancing our capacity to provide superior patient-and family-centered care, particularly for those patients with Special Needs who need a safe, calming environment while in the hospital.”

The C.A.T.C.H. Project is expected to serve at least 300 patients annually, reaching more than 1,500 children over the lifetime of the equipment; achieve 75% improvement in patient well-being, measured by reduced anxiety and increased engagement; and enhance staff training and documentation related to special needs care.

This grant is part of a broader national initiative. In Spring 2025, The Toy Foundation, the philanthropic arm of The Toy Association, announced $405,000 in Play Fund grants to 23 children’s hospitals and health systems across the country. The funding is expected to benefit more than 245,000 children, with a focus on under-resourced communities from coast to coast.

The Play Fund is the only industry-wide initiative that brings the power of play to hospitals. By uniting the philanthropy of toy companies, The Toy Foundation supports projects ranging from sensory-friendly play areas and themed arts and crafts to inclusive play equipment for children of all abilities.

As a full-service quaternary care hospital with 228 beds and extensive outpatient services, JDCH is committed to creating a more inclusive, supportive and healing environment for all children, especially those with special needs.

To support Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital Foundation or learn more about its innovative programs, visit: www.jdch.com/give-back/foundation. To learn more about The Toy Foundation’s Play Fund, visit: www.ToyFoundation.org.

About Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital

Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital is one of the nation’s leading pediatric hospitals, offering a comprehensive scope of healthcare services and programs in a caring, compassionate setting designed specifically for children. The level one pediatric trauma center combines advanced technology, the expertise of some of the region’s most diverse, board-certified specialists, and a patient and family-centered focus to heal the body, mind, and spirit. Part of Memorial Healthcare System, the pediatric hospital in Hollywood, Florida, recently doubled in size, adding four floors, including a comprehensive cardiac care floor, an intraoperative MRI, an inpatient rehabilitation gym, family and staff support areas, and the 14th Garth Brooks Teammates for Kids Child Life Zone, among other offerings.

The hospital’s NonProfit Foundation focuses on philanthropy to positively impact patients, families, and underwrite programs, facilities, and equipment that support the pediatric facility’s mission.

To learn more, visit: www.jdch.com - And connect with: @jdchospital on Facebook, X, YouTube and Instagram.

About The Toy Foundation - www.toyfoundation.org

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. Thanks to the toy industry’s support, TTF has delivered play to more than 34 million children in need around the world.

About The ToyAssociation - www.toyassociation.org - www.toyfoundation.org - www.peopleofplay.com - www.thegeniusofplay.org - www.playsafe.org

Founded in 1916, The Toy Association, Inc. is the business trade association representing all businesses involved in creating and delivering toys and youth entertainment products for kids of all ages. The Toy Association leads the health and growth of the U.S. toy industry, which has an annual U.S. economic impact of $157.5 Billion, and its roughly 900 members drive the annual $42 Billion U.S. domestic toy market. The Toy Association serves as the industry's voice on the developmental benefits of play and promotes play's positive impact on childhood development. The organization has a long history of leadership in toy safety, having helped develop the first comprehensive toy safety standard more than 40 years ago, and remains committed to working with medical experts, governments, consumers, and the industry on ongoing programs to ensure safe and fun play.

As a global leader, The Toy Association produces the world-renowned Toy Fair in New York City; hosts marketplace activities in Los Angeles; engages in state, federal, and international advocacy on behalf of its members; supports the inventor and design community through People of Play and its numerous assets and events, including the consumer-facing Chicago Toy & Game Fair; sustains the Canadian Toy Association; acts as secretariat for the International Council of Toy Industries and International Toy Industry CEO Roundtable; and chairs the committee that reviews and revises America's widely emulated ASTM F963 toy safety standard. The Toy Association's philanthropic arm is The Toy Foundation, a 501 (c)(3) children's charity that acts as the uniting force for the collective philanthropy of the toy industry. To date, The Toy Foundation has delivered the joy of play to 33 million children in need worldwide.