Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital Foundation Awarded $15,000 Grant to Expand Sensory Support for Children with Special Needs
- camilarosiaz
- 12 hours ago
- 2 min read
Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital (JDCH) Foundation has received a $15,000 grant from The Toy Foundation’s Play Fund to expand access to sensory-friendly environments for children with special needs. The funding supports a new initiative called C.A.T.C.H. (Creating a Therapeutic and Calming Hospitalization), which aims to reduce anxiety and improve emotional well-being for patients with autism spectrum disorder, neurodevelopmental challenges, and behavioral health conditions.
The grant has funded a dedicated sensory room in the hospital’s Child Life Zone along with a mobile multi-sensory cart that staff can use throughout the hospital. Both are equipped with tools that engage sight, sound, and touch, allowing clinicians to create calming, customized environments for patients experiencing stress or overstimulation. The initiative also strengthens staff training around working with children who require specialized sensory support.
According to Kelley Morris, president of the JDCH Foundation, the project reinforces the hospital’s commitment to patient- and family-centered care by providing a safe and soothing environment for children who need it most.
The program is expected to serve at least 300 patients each year and benefit more than 1,500 children over the lifespan of the equipment. JDCH anticipates measurable improvements in patient well-being, including reduced anxiety and increased engagement, along with enhanced staff documentation and protocol development for special needs care.
The grant is part of a larger national effort. Earlier this year, The Toy Foundation, the philanthropic arm of The Toy Association, announced $405,000 in Play Fund grants to 23 hospitals and health systems across the U.S., supporting projects that bring therapeutic play to an estimated 245,000 children, particularly in under-resourced communities.
As a full-service quaternary care hospital with 228 beds and extensive outpatient services, JDCH continues to integrate inclusive and supportive environments into its approach to pediatric care.
To support Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital Foundation or learn more about its programs, visit the website. To learn more about The Toy Foundation’s Play Fund, visit HERE.