Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU (CHoR) is celebrating a new source of comfort and creativity for pediatric patients thanks to a $35,000 Dunkin’ Connecting Joy™ grant from the Dunkin’ Joy in Childhood Foundation. The six mobile gaming carts are designed to bring age-appropriate gaming experiences directly to patients at their bedsides.
“When kids are in the hospital, their needs extend beyond strictly medical care,” said Bethany Fisackerly Burns, child life manager at CHoR. “Gaming and technology provide opportunities for children to have fun, connect with others and take their minds off potentially stressful medical procedures, helping them spend time just being kids.”
The carts will be used daily by CHoR’s child life and nursing teams to support distraction, socialization and emotional well‑being for patients during treatment, recovery and long hospital stays. Because gaming can be adapted to a wide range of energy and ability levels, the carts offer an accessible activity for children throughout their care.
“When children spend long stretches in the hospital, access to play and familiar activities can offer far more than entertainment. It can provide comfort, connection and a welcome sense of normalcy,” said Emilly Bartels, Dunkin’ Field Marketing Manager. “Through Dunkin’ Connecting Joy, we’re proud to invest in resources that help CHoR’s care teams bring moments of happiness to pediatric patients and create a more supportive, healing environment for patients and their families.”
The Dunkin’ Joy in Childhood Foundation supports hospitals nationwide by funding equipment, staffing, connectivity and other needs that help build comprehensive gaming programs for pediatric patients. The Foundation’s work is made possible through the generosity of Dunkin’ franchisees, brand employees, vendor partners and guests across the country.
About the Dunkin’ Joy in Childhood Foundation
The Dunkin’ Joy in Childhood Foundation, the charitable foundation supported by Dunkin’, provides the simple joys of childhood to kids battling hunger or illness. The Foundation partners with food banks, children’s hospitals, and other nonprofit organizations to fund joyful environments and experiences for kids when they need it most. Since 2006, the Dunkin’ Joy in Childhood Foundation has granted more than $70 million to hundreds of national and local charities across the country thanks to the generosity of its franchisees, guests, vendor partners, and employees. To learn more about the Dunkin’ Joy in Childhood Foundation, visit www.bringjoy.org.
About Children’s Hospital Foundation
Children’s Hospital Foundation is dedicated to funding and advocating for pediatric initiatives that improve the status of health care and the quality of life for children in our region. The Foundation provides support for the programs and initiatives of Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU and the more than 70,000 children and families it serves each year. Children’s Hospital Foundation depends on the support of individuals, businesses and other organizations to help us continue our mission of supporting excellence in health care for children.
In 2020, CHoR marked 100 years of treating all children in need of care. CHoR was recently verified as a Level I Children’s Surgery Center by the American College of Surgeons Children’s Surgery Verification Quality Improvement Program (ACS CSV), one of only 30 verified children’s surgery centers in the country and the 10th on the East Coast to attain this highest level of designation.
