Boston Children's Hospital Every Child Fund

Families from all 50 states and more than 100 countries come to Boston Children’s when they can’t find the care they need for their child near home. At the nation’s premier pediatric hospital and research center, we never stop searching for lifesaving answers and offer expert treatment for rare and complex conditions. Your donations advance breakthroughs, bring comfort to kids during long hospital stays and keep their families strong. One way you can bring joy into the hospital is by supporting our creative arts and gaming programs.

About our gaming program

After multiple surgeries, one patient was sad and frustrated to be confined to bed. Her gaming specialist recalls, "We fit her with a Virtual Reality headset and 10 minutes later she was giggling and saying 'I'm on Mars! I'm on Mars!'”

With your help, child life technology and gaming specialists find creative ways to help kids cope with anxiety and long stays in the hospital.

Two specialists and a volunteer team make bedside visits, invite kids to game together and socialize in playrooms or enjoy bingo broadcasts from Seacrest Studios. They also host gatherings for family movie nights, performances and VIP gaming events when celebrated musicians and professional athletes visit.

During stressful times, playing familiar games gives kids a chance to feel in control and a sense of normalcy. Gaming specialists also play along to help patients reach therapeutic goals. For example, a specialist might encourage walking or taking drinks between rounds of a Mario Kart game to make recovery fun.

Thank you for helping kids

Your donations fund services that speed healing, let kids be kids and help families when they need it most. Visits from art, music and gaming specialists, therapy dogs and clowns bring smiles and laughter. Thank you for helping turn discoveries into lifesaving treatments and bring hope to our brave patients at Boston Children’s Hospital!