Chase Foundation volunteer Ryan Anderson with 8-year-old patient Michelle

WESTWOOD—The Chase Foundation donated $2.125 million to the Child Life/Child Development program at Mattel Children’s Hospital at UCLA on March 28.

The foundation, a nonprofit organization, assists and gives to hospital-based programs that benefit the social, emotional and developmental needs of children. In response to the foundation’s generosity, UCLA renamed the Child Life program the Chase Child Life Program at a ribbon-cutting ceremony held at the hospital.

The program caters to the special needs of pediatric patients through promoting innovative methods of coping, such as play, preparation, education and self-expression exercises. In addition, it strives to provide emotional support for families and encourage the best possible preparation for dealing with developmental challenges that stem from childhood illness and hospitalization.

Photos courtesy of chasefoundation.org

The Chase Foundation has announced additional funding to the hospital to create a therapeutic garden along the Tisch Family Children’s Terrace to help promote coping. Wellness will be encouraged through activities such as gardening lessons and taking in the fresh air. This plan was announced at the ribbon-cutting event.

According to its website, the Chase Foundation believes in “shaping lives in a positive way through community involvement, quality education programs and the desire to build strong communities through innovative approaches.” Additionally, it strives to “generate significant financial support for child life programs and to create healing play spaces for children in hospitals.”

Similarly, the Chase Child Life program at UCLA “operates on the principle that the best medical care alone isn’t enough. The Child Life Staff addresses the emotional, social, and developmental needs of children. The Chase Child Life Program strives to promote optimum development of children and their families, to maintain normal living patterns and to minimize psychological trauma.”

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