Richmond Kiwanis Foundation donates $50,000 toward playrooms at Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU 

Richmond Kiwanis Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the Kiwanis Club of Richmond, has announced a donation of $50,000 to support the playrooms that will be a part of the Wonder Tower, the new inpatient pediatric hospital at the Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU.

The age-appropriate playrooms will be located throughout the 16-story hospital and can be used to help children feel safe and at ease while at the hospital and to remain connected with their home life through play.

“We’re here to support the children in the community, especially when they need us most,” said Bruce Tyler, Kiwanis Club of Richmond president. “Children in health care environments need areas where they can be children. Playing, having fun and using their imaginations while they receive care at CHoR.”

The Kiwanis Club of Richmond’s mission is to serve the children of Richmond and the world. That focus has led Richmond Kiwanians to be key drivers for progress in the community in its century of service to children. For over 100 years, Kiwanis and CHoR have remained closely connected and support has included hosting the beloved holiday party for the children at CHoR’s Brook Road Campus each year, providing properly fitted bike helmets to second graders in Richmond Public Schools and supporting a family lounge adjacent to the hospital’s pediatric intensive care unit.

“Our relationship with the Kiwanis Club of Richmond has stood the test of time and we’re so grateful for their ongoing support,” said Lauren Moore, President and CEO of Children’s Hospital Foundation. “This group is wholeheartedly in it for the kids and Richmond is fortunate to have such a thriving, generous Kiwanis chapter doing so much good for the community.”

This $50,000 gift is part of the Foundation’s annual grant program, where organizations whose missions align with Kiwanis are invited to apply for fundings for programs that benefit children in the Richmond area, particularly children from disadvantaged backgrounds.  In 2022, Kiwanis Richmond has awarded more than $60,000 to a diverse array of Richmond-area nonprofits.