Lifespan News

$1 Million Gift from Hasbro, Inc Highlights 2010 Hasbro Children’s Hospital Gala

(posted March 17, 2010)

The annual benefit gala for Hasbro Children’s Hospital was highlighted by a surprise announcement by Hasbro, Inc. during the event. Hasbro’s CEO and president, Brian Goldner told the 700 attendees that the company, through its Children’s Fund, is contributing $1 million to the hospital. The gift will support the implementation of an interactive technology program called “The Get Well Network.” This program turns hospital room television monitors into interactive systems that allow patients and families access to an array of educational, entertainment, hospital service and Internet resources during their stay.

Improving the lives of children and their families is a shared goal between Hasbro, Inc. and Hasbro Children’s Hospital,” said Hasbro, Inc. CEO Brian Goldner. “By bringing the Get Well Network to the hospital, we hope to provide young patients with a readily-available resource to keep them better connected, happy and more comfortable during what can be a very scary time for a child.”

“We are very grateful for Hasbro’s continued generous support of Hasbro Children’s Hospital,” said Timothy J. Babineau, MD, president and chief executive officer of Rhode Island Hospital and its Hasbro Children’s Hospital. “This gift embodies Hasbro, Inc.’s community spirit and dedication to the health and well-being of the children of Rhode Island.” The announcement capped a gala evening that raised $900,000 to support several critical programs with the greatest needs at the children’s hospital.

The theme of the evening’s festivities this year was “‘In it for Life’ for Hasbro Children’s Hospital,” which relates to the popular The Game of Life® board game from Hasbro, Inc., but also refers to the lifelong commitment Hasbro Children’s Hospital and its supporters have made to the children and families under the hospital’s care. In honor of this theme, Reuben Klamer, the inventor of The Game of Life®, made a special appearance at the gala.

“The ‘In it for Life’ commitment from our supporters helps us deliver our services, technology and family-centered care to thousands of children and families each year,” said Robert Klein, MD, pediatrician-in-chief of Hasbro Children’s Hospital. “Events like this gala ensure that we can not only care for today’s patients, but make sure we are there for tomorrow’s.”

In addition to dinner and dancing, attendees took part in several raffles and games based on The Game of Life® theme, as well as a Tiffany’s raffle, silent auction and a live auction hosted by professional auctioneer Paul Zekos of the Zekos Group. The live auction funded new sleeping chairs for each of the 87 patient rooms at Hasbro Children’s Hospital.

The gala featured a program with keynote speeches by hospital leaders, as well as the hospital board chairman, Lawrence Aubin, and event chairs Dolph and Maureen Johnson. During the program videos were shown of patients and staff with lifelong ties to Hasbro Children’s Hospital. The videos illustrated the connections formed among patients and caregivers during treatment. The evening also included a special guest performance by Livingston Taylor, a singer-songwriter whose expansive career has included several top-40 hits.

The annual Hasbro Children’s Hospital gala has raised nearly $7.5 million since its inception in 1993. The event is presented by Hasbro, Inc. and additionally sponsored by Toys‘R’Us, KPMG and William Morris Endeavor Entertainment.