Beyond the Bedside: How Play is Becoming the New Prescription in Pediatric Care

SALT LAKE CITY, UT – June 30, 2026 – In a move that signals a significant shift in pediatric healthcare, Children’s Miracle Network today announced a new national partnership with The DICK’S Sporting Goods Foundation. This strategic alliance is not about funding another piece of medical equipment or a new hospital wing; instead, it aims to harness something more elemental to childhood: the power of play. The collaboration will launch with a pilot program at four children’s hospitals, focusing on expanding access to sports, physical activity, and play-based therapies to support children’s health and well-being during their medical journeys.

For decades, the fight for a child’s health has been waged primarily in sterile rooms with advanced medical technology. This new initiative, however, champions a more holistic view, recognizing that healing extends far beyond the physical. It’s a perspective that understands recovery is also about confidence, resilience, and the simple joy of being a kid.

“At Children’s Miracle Network, we know children’s health and well-being are supported in many ways — through advanced medical care, family support, moments of joy and opportunities for kids to experience what childhood should feel like,” said Aimee Daily, Ph.D., President and CEO of Children’s Miracle Network. This partnership aims to institutionalize those moments of joy, making them a core component of the healing process.

The Therapeutic Power of the Playing Field

The premise of the partnership is grounded in a growing body of medical and psychological research. The integration of sports and structured play into treatment plans is no longer seen as a mere distraction but as a vital therapeutic tool. For children facing long hospital stays or chronic conditions, physical activity provides tangible medical benefits, including improved muscle strength, cardiovascular health, and motor skills. For a child with cerebral palsy, for instance, adaptive sports can help maintain muscle flexibility and reduce spasticity, while for a young athlete recovering from an ACL tear, a specialized sports medicine program is the bridge back to the life they knew.

Beyond the physical, the psychological impact is profound. Participation in sports is a powerful antidote to the anxiety, depression, and social isolation that often accompany serious illness. It has been shown to boost self-esteem, foster emotional regulation, and provide a sense of normalcy and empowerment. Patient stories from children’s hospitals across the country echo this sentiment. One mother of a young boy with microcephaly at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles described how an adaptive wheelchair basketball program gave her son a newfound “swagger,” helping him feel like a “typical person” not defined by his condition. Similarly, a young patient at Valley Children's Healthcare who participated in its Adaptive Sports Program found that it not only aided his physical therapy but also helped him build lasting friendships and regain his confidence.

These are the kinds of outcomes the CMN and DICK'S Foundation partnership seeks to replicate and scale. By funding sports medicine programs, adaptive sports leagues, and access-to-play initiatives, the collaboration is investing in the whole child.

Synergy in Philanthropy: A New Corporate Playbook

This alliance is as much a story about strategic philanthropy as it is about pediatric health. It represents a sophisticated evolution in corporate social responsibility, moving beyond checkbook charity to a model of deep, mission-aligned integration. The partnership leverages the unique strengths of two titans in their respective fields.

Children's Miracle Network is a fundraising powerhouse, having raised over $9 billion for 170 member hospitals across North America since its inception. Its model, which ensures 100 percent of local donations benefit the local children's hospital, has built immense trust and a vast network. On the other side, The DICK'S Sporting Goods Foundation, through its flagship Sports Matter program, has committed over $100 million since 2014 to support more than two million young athletes, establishing itself as a leading force in championing youth sports.

“At The DICK'S Sporting Goods Foundation, we believe sports have the power to change lives,” said Rick Jordan, Vice President of the Dick’s Foundation. “Through our partnership with Children's Miracle Network, we're proud to help bring the joy, comfort, and healing benefits of play to children facing medical challenges.”

The catalyst for this powerful union was Marriott, Children’s Miracle Network’s longest-standing corporate partner. Having raised over $178 million for CMN since 1983, Marriott played the role of a strategic connector, facilitating the introduction between the two organizations. This act of cross-sector philanthropy—where a corporate partner leverages its own network to create new value for its non-profit ally—is a hallmark of a mature and impactful CSR strategy. It demonstrates a commitment that extends beyond direct fundraising to building a sustainable ecosystem of support.

From Strategy to Action: Inside the Pilot Program

The initial phase of this multi-year partnership will focus on a pilot program at four yet-to-be-named children’s hospitals. While the financial scope of the commitment has not been publicly disclosed, The DICK'S Sporting Goods Foundation has a history of making significant, multi-million dollar grants, suggesting a substantial investment. The funds will be directed toward a range of programs designed to meet children where they are in their recovery journey.

This could include:
* Adaptive Sports: Modifying sports like basketball, tennis, or skiing so that children with physical or developmental disabilities can participate fully, fostering teamwork and competition.
* Sports Medicine & Rehabilitation: Providing specialized physical therapy and conditioning to help children recover from injuries or surgery, with a focus on safely returning them to activity.
* Access-to-Play Initiatives: Breaking down the barriers that prevent hospitalized children from engaging in physical activity, which could involve creating mobile play carts, funding child life specialists trained in therapeutic play, or building accessible play spaces within hospital grounds.

By focusing on a pilot program, the partners can carefully study the impact of these initiatives, refine their approach, and develop a scalable model that can eventually be rolled out across the wider network of 170 CMN hospitals. This methodical approach ensures that the investment will deliver the most effective and meaningful results for children and their families.

A Paradigm Shift in Children's Health

This collaboration arrives at a pivotal moment for both pediatric healthcare and corporate philanthropy. It aligns with a broader movement toward integrative medicine, which treats the patient holistically, and reflects a corporate world increasingly aware that authentic social impact requires leveraging core expertise. For Children’s Miracle Network, which recently announced an ambitious goal to raise $1 billion through its “Health for All Kids Impact Pledge,” this partnership is a key component of its strategy to innovate and expand the definition of children’s healthcare.

By bringing the playing field to the patient’s bedside, Children's Miracle Network and The DICK'S Sporting Goods Foundation are not just funding programs; they are championing a new standard of care, one where every child has the opportunity to build strength, confidence, and resilience through the transformative power of sport.