Ways to Help

Special Events

Throughout the year Children’s Hospital holds numerous special events. Some are safety events while others are fundraisers, planned by hospital staff or members of the community. Below you’ll find information on existing events, or click here to learn more about how you can be your own event coordinator to support Children’s Hospital Foundation.

Fundraising Events

Annual Children’s Hospital Bowl-A-Thon
Put on your bowling shoes! Form a team of five bowlers, select a team captain and collect pledges to benefit Children’s Hospital Foundation. Trophies are awarded for the highest average and there are terrific giveaways throughout the day.

American Family Fitness 5K Walk & 10K Run
Each fall American Family Fitness hosts a day of healthy fun to benefit Children’s Hospital. A 5K Walk and 10K Run start and finish at the hospital and a Kids Run takes place on and around hospital grounds. This is a great event for individual participants as well as corporate or group teams.

Crate & Barrel Shopping Spectacular
Crate & Barrel opens its doors to Children’s Hospital supporters for a special night of food and shopping. Children’s Hospital Foundation receives all funds raised by ticket sales as well as 10% from all sales in the store during the event.

Holiday Mart
This annual holiday sale is held each Fall and features handmade items, needlecraft, gourmet goodies, attic treasures, “like new” books, a silent auction, raffle prizes, lunch by Homemades By Suzanne and much more. Sponsored by the Sunshine Circle of Children’s Hospital.

Virginia Dance Festival
Each year dancers from throughout the state unite on stage for the Virginia Dance Festival - “Dancing to Help Children,” a showcase of dance styles and talent that is a special benefit for Children’s Hospital Foundation. Performances include lyrical dance, hip hop, ballet and jazz to name a few. Jessica Morgan of Jessica Morgan School of Dance founded this event and it continues under her direction.

Dong’s Karate Tournament
Grand Master Seung Dong hosts an anniversary tournament that is a benefit for Children’s Hospital Foundation. Grand Master Dong is a ninth degree black belt (the highest martial arts degree) and a world re-nowned martial arts instructor. The event features representatives from Dong’s Virginia and North Carolina schools competing in Tae Kwon Do and Pro Ta Kwon Do categories - forms, free sparring and breaking - as well as martial arts and black belt demonstrations. Tournament participants raise funds through event ticket sales. 

Children Fore Children
Children Fore Children, a youth golf tournament to benefit Children’s Hospital Foundation, is held at First Tee in Chesterfield, VA each spring. Golfers between the ages of 8-17 are eligible to enter. This event is hosted by the hospital’s Senior Board.

Wishing Well Coin Collection Program
Local schools and organizations combine efforts to raise funds through varied coin collection programs in this community-wide fundraising program coordinated by the Senior Board of Children’s Hospital. Click here for more information on the Wishing Well Program.

Safety Programs

Children’s Hospital’s safety programming is provided in conjunction with Kohl’s Department Stores through sponsorship from the Kohl’s Cares for Kids® program with a goal of helping children and families improve their safety sense. Click here to learn more about these outreach programs.

Health & Safety Day
Held annually in both Richmond and Fredericksburg, Health & Safety Day is geared toward elementary school-age children, teachers and families. This free event held each spring features interactive exhibits on health and safety tips for children. Hospital representatives and local organizations, including the police department, discuss relevant issues from bike and car safety to dental care and proper nutrition.

Fire Prevention Day
Children, teachers and families are invited to this free event featuring fire safety houses and interactive exhibits as well as opportunities for children to get to know members of local fire departments. Fire Prevention Day is geared toward 3-to-5 year olds and is held on the hospital’s front lawn during the first week of October.

Back to School Safety Day
Held each August, the Back to School Safety Day brings together the expertise of Children’s Hospital’s clinical staff with community resources to provide tips to get your child’s school year off to a safe and healthy start. The event features information on nutrition, backpack safety, drug awareness and more.

Click here to view our calendar of upcoming events.

Be Your Own Event Coordinator

You can work together with your friends, family, co-workers or community group to hold a special event or fundraiser for Children’s Hospital Foundation. Below are several examples of how members of our community have planned their own events.

  • Donna & Ramsey Shephardson hosted a Backyard Cookout that raised over $1000 for the hospital. Click here to read their story.
  • Nine members of the Hanover Thunder fast pitch softball team celebrated their birthdays with a joint party and 125 of their friends from Oak Knoll and Stonewall Jackson Middle Schools. Instead of presents, the girls asked for donations to Children’s Hospital in honor of teammate and fellow birthday celebrant, Megan DePew, who was an inpatient at the hospital following a 2005 car accident. The party resulted in a $1,100 gift to Children’s Hospital Foundation.
  • The Virginia Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control held an employee ice cream social and raised $200 for Children’s Hospital Foundation.
  • Join the Peter Pan Birthday Club like 10-year-old Sophia and register your birthday party online to receive party supplies such as invitations, goodie bags and more. When guests make donations to Children’s Hospital Foundation the Peter Pan Children’s Fund will match the total gifts up to $100. Click here to learn more about Sophia’s party and how you can have your own Peter Pan Birthday.

Additionally each year clubs, organizations and businesses find their own unique ways to help, for example:

Athletic Tournaments, Backyard BBQ, Bowl-A-Thon, Walk-A-Thon, Marathon (running), Stroller-A-Thon, Bingo, Haunted Hay Ride, Tea Party/Dance, Car Wash, Auction, Black Tie Dinner and Dance, Fashion Show, Dessert Extravaganza, Benefit Supper/Luncheon, Art Show, Costume Party, Ice Cream Social, Line Dancing Show, Murder Mystery Party/Dinner Theatre, Nascar Event, Concert Benefit, Bake Sale, Family Fun Day, or Craft / Jewelry Show.

If you like one of these ideas or have one of your own, please click on the link below to download the Special Events Application form in PDF format. To obtain your free copy of Adobe Acrobat Reader click here.

Fundraising and Special Events Policy
Partnership Project Form 2007

For more information on holding an event for Children’s Hospital or on any of the events listed above, contact our at (804) 228-5827.

Frequently Asked Questions

What types of items does the hospital accept as gifts?

The hospital will accept donations for children in the way of new toys, new books and new games. For a current hospital “wish list” please contact the Recreation Therapy Department at (804) 228-5817.

For more information about our upcoming events visit our Events Calendar.

The information on this site is provided for informational and educational purposes only; it does not contain specific medical advice. If you have specific health questions or problems, consult a health care professional for personal medical advice.