A common request we often hear is how to provide meaningful ways for corporate partners to engage with their local Children’s Hospital in addition to traditional fundraising. At Children’s Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA), they have responded to this request with an initiative called Companies for Kids. Companies for Kids is a monthly volunteer experience that brings corporate teams inside the hospital to support patients, families, and frontline staff in tangible, uplifting ways in a “choose your own adventure” style format. 

What makes Companies for Kids stand out isn’t just the activities, but it’s the structure, consistency and collaboration behind it. And it’s a model that can be adapted by many hospitals who are looking for ways to engage their partners. 

At CHLA Companies for Kids takes place on the second Tuesday of each month, offering corporate groups a curated half-day volunteer experience. Each event welcomes 12–15 volunteers, guided by hospital staff who ensure that activities are safe, purposeful and meaningful for both volunteers and families. 

Each volunteer day follows a set structure that begins with a guided hospital tour and ends with the planned service activity. 

CHLA’s offerings for volunteer groups include the following: 

• Coffee Carts: A group of volunteers will take three coffee carts to patient floors to hand out coffee, tea and snacks to caregivers/parents, nurses and doctors.  

• Play Carts: Play carts stocked with Play-Doh, coloring books and crayons will be taken to various locations including the lobby, entrance to outpatient clinics, and clinics and distributed to patients/children passing by. 

• Toy Distribution: Volunteers will participate in organizing, sorting by age/gender and loading carts with toys and then distributing to clinics, on patient floors, or in the lobby, depending on time of year and prior approvals 

• Playroom Activity: Volunteers may participate in craft activities in Child Life playrooms. 

• Toy Closet Organizers: Help our volunteer services team organize our top-secret toy closet. This is the perfect opportunity for someone that wants to come to volunteer day but may not be comfortable having direct interaction with patients.  

• Rehab Center: All events must include a craft and be approved.  

Behind the scenes, Companies for Kids succeeds because of thoughtful planning and cross-department communication.  For hospitals looking to replicate the model, check out the guide from CHLA or reach out to Dawn Wilcox, Vice President, Development & Corporate Partnerships, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles at dwilcox@chla.usc.edu.