Light Up Patients' Lives

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Thanks to your donations, every child has access to the best care regardless of their ability to pay.

Light Up the Lawn. Light Up a Life.

While many kids are making their holiday wish lists right now, the patients at Nationwide Children’s Hospital are simply wishing they could be home. But you have the power to make their holidays a little brighter. The moment you donate, the butterflies on our lawn light up for our patients to see. We hope you’ll give our patients some magical moments and show them how much their community cares.

How Your Donation Helps Kids

Your donation not only brings joy to our patients by lighting up the butterflies on our lawn and inside the hospital, but it also provides hope by funding life-saving research and care. It illuminates our path as we continue to provide compassionate care right here in Central Ohio, regardless of a family’s ability to pay.


See Your Gift in Action

The moment you donate, the butterflies on the lawn light up for our patients to see. And you can see them, too. Watch your gift in real time on our live stream.

Bread Financial Logo

The butterflies displayed on the lawn are available for sponsorship and include a variety of benefits for individuals or corporate benefactors.


Butterfly tracker

Find, and light, a butterfly tonight.

Experience the magic of Light Up the Lawn, Light Up a Life by donating at a butterfly near you. Simply click on a butterfly on our Butterfly Tracker to get directions. Once you’re standing in front of your butterfly of choice, scan the QR code to donate and see it light up in front of your eyes. And our patients will see butterflies light up the lawn in front of Nationwide Children’s Hospital.

Find Butterflies

Your Gift Funds Pediatric Research

Your donation allows us to perform important clinical research and trials that bring hope to patients and families.

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Shop For a Cause

When you shop with us, you help make our work possible. Shop blankets, cards and more.

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Thank you for helping kids everywhere.

Ways to Give

Infant Son Smiling in Dad's Lap
Corporate Partnerships

We didn’t become America’s largest children’s hospital and research center alone. Generous corporations from around the country play an enormous part in changing the future of pediatric care.  
National Partnerships
Local Partnerships
Event Sponsorships
 

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Nationwide Children's Hospital Patient Stock Photo
Give your time

The gift of your time is just as significant as any other gift. Learn how you can volunteer with Nationwide Children's.   
Dedicate your Occasions
Special Event Volunteering
Fundraising Volunteers & Affinity Groups
Hospital Volunteering

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Get Involved

young girl with bear

Holiday Toy Drop

December 8 & 9, 2023

525 E Mound Street
Columbus, Ohio 43215

You can help our patients and families by gifting items from a wish list carefully selected by Child Life and Psychosocial services. Items on the wish lists include educational toys, games, and other items.

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On Our Sleeves Digital Toolkit

Donatos & Cheryl's Support On Our Sleeves

October 2 - December 31, 2023

From October 2, 2023 through December 31, 2023, purchase a Cheryl's Cookie at Donatos and a portion of sales will help provide free mental health resources to children and families throughout our community.

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Foundation Events

11/1
Ace Hardware In-Store Campaign

Each year, over 20 central Ohio Ace Hardware locations make it a personal goal to raise funds for Nationwide Children's Hospital through year-round endeavors like coin canisters, round-up campaigns and fundraising events.

3/1
Disney's Beauty and the Beast

Butterfly Guild of Nationwide Children's Hospital hosts Disney's Beauty and the Beast March 1-3, 2024.

See all Events

Our Impact

Your generosity helps patients like these

La'Miya smiling
La'Miya

La'Miya was diagnosed with a stage 2 Wilms tumor. She went through eight months of cancer treatment, including surgery and chemotherapy, at Nationwide Children's. Learn more about La'Miya's story. 

Knox looking at the lit butterflies
Knox

Knox was born with half a heart and was diagnosed with Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome. Knox has had three surgery's at Nationwide Children's. Learn more about Knox's story.

Celebrating Our Donors

Olsen Family
The Olsen Family

Relative newcomers to the community, the Olsen family relocated to Columbus from San Francisco in 2013 when Chris co-founded Drive Capital. Gina and Chris quickly engaged with the community. Chris joined the Nationwide Children’s Board of Trustees, and the family generously showed their support by donating $1 million to the hospital. “We moved to Columbus because we thought it was the next great American city,” Chris said. “Nationwide Children’s is a fabulous example of the local community building expertise at a world-class level. We are honored to be part of a community doing so much for children’s health.”

Foligno Family
The Foligno Family

Columbus Blue Jackets player Nick Foligno and his wife, Janelle, were thrilled to welcome their first child to the family. Unfortunately, Milana was born with a congenital heart defect and required intensive treatment and surgery. Today, Milana is healthy. The family honored Nationwide Children’s with a donation of $500,000. “How can we help people who are going to be in a similar situation?,” Nick asked the media. “To try and help others is something that’s important to us.”

Learn How Philanthropy Is Funding Research for Better Outcomes

Dale Jr Foundation
Dale Jr Foundation

The Dale and Amy Earnhardt Fund supports Nationwide Children’s courageous patients and their families in the area of pediatric injury rehabilitation, research and prevention, helping patients and families rehabilitate from brain injuries, head and spinal cord injuries, and other physically disabling conditions and injuries.

About the Nationwide Children's Hospital Foundation

In 1892, a group of citizens held a sale to raise money for the care of sick, impoverished children. That effort led to the opening of Nationwide Children’s Hospital in 1894. For more than a century, we have existed to care for every child, for every reason.

The Foundation is the fundraising arm of Nationwide Children’s. Our job – with your help – is to ensure much needed funds are available for innovative research, emerging trends in pediatric health, and to react to our ever changing world. Philanthropy ensures that we can dream big.

Over 100 years… That is how long charity, donations, and generosity have enabled us to help children. With your help, we can add another century to our distinguished history.

Meet Our Team

The Nationwide Children's Foundation serves to further the mission of Nationwide Children's Hospital while meeting donor philanthropic goals. Nationwide Children's Hospital is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization (EIN: 31-1036370)