Major Programs
Toy Room:
Each month, between 6,000 and 14,000 toys, games, craft items, books, movies, and handmade items are delivered to children, adults, and families at the downtown hospitals each month. These items are used by child life specialists, social workers, chaplain, nurses, doctors, and other therapists to provide comfort and safety.
Each child receiving surgery at Riley receives a puppy pillow at the foot of their bed when they wake up. In addition to being a soft and sweet item, these can become a badge of honor for children who have multiple surgeries.
Children play to express happiness, joy, sadness, and fear. It is the universal method of communicating with each other and adults in their world. The items in the toyroom are donated from groups throughout the state of Indiana, and additional funds donated by groups are used to purchase high need items such as colored pencils, markers, sketch pads, uno cards, fisher price soothers, and gifts for teens. It costs over $65,000 per year to provide consistent inventory and to give each child a birthday present and a holiday gift.
Music Therapy:
In September 2000, the Riley Cheer Guild began funding the first clinical music therapy program at Riley Hospital for Children. The Riley Cheer Guild funds three music therapy positions to cover needs throughout the 280 bed inpatient hospital. In addition to seeking grants and research funding, the Riley Cheer Guild seeks philanthropic support for this program.
Sessions: Music therapists provide clinical experiences for over 560 patients and family members per month.
Budget: Riley Cheer Guild raises $167,000 per year to fund the music therapy program.
Education: Music therapists educate staff, volunteers, and community members about the benefits of music therapy and how to refer patients to this service.
Clinical Collaboration: Music therapists are integrated members of the medical team.
Research: Pediatric music therapy is an evidence-based healthcare treatment, and Riley music therapists are actively involved in clinical research.
Complete Life:
The Riley Cheer Guild began funding the Art Cart at the IU Health Melvin and Bren Simon Cancer Center in 2011. Expansion of support now includes music therapy, art therapy, and narrative therapy. The CompleteLife Program is a complementary therapies program at IU Health that attends to the physical, emotional, social and spiritual needs of the whole person when the patients and families need it most.
Art Therapy is a mental health profession that uses the creative process of art making to improve and enhance the physical, mental and emotional well-being of individuals of all ages.
Music Therapy is a medical profession that uses all aspects of music to address holistic goals including pain management and emotional resilience.
The Riley Cheer Guild raises $84,446 per year to sponsor this program.
Engaging in creative arts with a trained therapist can provide immediate relief from the physical and emotional effects of treatment.
No artistic or musical experience is required!
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