Mattel, Inc. Donates Toys to Hospitalized Children across the US, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center Receives Toys

Monday, November 23, 2009

Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center will receive 300 free toys from Mattel Inc. as part of a partnership between the National Association of Children’s Hospitals and Related Institutions (NACHRI) and Mattel, Inc. The Mattel Children’s Hospitals Toy Donation Program will be used to bring joy and comfort to hospitalized children.

NACHRI and Mattel will distribute more than 50,000 toys to hospitalized children across the country in 2009. The total retail value of the toy donation is more than $450,000. In addition, Mattel is paying the shipping costs for each hospital. As one of NACHRI’s 220 member children’s hospitals, Cincinnati Children’s will receive its first shipment of toys just in time for the holidays.

“Play is crucial in helping children cope with hospitalization.” says Courtney Osborne, Child Life Specialist at Cincinnati Children’s. “These toys are a wonderful gift that will help us provide hours of fun and distraction for our young patients and we are grateful to receive them.”

“Mattel’s philanthropy is about putting smiles on the faces of children,” said Robert A. Eckert, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Mattel, Inc..“We are especially proud of being able to help hospitalized children at Cincinnati Children’s through this unique product donation to NACHRI members.”

Gifts In Kind International, an organization that partners with businesses and nonprofit organizations to provide quality products and services that improve lives in communities around the world, is administering the distribution of the toys.

In addition, a $112,000 grant from the Mattel Children’s Foundation to NACHRI will support childhood obesity initiatives and infrastructure development for NACHRI’s corporate alliance programs.

“The Mattel Children’s Foundation is committed to its vision of ‘making a meaningful difference one child at a time,’” said Kevin Farr, Chief Financial Officer Mattel, Inc. and Chair Mattel Children’s Foundation Board of Directors.

About Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center

Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center is one of 10 children’s hospitals in the United States to make the Honor Roll in U.S. News and World Reports 2009-10 America’s Best Children’s Hospitals issue. It is #1 ranked for digestive disorders and is also highly ranked for its expertise in respiratory diseases, cancer, neonatal care, heart care, neurosurgery, diabetes, orthopedics, kidney disorders and urology. One of the three largest children’s hospitals in the U.S., Cincinnati Children’s is affiliated with the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine and is one of the top two recipients of pediatric research grants from the National Institutes of Health.

President Barack Obama in June 2009 cited Cincinnati Children’s as an “island of excellence” in health care. For its achievements in transforming health care, Cincinnati Children’s is one of six U.S. hospitals since 2002 to be awarded the American Hospital Association-McKesson Quest for Quality Prize for leadership and innovation in quality, safety and commitment to patient care. The hospital is a national and international referral center for complex cases. Additional information can be found at www.cincinnatichildrens.org.

About NACHRI

Founded in 1968, NACHRI is an association of 220 children’s hospitals and related institutions devoted to improving the health and well-being of children and families through support of children’s hospitals’ four fold mission of clinical care, pediatric training, research and child advocacy. www.childrenshospitals.net

About the Mattel Children's Foundation

The Mattel Children’s Foundation’s vision is to “make a meaningful difference, one child at a time.” The Foundation provides cash grants through domestic and international grantmaking programs, as well as international scholarships to children of employees, matching gifts and volunteer grants for Mattel employees. The Mattel Children’s Foundation is funded exclusively by cash donations from Mattel, Inc. http://corporate.mattel.com/about-us/philanthropy/

About Gifts In Kind International

Gifts In Kind International, charitable organization that today is the third largest charity in the U.S, partners with businesses and nonprofit organizations to provide quality products and services that improve lives in communities around the world. www.giftsinkind.org