Browse, shop and give to Banner Children's Virtual Toy Drive
12/01/2024
Now is the perfect time to give back to kids in our community by helping stock the Toy Closets at all three Banner Children’s medical centers for all of 2025! After a challenging procedure, treatment, or when achieving a milestone, children get a trip to the Toy Closet to choose their own toy to keep—offering them a bright spot while they’re in the hospital.
This year, you can help keep those closets brimming with the joy of toys right from your computer or mobile device. We invite you to make a secure, tax-deductible donation online to our virtual toy drive. 100% of donations will purchase new, age-appropriate toys for hospitalized kids of all ages—including baby toys, books, games, puzzles, dolls, race cars, and even gift cards for teenage patients.
You can also start your own fundraising campaign for the Toy Closets, set a personal goal, and invite family and friends to support you with our free online tools available here.
Your gifts will help Arizona children bravely battling illnesses like Asher, Mustafa, Charlotte and Piper. Read more about their inspiring stories below:
ASHER
Asher was born at just 29 weeks gestation and, due to chronic lung disease, spent almost his entire first year of life in the neonatal intensive care unit and pediatric intensive care unit at Banner Children's at Desert. “Everyone at Banner that helped Asher is truly our hero,” says Asher’s mom, Breann. “He received amazing care and they took such good care of us.” Today, Asher is a Kindergartner, enjoys playing and reading with his brother, Colton, and is in good health. He returns to Banner each year on his birthday with his parents, Breann and Jesse, and big brother Colton, to deliver a large donation of gifts for young patients and families.
MUSTAFA
At just 15 months old, Mustafa was diagnosed with Beta Thalassemia, a genetic blood disorder that reduces the production of hemoglobin, which can be treated through a bone marrow transplant, but a suitable donor must be found. Only 30% of children who need a bone marrow transplant have a matching donor in their family. When Mustafa’s younger sister, Mian, was born, his family received incredible news: She was a 100% bone marrow matching donor. At age 6, Mustafa received a bone marrow transplant from Mian at Diamond Children’s Medical Center in Spring 2021. Within a month of his transplant, he has not received any blood transfusion. “They handle everything professionally,” Mustafa’s father, Omar, recalls during his family’s experience at Diamond Children’s. “I always appreciate what they do, because they go the extra mile.”
CHARLOTTE
A brave and spunky little girl, Charlotte was diagnosed with Pre-B Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia at age 4. Since her diagnosis, she has undergone treatment at Banner Children’s at Thunderbird. Charlotte’s journey has been made gentler by the support of our Child Life team.
PIPER
Piper received the 2023 Banner Children’s Healthy Hero Award at our signature fundraising gala, Pulse of the City Soiree. Two years prior, she was diagnosed with neuroblastoma that was successfully treated, only to return as stage 4, high-risk, metastatic cancer. Since then, Piper has received extensive treatment at Banner Children’s, where she was well known for her contagious positivity and personally decked-out hospital room.
A child’s trip to the toy closet to choose their own toy means the world to them. Thank you for your support.