Philanthropy News from Hasbro Children's

“The Greatest Prom on Earth” was held at the Hotel Providence on Friday, May 2, and dozens of teen patients of Hasbro Children’s and their guests attended a night they’ll never forget. The Hasbro Children’s prom is organized by the hospital’s The Adolescent Leadership Council (TALC) and made possible through the generosity of the Dunkin’ Joy in Childhood Foundation and local Dunkin’ franchisees. TALC helps prepare teens for the transition to adulthood and independence by providing a specialized forum and mentors to whom they can relate.

Monday, January 27, was a particularly special day at Oak Lawn Elementary School in Cranston. It’s when 9-year-old Cullen Dailey, a third grader at the school, was introduced as Hasbro Children’s 2025 Champion Child, joined by his classmates, teachers, and members of his care team from the hospital for the memorable moment.

Born with Severe Hemophilia A, a rare bleeding disorder for which there is no cure, Cullen has been treated regularly at Hasbro Children’s and its Tomorrow Fund Clinic since the age of 8 months. Because his blood contains less than one percent of the necessary blood clotting factor, Cullen is at risk of spontaneous bleeding – without cause – throughout his body. 

But thanks to the expertise of Hasbro Children’s, Cullen is an extremely active and personable young man who’s no different than any other third grader. Monthly, he receives a special clotting factor replacement therapy in the form of an injection that has drastically improved his quality of life.

Although his condition will require lifelong management, Cullen is thriving, which surprises no one who knows him. He plays soccer and golf, takes guitar lessons, and loves to play board and video games. As the 2025 Children’s Miracle Network Hospital’s Rhode Island Champion for Hasbro Children’s, he’ll spend the year as an ambassador, highlighting the importance of funding pediatric care and research. 

On February 14, Hasbro Children’s marked its 30^th birthday with a special celebration, introducing its 2024 Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals Champion Child and unveiling its new – and first – mascot.

More than 150 hospital staff, community partners, and friends filled the hospital’s cafeteria as Francois Luks, MD, Hasbro Children’s Pediatric Surgeon-in-Chief, began the celebration by reflecting on three decades caring for children. Shortly after, Phyllis Dennery, MD, the hospital’s Pediatrician-in-Chief, made the Champion Child announcement everyone was waiting for.

Highlighting the young patient’s determination to overcome her medical challenges with courage and strength, Dr. Dennery introduced 9-year old London Fazekas as the Hasbro Children’s 2024 Children’s Miracle Networks Champion Child. London, whose parents Crystal and Ryan beamed with pride as they stood alongside her, was diagnosed with spina bifida while in utero and faced the prospect of never being able to walk independently.

Just one day after being born in January 2015, London underwent an intricate 8-hour surgery at Hasbro Children’s to close the spinal cord on her tiny newborn spine. The surgery was performed by Petra Klinge, MD, who leads the hospital’s pediatric neurosurgery program, and who gave the family hope that London could overcome the odds.

On Thanksgiving 2016, London showed off her hard work in physical therapy, walking on her own across the room to the amazement of family and friends gathered for the holiday. It’s been more than seven years since, and London has been on the move ever since. She’s thriving in soccer, dance, and karate – where she’s training for her Black Belt. Dr. Klinge, and Konstantina Svokos, MD, another of Hasbro Children’s amazing pediatric neurosurgeons, were in attendance and presented London with her special Champion Child medal.

The final surprise of the ”birthday party” was the official unveiling of Hope the Harbor Seal, Hasbro Children’s new – and first – mascot. Hope was created as a single symbol that highlights the unique calling of Hasbro Children’s, unites diverse teams, and reflects the hospital’s child-friendly spirt. Special miniature Hope stuffies were offered to everyone as a keepsake of the milestone day.

Wednesday, December 6, marked not only Hasbro, Inc.’s 11^th annual “Global Day of Joy,” but also the company’s centennial.

This year’s Day of Joy engaged more than 6,000 Hasbro, Inc. employees with some 200 service projects in 40 countries around the world, with Hasbro Children’s among the local beneficiaries.

After Team Hasbro volunteers played games with patients at the bedside and in playrooms, several members of the company’s executive leadership team took to the hospital units with stretchers filled with toys. Accompanied by the Child Life Services team, they visited patients on every floor including the outpatient ambulatory clinics and the emergency department. The activities provided a behind-the-scenes look at what makes Hasbro Children’s so special.

Alan Hassenfeld, Hasbro, Inc.’s Chairman Emeritus, former CEO, and member of the company’s founding family, joined the group to make a special announcement. Much to the delight of staff and everyone present, he shared that Hasbro Children’s will receive a $300,000 donation from The Hassenfeld Family Foundation as part of the company’s 100^th anniversary celebration. The gift is the result of the hospital placing 2^nd in fan votes during the Pulse Centennial Fan Choice Campaign, a two-month online effort that gave fans the opportunity to direct how the foundation would allot its commitment to donate a total of $1 million to charity.

Dr. Phyllis Dennery, Pediatrician-in-Chief and Sylvia Kay Hassenfeld Professor of Pediatrics was present for the exciting announcement. She commented, “Through their good work, Alan and his family are wonderful leaders and role models who demonstrate time and again that philanthropy can dramatically impact and improve the lives of children. We are enormously grateful for their generous support and longstanding commitment to Hasbro Children’s.”

Providence was a special place for Emily and Colby Cave. They both grew up in Canada but met and fell in love in Rhode Island’s capital city while Colby was playing for the Providence and Boston Bruins from 2015 to 2019. While he was with the team, the ice hockey center even spent some time volunteering at Hasbro Children’s.

Tragically, in April 2020, just eight months after the couple’s wedding, Colby passed away at age 25 due to a colloid cyst.

“He was genuine, caring, selfless, and had a contagious laugh. But most importantly he had the biggest heart,” Emily says. “He always wanted to help people.”

As a way of honoring Colby’s spirit and legacy, Hasbro Children’s established The Colby Cave Medical-Psychiatric Fund with a $50,000 donation from the Boston Bruins Foundation. The fund supports entertainment and enrichment programs for children and adolescents who are simultaneously struggling with psychiatric and medical illnesses.

“Colby had a soft spot for Hasbro Children’s, for sure,” Emily says. “He always glowed when he talked about his visits.”

The Colby Cave Medical-Psychiatric Fund benefits patients receiving both inpatient and outpatient levels of care.

Specifically, the fund has allowed the hospital to expand programming in the Healing Arts, including hosting visiting artists, musicians, and yoga instructors.

Colby’s memorial funds—which also includes one established by the Edmonton Oilers, the team he had been playing for at the time of his death—primarily support mental health- related programs for children.

“Mental health was super important to us in our life together, and I feel like it doesn’t always get enough attention,” Emily says.

The Bruins Foundation raised funds for its gift through various events, such as Colby Cave Nights in Providence and Boston. At the Providence event, the P-Bruins retired Colby’s number, 25—making it the first one to be raised to the rafters in the organization’s history.

“We thought it would be best to donate to the community where Colby spent the majority of his professional playing career, which was Providence,” says Bob Sweeney, President of the Boston Bruins Foundation. “I applaud Emily for helping us direct funds to children who are in need of assistance.”

Emily adds that she is grateful the Bruins Foundation has helped her honor Colby in a way that would be meaningful to him.

“We were only married for eight months and didn’t have the opportunity to have kids of our own,” Emily says. “But he would love knowing how many kids are going to be helped because of his fund. It’s so special that we’re still taking care of kids together, with him in heaven and me here.”