Today is National Joy Day – a day to celebrate everyone named Joy (like us)! On this National Joy Day, the Dunkin’ Joy in Childhood Foundation is bringing joy to health- and hunger-relief organizations with more than $2.8 million in grants! Across the country, the Foundation is awarding 133 grants to health and hunger-relief charitable organizations to help kids in need this holiday season.
These grants are a part of a commitment by the Dunkin’ Joy in Childhood Foundation, Dunkin’ and its franchisees to bring the simple joys of childhood to kids facing hunger or illness. Grants include funding ambient experience systems at an emergency department to provide positive distractions to pediatric patients; princess photoshoots to help kids battling cancer feel more courageous, confident, and hopeful; a Winter Adaptive Surfing program for kids battling illness to experience the joy of surfing; camp experiences for pediatric patients and their families; a program to bring fresh produce and protein to kids and families; and mobile and school food pantries.
The Foundation is also awarding 22 grants for their signature grant programs, Dogs for Joy, Dunkin’ Prom, Connecting Joy, and their newest program Joyful Spaces, which launched earlier this year. Joyful Spaces brings the joy of play and healing to kids battling illness and their families by supporting the creation or revitalization of playgrounds, healing gardens, teen rooms, and play spaces.
“December is the season of giving, and often when our communities need help the most,” said April McGonnigal, Director of the Dunkin’ Joy in Childhood Foundation. “National Joy Day is a day for us to celebrate all of our grantees and the joy that they’ve brought to kids in our communities. We’re proud to support their efforts to make a difference this holiday season.”
Since its inception in 2006, the Dunkin’ Joy in Childhood Foundation has granted more than $40 million to national and local nonprofits. Including the National Joy Day grants, the Foundation has awarded over $8 million in 2022 alone.
The National Joy Day grant announcement follows the Foundation’s Giving Tuesday partnership with Feeding America where $1 million was matched in donations to support hunger relief for children and their families throughout the county.
To learn more about the Dunkin’ Joy in Childhood Foundation, visit www.bringjoy.org and follow us on Facebook and Instagram.
