Kiddie Academy Educational Child Care announced a new sponsorship of Johns Hopkins Children’s Center that includes a $100,000 gift to the hospital’s child life department and a commitment to staff volunteer opportunities throughout the year.
“Thanks to Kiddie Academy’s generous support, we will be able to provide specialized child life services in radiology, an area where preparation and compassion make an extraordinary difference,” said Patrice Brylske, director of child life services at Johns Hopkins Children’s Center.
“This gift will enhance our ability to build trust and reduce fear for our pediatric patients — ultimately transforming the patient experience and improving health outcomes for children and teens in our care.”
What the sponsorship funds will do
The donation goes directly to the child life department, which plans to develop resources and staffing for children undergoing radiology procedures. The support focuses on developmental and emotional care, including therapeutic play that helps young patients prepare for scans and treatments and feel more secure during hospital visits. Kiddie Academy corporate employees will also volunteer at events and activities across the year, reinforcing the hands-on element of the partnership.
“Johns Hopkins Children’s Center provides comprehensive and compassionate care to children and families in our community,” said Casey Miller, CEO of Kiddie Academy. “This sponsorship is our way of supporting children’s health and well-being beyond the walls of Kiddie Academy’s child care centers. We know firsthand the transformative power of play and socialization in helping children feel safe and secure, regardless of their circumstances.”
Why this matters to families and the franchise community
Founded in 1912 as the children’s hospital at Johns Hopkins, Johns Hopkins Children’s Center operates one of the nation’s broad pediatric programs, serving about 65,000 patient visits and 9,000 admissions each year. Support for child life services in radiology helps clinicians prepare children for complex procedures, reduces anxiety and can improve the overall care experience for patients and families.
For Kiddie Academy, a Baltimore-based educational child care provider, the sponsorship builds on a pattern of community investment. In 2025, the company donated more than $60,000 to national and local organizations including Family Promise, the National Forest Foundation, the World Wildlife Fund, CASA for Harford County, Baltimore Hunger Project and Blue Water Baltimore. Employees contributed over 300 volunteer hours and 250 essential items to toy and food drives, signaling an emphasis on both funding and service.
As franchise systems expand, charitable partnerships like this one show how brand networks can mobilize local impact while aligning with their core mission of child development and family support. Kiddie Academy’s focus on play-based learning dovetails with the hospital’s therapeutic play approach, creating a practical bridge between early education settings and pediatric care environments.
