Rhode Island Hospital and Hasbro Children’s presented the fifth annual Day of Giving on Wednesday, September 10. The daylong radio-telethon, a partnership with NBC 10 WJAR and Cumulus Media Providence, gave the hospitals an opportunity to highlight their world-class care, share inspiring patient stories, and raise funds to support their lifesaving work.
Leading-edge cancer care—right here, close to home
This year’s Day of Giving focused on a disease that touches everyone—cancer—and how leading-edge patient care can be found right here, close to home, at the Brown University Health Cancer Institute. Throughout the day, listeners and viewers across the region tuned in to hear from grateful patients and hospital staff, who told powerful stories of courage and hope in the face of life-threatening cancer diagnoses.
The range of personal journeys shared spanned from pediatric cancer and rare brain tumors to one of Rhode Island’s first stem cell transplants to overcome multiple myeloma. The diversity of successful stories spoke volumes about the considerable capabilities of the Cancer Institute’s expert doctors, nurses, and support staff. Clark C. Chen, MD, PhD, neurosurgeon and Director, Brain Tumor Program, and Eric Wong, MD, Director, Medical Neuro-Oncology, were interviewed live during the Day of Giving and discussed the truly unique and personalized options for glioblastoma. Rishi Lulla, MD, Chief of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Hasbro Children’s, also spoke about advances in pediatric cancer care.
Sarah Frost, President of Rhode Island Hospital and Hasbro Children’s and Chief of Hospital Operations, Brown University Health volunteering on the phone bank
Another highlight of day was the energetic team of employees—led by Sarah Frost, President of Rhode Island Hospital and Hasbro Children’s and Chief of Hospital Operations, Brown University Health—who took shifts answering phones and recording pledges on-air throughout the Day of Giving.
Gratitude for our donor family
Thanks to sponsorships and the generosity of dollar-for-dollar, matching-gift-challenge donors, a total of $435,352 was raised. Sponsorship proceeds from the event will go to the Rhode Island Hospital Fund for Excellence, which supports program improvements that directly benefit patients and their families and advances its research and medical education capabilities.
Enthusiastic volunteers working the phone bank and taking pledges
“Day-of” text and call-in options also gave donors the ability to target their gifts to benefit either the Malloy Strong Fund at Rhode Island Hospital or the Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Fund at Hasbro Children’s. The Malloy Strong Fund helps patients dealing with the financial hardships that accompany a cancer diagnosis and treatment, such as medication assistance, co-pays, and unexpected needs. The Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Program supports customized and comprehensive patient- and family-centered care and innovative treatments for children and young adult patients with cancer and blood disorders.
Rhode Island Hospital extends its gratitude and appreciation to everyone who helped make the 2025 Day of Giving possible, including their generous sponsors and entire donor community.