Hundreds of families streamed into a South Loop green space Thursday for Lurie Children’s Hospital’s fourth annual “Kids Dig,” a hands-on, child-focused fundraiser that combined playground-style activities with an appeal for philanthropic support. The event, organized by hospital development staff and volunteers, featured sand pits for fossil digs, arts-and-crafts stations, music and informational booths about the hospital’s programs.

“This is about more than a day of play,” said a Lurie Children’s spokeswoman. “It’s an opportunity to bring the community together around our mission and to raise funds that directly support patient care, family services and clinical research—areas that philanthropy can impact immediately.” Organizers declined to disclose a final fundraising total at the event, saying figures would be reported after donations were tallied.

Parents who brought children to the event described it as both a respite and a firsthand introduction to the hospital’s role in Chicago. “My son has been a patient, and days like this make such a difference,” said Maria Lopez, cradling a plastic brush as her 7-year-old scraped sand for faux fossils. “Knowing the hospital is supported by the community makes you feel less alone.”

Corporate partners and neighborhood businesses provided in-kind support and booths, while hospital volunteers, medical staff and members of the Lurie Children’s junior board staffed activities. The event’s family-friendly programming doubled as outreach: several booths explained outpatient services, behavioral health resources and how families can access financial assistance or social work services during an extended hospital stay.

Fundraising events like Kids Dig are part of a broader strategy among pediatric hospitals to secure flexible funding. Unlike insurance reimbursements and grant dollars, philanthropic contributions can be allocated to child life specialists, family lodging programs, experimental therapies and community outreach, areas frequently squeezed by hospital budgets. “Philanthropy allows us to be nimble,” the spokeswoman said, “to pilot programs and provide services that improve quality of life for patients and their families.”

That flexibility is increasingly important as hospitals confront rising costs and uncertain public funding. Local leaders and health advocates note that while community generosity is vital, reliance on fundraising highlights broader questions about how the health-care system finances pediatric specialty care. “It’s a testament to civic spirit, but also a reminder that structural funding gaps remain,” said a health policy analyst at a local university.

Lurie Children’s, consistently ranked among the nation’s top pediatric hospitals, has in recent years expanded its community engagement efforts, aiming to deepen ties in neighborhoods across Chicago. Organizers said the South Loop location was chosen for its accessibility to families on the city’s South and Near South sides.

As the sun set on the event, volunteers began packing away equipment and families lingered over ice cream trucks and live music. For many attendees, the day was both celebration and solidarity. “We’re here to have fun, but we’re also here because we care about children in this city,” said Lopez. “That’s what this is really about.”