The foundation concentrates on Greater Boston-area community support with an emphasis on youth-focused programs, local health care, and school-based education—often through civic or faith-based institutions. It makes mid-sized unrestricted grants to organizations that deliver direct services (youth development, hospital care, emergency family support) and occasionally provides repeat support to local partners tied to sports, schooling, and community engagement.
Play 2 Dream Charitable Foundation Fka Kathy's Playground Charitable Foundation shows a strong pattern of support for Boston-area youth and community institutions, with repeat awards to groups such as Boston Celtics Shamrock Foundation and Newton Wellesley Hospital. Its recent grants also point to practical local needs: direct service for families, school support, and health care funding. The foundation’s giving is not limited to one theme, but its largest awards cluster around organizations that serve children, students, patients, and neighborhood communities. In 2024, the largest grant went to Newton Wellesley Hospital, and a major award also went to The Wish Project, a family-focused social service organization. The foundation has also backed Camp Harbor View, Cathedral High School Foundation, and community organizations tied to sports, education, and emergency support. This mix suggests a funder that favors direct-service organizations with clear local reach rather than broad, abstract initiatives. The grant list shows recurring support for some recipients across more than one year, alongside one-time awards to other groups in Massachusetts and beyond.
Youth development is a clear theme in the foundation’s recent giving. It awarded $65,000 in 2024 and $70,000 in 2023 to Boston Celtics Shamrock Foundation, and $30,000 in 2023 to Camp Harbor View, both tied to youth programming and enrichment. Education is another recurring area. The foundation gave $40,000 in 2023 to Cathedral High School Foundation and $10,000 in 2024 to Building Minds Scholarship Fund, indicating support for school-based and scholarship-related work. Health and family support also appear in the grant list. In 2024, it awarded $83,333 to Newton Wellesley Hospital and $70,195 to The Wish Project, linking the foundation to local health care and emergency assistance. Smaller gifts to organizations such as Postpartum Support International and Health Care Nepal extend that pattern into specialized care and family services.
Typical grants fall in the mid-sized range, with p25 at $1,375, a median of $9,750, and p75 at $37,500. The recent record includes both larger operating-style awards and smaller community grants, from five-figure support down to $500 gifts. Some recipients appear in multiple years, including Boston Celtics Shamrock Foundation, Health Care Nepal, and Pmc Jimmy Fund, which suggests follow-on support rather than strictly one-time giving. The foundation is not a donor-advised fund and does not make program-related investments.
$611K
$2.6M
$218K
$632K
Most grants fall between $1K and $38K, with a median of $10K.
25th Percentile
$1K
Median
$10K
75th Percentile
$38K
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Concentrated, Boston‑centric giving with a small number of mid‑to‑large unrestricted grants; a mix of one‑time and repeat support (notably multiple grants to the Celtics Shamrock Foundation) to a handful of local service and education organizations.
Notable grantees: Boston Celtics Shamrock Foundation, Newton-Wellesley Hospital, The Wish Project, Cathedral High School Foundation, Camp Harbor View
Giving is regional and heavily centered in Massachusetts, with 50% of grants to recipients in the HQ state. Boston appears repeatedly in the recipient list, alongside Newton and North Chelmsford in Massachusetts. Outside Massachusetts, the foundation has made grants to New York, Washington, DC, North Carolina, Oregon, and New Hampshire. The top state by grant count is New York, showing that its footprint reaches beyond Greater Boston even though much of the money still lands locally.
The recent grants point to youth development, local health care, school support, and family services. Examples include sports- and after-school-oriented youth groups, a hospital, a scholarship fund, and emergency social-service organizations. The pattern is direct-service oriented rather than program-creation focused.
Yes. Boston Celtics Shamrock Foundation appears in both 2023 and 2024, Health Care Nepal appears in both years, and Pmc Jimmy Fund also appears in both years. That suggests repeat support for some partners rather than strictly one-off awards.
The grant-size distribution centers on mid-sized awards: p25 is $1,375, median grant size is $9,750, and p75 is $37,500. The recent grants include both smaller gifts and larger awards, but the middle of the distribution sits just under $10,000.
Massachusetts receives half of the grants, and Boston appears often among recipient cities. The foundation also gives elsewhere in the US, with New York as the top state by grant count. Recent recipient locations include Newton, North Chelmsford, Boston, New York, Washington, DC, and Portland, OR.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ZOO NEW ENGLAND | BOSTON, MA | $215,086 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| WISH PROJECT | NORTH CHELMSFORD, MA | $174,542 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| NEWTON WELLESLEY HOSPITAL | NEWTON, MA | $83,333 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| SHAMROCK FOUNDATION | BOSTON, MA | $50,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| BETH ISRAEL DEACONESS | BOSTON, MA | $50,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| HATTERAS ISLAND CANCER FOUNDATION | HATTERAS, NC | $15,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| CURTIS ISLAND LIGHTHOUSE | CAMDEN, ME | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| CATHOLIC SCHOOLS FOUNDATION | BOSTON, MA | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| KITTY HAWK BAPTIST CHURCH | KITTY HAWK, NY | $1,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| DORRANCE DANCE | NEW YORK, NY | $1,000 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| PAN MASS CHALLENGE | NEEDHAM, MA | $750 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| HATTERAS ISLAND RESCUE | BUXTON, NC | $500 | 2026 | GENERAL |
| NEWTON WELLESLEY HOSPITAL | NEWTON, MA | $83,333 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| WISH PROJECT | NORTH CHELMSFORD, MA | $70,952 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| ZOO NEW ENGLAND | BOSTON, MA | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| CELTICS UNITED | BOSTON, MA | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| SHAMROCK FOUNDATION | BOSTON, MA | $15,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| BUILDING MINDS SCHOLARSHIP FUND | BOSTON, MA | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| BENJAMIN FRANKLIN CUMMINGS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY | BOSTON, MA | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| BOSTON CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL | BOSTON, MA | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| ST JUDES CHILDRENS HOSPITAL - LEGENDS FOR CHARITY | MEMPHIS, TN | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| INOVA SCHAR CANCER | FAIRFAX, VA | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| DORRANCE DANCE | NEW YORK, NY | $2,500 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| RIVERHILL SCHOOL | FLORENCE, AL | $2,500 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| HEALTH CARE NEPAL | CENTER SANDWICH, NH | $1,250 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| PAN MASS CHALLENGE | NEEDHAM, MA | $750 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| HATTERAS ISLAND RESCUE | BUXTON, NC | $500 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| HATTERAS ISLAND RESCUE | BUXTON, NC | $500 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| NEWTON WELLESLEY HOSPITAL | NEWTON, MA | $83,333 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| THE WISH PROJECT | NORTH CHELMSFORD, MA | $70,195 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| BOSTON CELTICS SHAMROCK FOUNDATION | BOSTON, MA | $65,000 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| HATTERAS ISLAND CANCER FOUNDATION | HATTERAS, NC | $10,000 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| BUILDING MINDS SCHOLARSHIP FUND | BOSTON, MA | $10,000 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| UNITED WAY OF THE GREATER CAPITAL REGION | WASHINGTON, DC | $5,000 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| DORRACE DANCE | NEW YORK, NY | $4,500 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| HEALTH CARE NEPAL | CENTER SANDWICH, NH | $1,000 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| PMC JIMMY FUND | NEEDHAM, MA | $750 | 2024 | GENERAL |
| BOSTON CELTICS SHAMROCK FOUNDATION | BOSTON, MA | $70,000 | 2023 | GENERAL |
| CATHEDRAL HIGH SCHOOL FOUNDATION | INDIANAPOLIS, IN | $40,000 | 2023 | GENERAL |
| CAMP HARBOR VIEW | BOSTON, MA | $30,000 | 2023 | GENERAL |
| INNERCITY SCHOLARSHIP FUND | NEW YORK, NY | $10,000 | 2023 | GENERAL |
| ZOO NEW ENGLAND | BOSTON, MA | $9,500 | 2023 | GENERAL |
| POSTPARTUM SUPPORT INTERNATIONAL | PORTLAND, OR | $2,500 | 2023 | GENERAL |
| HEALTH CARE NEPAL | CENTER SANDWICH, NH | $1,000 | 2023 | GENERAL |
| PMC JIMMY FUND | NEEDHAM, MA | $750 | 2023 | GENERAL |
| DARE COUNTY ASSOCIATION OF FIRE OFFICERS | NAGS HEAD, NC | $500 | 2023 | GENERAL |
ZOO NEW ENGLAND
$215,086GENERAL
WISH PROJECT
$174,542GENERAL
NEWTON WELLESLEY HOSPITAL
$83,333GENERAL
SHAMROCK FOUNDATION
$50,000GENERAL
BETH ISRAEL DEACONESS
$50,000GENERAL
HATTERAS ISLAND CANCER FOUNDATION
$15,000GENERAL
CURTIS ISLAND LIGHTHOUSE
GENERAL
KITTY HAWK BAPTIST CHURCH
$1,000GENERAL
DORRANCE DANCE
$1,000GENERAL
PAN MASS CHALLENGE
$750GENERAL
HATTERAS ISLAND RESCUE
$500GENERAL
NEWTON WELLESLEY HOSPITAL
$83,333GENERAL
WISH PROJECT
$70,952GENERAL
ZOO NEW ENGLAND
$50,000GENERAL
CELTICS UNITED
$50,000GENERAL
SHAMROCK FOUNDATION
$15,000GENERAL
BUILDING MINDS SCHOLARSHIP FUND
$10,000GENERAL
BOSTON CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL
$10,000GENERAL
ST JUDES CHILDRENS HOSPITAL - LEGENDS FOR CHARITY
$10,000GENERAL
INOVA SCHAR CANCER
$10,000GENERAL
DORRANCE DANCE
$2,500GENERAL
RIVERHILL SCHOOL
$2,500GENERAL
HEALTH CARE NEPAL
$1,250GENERAL
HATTERAS ISLAND RESCUE
$500GENERAL
HATTERAS ISLAND RESCUE
$500GENERAL
NEWTON WELLESLEY HOSPITAL
$83,333GENERAL
THE WISH PROJECT
$70,195GENERAL
HATTERAS ISLAND CANCER FOUNDATION
$10,000GENERAL
BUILDING MINDS SCHOLARSHIP FUND
$10,000GENERAL
DORRACE DANCE
$4,500GENERAL
HEALTH CARE NEPAL
$1,000GENERAL
CATHEDRAL HIGH SCHOOL FOUNDATION
$40,000GENERAL
CAMP HARBOR VIEW
$30,000GENERAL
ZOO NEW ENGLAND
$9,500GENERAL
HEALTH CARE NEPAL
$1,000GENERAL
DARE COUNTY ASSOCIATION OF FIRE OFFICERS
$500GENERAL