Ruth Lyons Children’s Fund annual kick-off begins Tuesday

In 1939, Ruth Lyons, a local radio and television personality visited Cincinnati’s Children’s Hospital.While Cincinnati was celebrating the holidays with decorations and parties on the outside, inside the hospital there were no decorations, no parties, not even a Christmas tree. Ruth learned that there were no funds available to brighten the holidays for the hospitalized children. As she looked into the eyes of these frightened children, Ruth vowed to change that.On Ruth’s next radio show, she told her listeners about her visit and asked them to send their nickels and dimes so that hospitalized youngsters might have a merrier Chris tmas. That first year, 1939, $1,000 was collected and the magical tradition of the RUTH LYONS CHILDREN’S FUND was born.The RUTH LYONS CHILDREN’S FUND continued its annual fund-raising campaign as Ruth moved to WLWT-TV and hosted her own television program. It has grown to provide more than just annual holiday cheer for children in the hospital.Since its inception, the Fund has raised close to 23 MILLION DOLLARS. In addition to Christmas celebrations, the Fund provides a variety of unique services. There are decorated and toy stocked playrooms and activity centers, book carts, TV’s, pet therapy and parties for birthdays and holidays throughout the year, as the Fund is administered year-round. Several hospitals maintain their own special services such as keepsake items, sleep sacks and one-of-kind hand made quilts.The RUTH LYONS CHILDREN’S FUND has always recognized that a child’s psychological well-being is vitally important to his or her medical recovery. Doctors, nurses, and administrators emphatically underscore the need for a pleasant hospital atmosphere … one which will provide children with a positive emotional experience. The Fund does that.Ruth Lyons passed away in November 1988. WLWT is committed to see that Ruth’s legacy, the RUTH LYONS CHILDREN’S FUND, continues to brighten the lives of hospitalized children in the TriState area.2022 is the 83RD year that the community will be asked to contribute what they can to continue the wonderful work being done by the RUTH LYONS CHILDREN’S FUND.Donations can be mailed to: Ruth Lyons Fund, P.O. Box 59, Cincinnati, OH 45201 For more information, please call Lisa Snell, Coordinator Ruth Lyons Children’s Fund at 513-412-5012