Robbie Page Memorial Grants

Each year, The Tri Sigma Foundation provides grants to qualified institutions to support therapeutic play or child life programs through its Robbie Page Memorial Fund. Individual Tri Sigma members and collegiate and alumnae chapters can apply for a grant to support their local child life or play therapy programs. For more information about RPM grants and applications, email shaven@trisigma.org. 

 Applications for the next funding cycle will open in the summer.  

2024-2025 RPM Grant Recipients

Thanks to the generosity of Tri Sigma members and friends, the Foundation awarded 8 grants for the 2024-2025 funding cycle, totaling over $30,000 in community support for children and families. 

AdventHealth Foundation Central Florida—Orlando, FL 
Nominated by Central Florida Alumnae Chapter

Children's Hospital Colorado—Aurora, CO 
Nominated by Denver Area Alumnae Chapter 

Cool Kids Campaign—Huntersville, NC  
Nominated by Queen City Alumnae Chapter 

Lenox Hill Hospital—New Hyde Park, NY  
Nominated by New York City Alumnae Chapter 

Miller Children's & Women's Hospital Long Beach—Long Beach, CA 
Nominated by Long Beach Alumnae Chapter 

NorthShore Hospitals Foundation—Evanston, IL 
Nominated by Chicago North Shore Alumnae Chapter 

Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare—Tallahassee, FL 
Nominated by Tallahassee Alumnae Chapter 

UH Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital—Cleveland, OH  
Nominated by Theta Zeta—Case Western Reserve University

History of Robbie Page

“I want to have all my birthdays now so I can grow up and help people.” 

Supporting Polio Research 

Robbie Page was the son of Tri Sigma’s fourth National President, Mary Hastings Holloway Page, Alpha and Omega chapters. Robbie often mentioned his wish to help other children. He once said, “I want to have all my birthdays now so I can grow up and help people.” 

In 1951, at age five, Robbie died of bulbar polio, a devastating disease with no cure and no vaccine at the time. To honor Robbie, Tri Sigma members established the Robbie Page Memorial Fund (RPM) to fund polio research projects, including the Salk vaccine trials. In 1954, the Robbie Page Memorial Fund became the official philanthropy of Tri Sigma. 

Shifting to Child Life Therapy 

When polio was eradicated, Tri Sigma expanded the use of the RPM fund to support sick and hospitalized children through a cutting-edge treatment called therapeutic play or play therapy. Play therapy helps children meet their developmental and mental health needs through play. Child life specialists and play therapists use play therapy and other methods to help children and their families cope with illness, injury, and hospitalization. 

Today, the Tri Sigma Foundation provides annual Robbie Page Memorial Grants to hospitals and child life programs across the county to honor Robbie Page and serve children in need. 

Grant Application FAQs

 Applications for the next funding cycle will open in the summer.