Redskins’ Kerrigan donates toys, therapy tools to pediatric hospital

Redskins linebacker Ryan Kerrigan joked that the kids didn't want to play football but rather another video game that was 'more fun.' (Courtesy Prolanthropy)
Redskins linebacker Ryan Kerrigan poses with a patient at HSC Pediatric Hospital after donating $15,000 in toys and therapy tools to the kids. (WTOP/Megan Cloherty)
Redskins linebacker Ryan Kerrigan poses with a patient at HSC Pediatric Hospital after donating $15,000 in toys and therapy tools to the kids. (WTOP/Megan Cloherty)
Redskins linebacker Ryan Kerrigan poses with a patient at HSC Pediatric Hospital after donating $15,000 in toys and therapy tools to the kids. (WTOP/Megan Cloherty)
Seeing a locker full of video games, movies and tablets, two girls went right for the PlayStation 4 games.(WTOP/Megan Cloherty)
Seeing a locker full of video games, movies and tablets, two girls went right for the PlayStation 4 games. (WTOP/Megan Cloherty)
After taking a selfie with Kerrigan, a patient held tight to her signed football and ribbon. (WTOP/Megan Cloherty)
After taking a selfie with Kerrigan, a patient held tight to her signed football and ribbon. (WTOP/Megan Cloherty)
This little patient was not ready to give his football up to the Redskins star to have it signed. (WTOP/Megan Cloherty)
This little patient was not ready to give his football up to the Redskins star to have it signed. (WTOP/Megan Cloherty)
While most of the gifts appear to be for entertainment purposes, hospital staff say they can also be used as therapy tools. (WTOP/Megan Cloherty)
While most of the gifts appear to be for entertainment purposes, hospital staff say they can also be used as therapy tools. (WTOP/Megan Cloherty)
Michaela, 10, couldn't wait for Ryan Kerrigan to arrive before delving into some of the arts and crafts gifts his foundation donated. (WTOP/Megan Cloherty)
While most of the gifts appear to be for entertainment purposes, hospital staff say they can also be used as therapy tools. (WTOP/Megan Cloherty)
As he cut the ribbon on the opening of his third Kerrigan's Korner, the Redskins player said days like this are rewarding to him. (WTOP/Megan Cloherty)
As he cut the ribbon on the opening of his third Kerrigan’s Korner, the Redskins player said days like this are rewarding to him. (WTOP/Megan Cloherty)
Included in the gift, the foundation decorated the teen lounge in the hospital with team memorabilia. (Courtesy Prolanthropy)
Included in the gift, the foundation decorated the teen lounge in the hospital with team memorabilia. (Courtesy Prolanthropy)
Inside the Kerrigan's Korner room in the hospital, patients will have access to tablets, laptops, PlayStations, DVDs, games and other electronics. (Courtesy Prolanthropy)
Inside the Kerrigan’s Korner room in the hospital, patients will have access to tablets, laptops, PlayStations, DVDs, games and other electronics. (Courtesy Prolanthropy)
After the donation, Kerrigan took part in a sensory therapy class with some of the hospital's patients. (Courtesy Prolanthropy)
After the donation, Kerrigan took part in a sensory therapy class with some of the hospital’s patients. (Courtesy Prolanthropy)
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Redskins linebacker Ryan Kerrigan joked that the kids didn't want to play football but rather another video game that was 'more fun.' (Courtesy Prolanthropy)
Redskins linebacker Ryan Kerrigan poses with a patient at HSC Pediatric Hospital after donating $15,000 in toys and therapy tools to the kids. (WTOP/Megan Cloherty)
Seeing a locker full of video games, movies and tablets, two girls went right for the PlayStation 4 games.(WTOP/Megan Cloherty)
After taking a selfie with Kerrigan, a patient held tight to her signed football and ribbon. (WTOP/Megan Cloherty)
This little patient was not ready to give his football up to the Redskins star to have it signed. (WTOP/Megan Cloherty)
While most of the gifts appear to be for entertainment purposes, hospital staff say they can also be used as therapy tools. (WTOP/Megan Cloherty)
Michaela, 10, couldn't wait for Ryan Kerrigan to arrive before delving into some of the arts and crafts gifts his foundation donated. (WTOP/Megan Cloherty)
As he cut the ribbon on the opening of his third Kerrigan's Korner, the Redskins player said days like this are rewarding to him. (WTOP/Megan Cloherty)
Included in the gift, the foundation decorated the teen lounge in the hospital with team memorabilia. (Courtesy Prolanthropy)
Inside the Kerrigan's Korner room in the hospital, patients will have access to tablets, laptops, PlayStations, DVDs, games and other electronics. (Courtesy Prolanthropy)
After the donation, Kerrigan took part in a sensory therapy class with some of the hospital's patients. (Courtesy Prolanthropy)

WASHINGTON — Young patients of a Northeast pediatric hospital are enjoying a room full of gifts from Redskins linebacker Ryan Kerrigan’s foundation.

Surrounded by patients and their families, Kerrigan opened a large locker stocked with tablets, movies, art supplies and video games. Not surprisingly, the kids went straight for the video games.

“They had Madden in the console, but took that out right away and put in ‘The Avengers’,” Kerrigan said. “I get it, you know, it’s probably a little more fun to play.”

HSC Pediatric Health System is celebrating 130 years in D.C. and now treats 35 inpatients who are diagnosed with both mental and physical challenges. It sees 10,000 outpatient kids a year.

Staying on top of treatment trends can be pricey, and many of the foundation’s $15,000 in gifts are meant to be used as therapy tools. When the foundation approached HSC, they asked what the hospital needed most.

“We’re able to get some accessible equipment that is highly specialized and hard to find,” said Eva Fowler with HSC Pediatric Hospital.

This is his third Kerrigan’s Korner to open at a hospital in the region as part of his Blitz for the Better Foundation. The other two opened at Children’s National and Inova Children’s Hospital.

“Kerrigan’s Korner is really the staple of my foundation. It’s a locker designed to make patients’ stay more enjoyable in an otherwise trying time,” Kerrigan said.

The gifts were funded partially by the charity and partially by sponsors Menkiti Group and Keller Williams Capital Properties.

Megan Cloherty

WTOP Investigative Reporter Megan Cloherty primarily covers breaking news, crime and courts.

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