Toy Foundation Grant Supports Playground Renovation for Young Children with Autism

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. – (February 9, 2026) Children’s Health Foundation (CHF) is excited to announce a $25,000 grant from The Toy Foundation. The gift will help fund playground upgrades at Early Foundations (EF) in Yukon, Oklahoma. EF is a two-year, inclusive, early intervention program preparing young children with autism for public school pre-K.

The grant will support upgrades to the program’s more than 20-year-old playground, including new safety surfacing, age-appropriate play equipment, and shade coverage. The improvements will create a safer, more inclusive outdoor play space for children ages 18 months to five years, increasing opportunities for movement, social interaction, and skill development.

“Play is the curriculum of childhood, especially for children with autism,” said Bonnie McBride, PhD, BCBA-D, Co-Director of the Oklahoma Autism Center that runs the EF program. Early Foundations serves children with autism and developmental delays regardless of diagnosis or ability to pay. Staff use play-based learning to prepare children to successfully transition into public school alongside their peers.

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