Providence Tarzana Medical Center is set to celebrate the opening of a new Child Life Playroom called “Chase Place” on Thursday.

Founded in honor of 2-year-old Chase Richards, who lost his battle to brain cancer, the program gives pediatric patients the time and space to have fun away from their hospital rooms.

A professional child life specialist will also be on-hand at “Chase Place” to help patients and their families cope with their hospitalization through a program designed to address the social, emotional and development needs of pediatric patients.  

“While Chase was in the hospital, his young sisters were able to spend time with child life specialists who helped them express their feelings through play and art therapy, allowing them to cope with the difficulties of their situation,” Providence officials said. “After Chase died, the Richards family learned that due to limited funding, only a fraction of hospitalized children had access to these valuable services.”

The Chase Foundation was founded by Susan and Robin Richards, the parents of Chase Richards, in 1992 in an effort to help remedy this problem.

“Chase Place” is made possible by a $500,000 donation from the Chase Foundation.

The opening is set for Thursday at 2 p.m. at Providence Tarzana Medical Center, located at 18321 Clark Street in Tarzana. Susan and Robin Richards are both expected to attend.