Hope Always Foundation delivers entertainment devices to kids in hospitals

The nonprofit is distributing customized tablets to provide safe entertainment and relaxation for young patients.

Published on Mar. 8, 2026

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The Hope Always Foundation, started by Emmy Award-winning voiceover actor Bobby Kesselman in honor of his sister Becca who died of cancer at 18, is working to deliver custom entertainment devices called Warrior Tablets to kids in local hospitals and treatment centers. The foundation is hosting fundraising events this weekend in Vernon Hills, Illinois to support their mission of improving patient care and providing a platform for young patients to relax and enjoy themselves before undergoing medical procedures.

Why it matters

The Hope Always Foundation is addressing a critical need to provide safe, engaging entertainment options for pediatric patients dealing with the stress and anxiety of hospital stays and medical treatments. By customizing the tablets to remove social media, advertising, and tracking, the foundation is giving parents peace of mind while also aiming to improve overall patient care.

The details

The Warrior Tablets are filled with video books, educational content, classic and contemporary movies and TV shows, and relaxation content. The foundation is distributing the tablets to hospitals like Rush University Medical Center and Stroger Hospital of Cook County, as well as the Ronald McDonald House, which supports families with sick children.

  • The first fundraising event was held at 10 a.m. on Sunday, March 8, 2026 at The Painted Penguin at Hawthorn Mall.
  • The second fundraising event was held at 5 p.m. on Sunday, March 8, 2026 at Lifesport Pickleball.

The players

Hope Always Foundation

A nonprofit organization started by Emmy Award-winning voiceover actor Bobby Kesselman in honor of his sister Becca, who died of cancer at age 18.

Bobby Kesselman

An Emmy Award-winning voiceover actor who works as the stunt voice for characters on the Fox TV show "Family Guy" and started the Hope Always Foundation.

Becca Kesselman

Bobby Kesselman's sister who died of cancer at age 18, and whose mantra of "Hope Always" inspired the creation of the foundation.

Rush University Medical Center

A hospital in Chicago that is receiving Warrior Tablets from the Hope Always Foundation.

Stroger Hospital of Cook County

A hospital in Chicago that is receiving Warrior Tablets from the Hope Always Foundation.

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What they’re saying

“It's been a very long time in trying to figure out many ways to honor her memory, and one of the things that always inspired me was the courage she showed during her cancer fight, and wanting to fight a way to pass that along.”

— Bobby Kesselman, Founder, Hope Always Foundation (cbsnews.com)

“A lot of research that we've found is the highest level of stress and anxiety comes when pediatric patients are about to go through either surgery or extensive care, so what we want to do is really create a wonderful platform for them to be able to relax and enjoy themselves, and really overall, improve patient care for as many hospitals and Ronald McDonald Houses as we can.”

— Bobby Kesselman, Founder, Hope Always Foundation (cbsnews.com)

What’s next

The Hope Always Foundation plans to continue distributing the customized Warrior Tablets to more hospitals and Ronald McDonald House locations to provide safe entertainment and relaxation for pediatric patients across the country.

The takeaway

By creating a platform for young hospital patients to enjoy entertainment and relax before medical procedures, the Hope Always Foundation is honoring the memory of its founder's sister and working to improve the overall care and experience for pediatric patients and their families.