At Lily’s Pad, play can look beautifully ordinary. Children laugh, make friends and spend time with their siblings while parents and caregivers have space to rest and connect. These everyday moments are exactly what Lily’s Pad was created to make possible.
The Tempe nonprofit offers a 5,200-square-foot hyperclean indoor playground designed for immunocompromised children. Qualifying families visit free of charge, and siblings, parents and caregivers are welcome, giving everyone a place to spend time together.
The idea grew from the experience of Lily Taylor and her family. At age 3, Lily was diagnosed with high-risk acute lymphoblastic leukemia. During two and a half years of treatment, her weakened immune system kept her away from preschool, public playgrounds, friends and activities she loved. After nearly a year of isolation, her father, Brad Taylor, began imagining a place where immunocompromised children could play and connect. Today, Lily is a cancer survivor and serves as the nonprofit’s “VP of Inspiration.”
This year, Lily’s Pad marked three years of making that vision a reality. The nonprofit serves children who are immunocompromised or vulnerable to illness because of a medical condition or treatment, including those affected by childhood cancer, transplants, autoimmune conditions, kidney disease, congenital heart defects, blood disorders, neuromuscular disorders and other diagnoses.
“Families who come here spend so much time hearing no – not today, not here, not yet,” said Dawn Garza, executive director of Lily’s Pad. “This space gives children a safe place to hear yes. Yes, you can play, make friends and simply be a kid.”
Hyperclean is more than a description of the facility. Its custom air filtration system includes fan filter units with HEPA filters, humidity controls, an air scrubber and air quality monitoring. Materials throughout the space, from the paint to the furniture, were selected with health and cleanliness in mind.
That same care extends to every visit. Play sessions are by reservation. Guests must be symptom-free and have their temperatures checked before entering. They also remove their shoes and wear socks provided by Lily’s Pad. The playground is cleaned between every session, and group play is limited to 10 to 15 children. Private sessions are also available for one family at a time.
Reaching the three-year milestone is a testament to the community behind the space. Lily’s Pad offers free play to qualifying families, while grants, donations, volunteers and sponsorships help support the organization’s work.
In 2025, that community support included a $15,000 Local Causes grant from Arizona Financial Foundation. The grant program supports small, community-based Arizona nonprofits with operating budgets under $2 million. Since 2020, the Foundation has distributed $800,000 in grants to more than 100 organizations addressing essential needs across the state since 2020.
“We believe strong communities are built by people and organizations that understand local needs and step in to help meet them,” said Nika Gueci, executive director of Arizona Financial Foundation. “Lily’s Pad embodies that spirit. We’re honored to have supported its work through Local Causes, and we hope the community will join us in celebrating this milestone and learning more about its mission.”
As the year draws to a close, community members can be part of Lily’s Pad’s next chapter by volunteering, sponsoring a member event or sharing information with families and medical professionals who may know a child who could benefit.
Three years after opening, Lily’s Pad continues to create space for the beautifully ordinary moments of childhood.