For more than two decades, specialty car tags have quietly turned Mississippi highways into a powerful source of support for the state’s only children’s hospital. Through the Friends of Children’s Hospital tag, along with specialty tags featuring the University of Alabama, Louisiana State University, and the Mississippi Wildlife Enforcement Officers’ Association, drivers across the state and region have collectively raised more than six million dollars for Friends of Children’s Hospital. These funds directly support the children and families served at Children’s of Mississippi.
Since first appearing on Mississippi roads in 2005, the Friends of Children’s Hospital car tag alone has generated nearly three million dollars for Children’s of Mississippi. In 2024, Friends introduced a refreshed tag design that adds a splash of color to daily commutes while continuing a tradition of meaningful impact.
The new design retains the iconic sunshine and rainbow logo, now set against a vibrant blue background, making the tag stand out more than ever. Available at all local tax collector’s offices in Mississippi, the tag can be purchased for an additional $53, with $44 from each sale going directly to Friends of Children’s Hospital.
Caitlin Foreman, Executive Director of Friends of Children’s Hospital, shares, “Renewing a car tag might feel routine, but it is actually an opportunity to make a real difference. Many people do not realize that this simple choice helps support critical healthcare services for children right here in Mississippi.”
Proceeds from all Friends-supported specialty tags fund a wide range of initiatives at Children’s of Mississippi. These include facility and technology improvements, vital medical equipment, and programs that support the emotional well-being of young patients. One such program is Child Life Services, which provides therapeutic play, education, and emotional support and helps children feel safer, more comfortable, and more like kids during their hospital stay.
With the release of the new tag design, Friends hopes to grow participation statewide and expand support for families in all 82 counties. With clinics and providers serving families from Iuka to the Gulf Coast, increased participation means broader impact across the state.
At your next vehicle registration renewal, Friends of Children’s Hospital encourages Mississippi drivers to consider choosing the bright blue Friends tag. It is a small decision with lasting impact and one that helps ensure children across Mississippi receive care that goes beyond medicine to include comfort, hope, and healing.
When you select a Friends of Children’s Hospital specialty car tag, you are doing more than renewing a registration. You are joining a community effort that supports families, strengthens pediatric care, and helps create healthier futures, one tag at a time.
