How Peter Pan has funded a children's hospital for 97 years
Since 1929, the rights to J.M. Barrie's 'Peter Pan' have provided a consistent stream of royalty income for London's Great Ormond Street Hospital. This unique legal arrangement continues to support the institution's charitable work for sick children.
Why it matters
It serves as a notable example of how intellectual property and philanthropy can be combined to create long-term, sustainable funding for public health institutions.
A fictional boy who never wanted to grow up has helped support generations of seriously ill children in London. In 1929, Scottish author J. M. Barrie gave the rights to Peter Pan to Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH), turning one of literature's best-known stories into a lasting source of support for the institution. According to the hospital's official history, Barrie was invited to join a committee helping the hospital acquire land for a new wing. He declined but later donated his rights to Peter Pan. Nearly a century later, the gift continues to benefit the hospital, with a special provision in UK law protecting its right to receive royalties.Why J. M. Barrie gave Peter Pan to the hospitalBarrie, whose full name was James Matthew Barrie, had supported Great Ormond Street Hospital for years before making the donation.
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