With your help

Friends of Karen is a lifeline of support for families in the NY Tri-State area.

Since 1978, Friends of Karen has guided families caring for a child with a life threatening illness through their difficult journey. We have helped families navigate the emotional and financial confusion that lies ahead.

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What's New

Picking up the pieces after a loss

Long Island couple Liz and Theodore attended the Living Alongside Grief Retreat in April 2023 to address the impact of losing their only son Jeyden one year ago. The Retreat is a new family bereavement education program on the range of experiences that grieving family members may go through. Jeyden was 13 when he was diagnosed and treated for an Astrocytoma brain tumor and passed away at age 14. Liz shares how her Friends of Karen social worker Marla and the Family Support Program helped, and continue to help, her family.

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Sibling Spotlight

“The Invisible String”

“The Invisible String” written by Patrice Karst is one of the most well loved books in our bag of tricks. This best selling picture book tells the story of unbreakable connections between loved ones.
Click link to read a poem compiled with the words of Friends of Karen children, inspired by “The Invisible String” and the season of love. Happy Valentine’s Day!

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EVENTS

79¢

of every dollar supports children and families

18,311

children helped since our founding in 1978

32%

below poverty line family income

334

Families Supported in February

Become a Volunteer

Our volunteers come in all sizes: children, teens, young professionals, retirees, and all ages in between. We even have multi-generational families who volunteer! We’ll match your time and talents to programs, projects and needs that enable Friends of Karen to support families.

Partners

We are proud to have the support and confidence of our corporate partners. Their generosity strengthens our ability to be a lifeline to our families.