• When Sheila Petersen founded Friends of Karen in 1978, her make-shift office was located at the kitchen table in her home.  Befitting our mission, our headquarters (pictured above) is located in a house not far from where Karen grew up.

• Within the span of 35 years, Friends of Karen has grown to a staff of 21 with three offices and serving families in 22 counties in the New York/New Jersey/Connecticut region.

• More than 5,000 children with a life-threatening illness and their families have been helped by your gifts. When siblings are counted, Friends of Karen has touched the lives of more than 12,400 children.

"When we were going through our daughter's illness, we would not have made it through without Friends of Karen.  We will NEVER forget all that you did financially and emotionally."   Thalia's parents