The Friends of Karen Family Support Team develops strong bonds with the families they work with through the span of many months and at times, years. Though every family is unique, and we view each member of the family as special, the boundless love and strength of the mothers inspire our continuous and steadfast support.
We recognize and thank our corporate, group and individual volunteers for their time and talents to help bring smiles to critically ill children and their families through our gift programs.
Jaclyn Sandoval and her Galentine’s committee hosted their 3rd annual heart-filled Galentine’s in February that raised $53,000 – triple what they raised the first year of the event in 2023.
Bobo’s Café hosted a golf fundraiser for Friends of Karen in October at Angelbrook Golf Club in Somers. The day’s highlight was guest speaker Sterling whose family received assistance from Friends of Karen.
One of Friends of Karen’s strengths is meeting a family where they are and tailoring our support to their needs. Often that’s an opportunity to provide our expertise in new, creative ways. A perfect example of our creativity is how Jennifer, one of our Sibling Support Program professionals, worked with Michael in September 2023 when his little brother John was
Long Island Advisory Board Member and 2025 Long Island Gala Honoree, Tom Papadopoulos and his wife Farelle hosted “Cars & Coffee” at Autosport Designs benefiting Friends of Karen.
Jim Witt, Maria Karalis, and Susan Eisner were honored at the 2024 New York City Gala for their inspiring dedication and commitment to Friends of Karen.
Our Long Island Advisory Board and Jr. Advisory Board helped make the New York Islanders Hockey With a Heart night a success. Friends of Karen was the selected nonprofit for the October 26th game at UBS Arena.
April 10th marks National Siblings Day- many people will share photos of loved ones on social media and reflect and reminisce about the very special bond of support, friendship and love shared between siblings. At Friends of Karen the sibling relationship is one especially close to our hearts. The Sibling Support Specialists at Friends of Karen, are dedicated Child Life
Friends of Karen was invited recently to participate in Forbes EQ (Equity Quotient) BrandVoice, a content marketing initiative. We are thrilled to have this opportunity, at no cost to Friends of Karen, to showcase the expertise of our talented team to a wider audience. This relationship with Forbes enabled us to develop and publish a series of articles for the
Meet George. A cancer diagnosis in young adulthood disrupts a critical period of growth and independence. For many, this stage of life is defined by dreams of the future—beginning careers, exploring relationships, and stepping into self-sufficiency. But for young adults like George, a life-threatening illness changes everything. The desire for independence clashes with the harsh reality of needing to rely on others for daily support. Dreams are placed on hold, isolation becomes a constant companion, and guilt over not being able to support oneself can weigh heavily.
Meet Ayden. When five-year-old Ayden fell in June 2024, he felt intense pain that was not helped by an over-the-counter pain reliever. His mother, Sandra, knew it was time to take him to the Emergency Room.
Check out our latest article on Forbes ‘How Volunteering Can Bring Connection And Meaning To Your Life’ with Friends of Karen volunteer, Jami Feldman.
Sibling relationships shape who we become, helping us learn to express emotions, develop social skills, and feel a sense of security and belonging. While siblings commonly engage in rivalry and bickering, these interactions also provide valuable life lessons.
For sisters Amelia and Elena, this month’s Sibling Spotlight, making art is in their blood. Their mother is an accomplished artist, and their home is filled with paintings, imagination and inspiration from nature. The girls are both Hozier aficionados, talented artists and overflowing with creativity. So, when Elena was diagnosed with brain cancer, finding creativity amongst the chaos was a
Exciting news! Friends of Karen was featured on The Kelly Clarkson Show with guest host Molly Sims on Thursday, March 13, 2025, on NBC.
Jayden’s parents, Jose and Mary, are deeply grateful for the unwavering support they’ve received from Friends of Karen. Jose recently shared with their social worker Marla, “Without Friends of Karen, we would have had to sell our house,” underscoring the life-changing impact Friends of Karen has had on their lives during such a difficult time.
Click here to read the full article on Forbes.comSupporting Parents Through A Child’s Serious Illness: What Truly Helps Friends of Karen is sharing its deep expertise in providing emotional support to children and families through a series of posts on the Forbes EQ (Equity Quotient) BrandVoice website.
Alex was two months old when he was diagnosed with a genetic disorder affecting his mitochondrial metabolism that impaired his body’s cells from producing energy. There is no cure for these disorders, so Alex received supportive care. When Alex’s condition worsened, he was enrolled in hospice and his mother, Xheni, and father, Serdi, were referred to Friends of Karen. The
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