New York City Gala Honorees
April 11, 2025
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.
Category: For Siblings From Siblings
Hockey With a Heart
April 11, 2025
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.
Siblings Day, We See You
April 10, 2025
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
Sharing our Expertise with a Wider Audience Through Forbes
April 9, 2025
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
The Unique Challenges of Young Adults Facing Cancer
April 8, 2025
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.
Supporting His Family Through Uncertain Times
April 8, 2025
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.
How Volunteering Can Bring Connection And Meaning To Your Life
April 1, 2025
Check out our latest article on Forbes ‘How Volunteering Can Bring Connection And Meaning To Your Life’ with Friends of Karen volunteer, Jami Feldman.
Navigating Sibling Rivalry
March 25, 2025
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.
Courageous Muses: Elena and Amelia
March 25, 2025
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
The Kelly Clarkson Show: Friends of Karen
March 12, 2025
Exciting news! Friends of Karen was featured on The Kelly Clarkson Show with guest host Molly Sims on Thursday, March 13, 2025, on NBC.
Helping families remain stable
March 10, 2025
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.
Supporting Parents Through A Child’s Serious Illness: What Truly Helps
March 6, 2025
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.
Supporting a family through the toughest of days
February 17, 2025
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
A Valentine with Love from Friends of Karen’s Children
February 13, 2025
Love it or loathe it, Valentine’s Day is upon us. Difficult times may elicit a range of reactions among the families we work with at Friends of Karen, but fierce love is always the common denominator. We have the privilege to witness acts of love big and small on a daily basis and we can’t resist an opportunity to celebrate
Spread love this February
February 5, 2025
Spread Love This February! Every act of kindness counts. Together, we can support families in need. This February, JOIN Friends of Karen in spreading love to children battling life-threatening illnesses. Share a picture of yourself with a loved one on social media to spread kindness and hope. Snap a photo Tag US @friendsofkaren
Thank you FedEx Cares
February 4, 2025
A huge thank you to @FedEx Headquarters in Melville for hosting a holiday bake sale, with all proceeds benefiting our Friends of Karen Holiday Toy Drive! Your generous support helped spread joy to the children and families we serve. We are grateful for community partners like you! #FedExHolidayBakeSale #FriendsOfKarenToyDrive
How To Help Your Kids Express The Hard Stuff
February 4, 2025
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. We kicked off the three-month series with advice for parents on how to have difficult conversations with their children. You can view the article through this link. Please share your feedback
Art by Ayrton
February 3, 2025
Ayrton expresses his love for his late brother through heartfelt images, using purple and gold – his brother’s favorite colors. The string heart symbolizes the enduring connections we maintain with loved ones after they pass, through memories, traditions, and shared activities. The shield represents how we confront grief, with his mom, dad, himself, and Keaneu – navigating this journey together.
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