Holiday Adopt-A-Family Program

Watching the joyful expression of a child opening holiday gifts brings unforgettable happiness for every parent.  Those happy moments can be so fleeting -- especially when your child has a life-threatening illness.

The Friends of Karen Adopt-A-Family Program allows you to fulfill the holiday wishes of critically ill children and their siblings. You may choose to purchase one gift for one child or several gifts. And if you don’t have time, make a cash donation and we will do the shopping!  Join us in making this a special time of joy for critically ill children and their families. Please make a contribution to the Holiday Adopt-A-Family Program.

If you are interested in participating in the program, please contact Volunteer Coordinator Denise Tredwell at 914-617-4052 denisetredwell@friendsofkaren.org

Back-To-School Program

Remember the great feeling of heading back to school in a new outfit, with freshly-sharpened pencils and brand-new notebooks, and a new book bag to put them in?  Our Back-to-School Program aims to send Friends of Karen children and their siblings back to school in September with new school supplies and a new outfit to start the year with.

Our families with critically ill children are overwhelmed with medical bills and household expenses as well as the emotional weight of taking care of a critically ill child.  (Imagine having to choose between purchasing a backpack for your “well” child and paying a medical bill for your ill child.)

The Back-to-School Program needs gifts of new backpacks, totes and messenger bags, and school supplies such as marble notebooks, 2-pocket folders, pens and pencils, sturdy pencil sharpeners, pink erasers, glue sticks, washable markers, and construction paper.  Gift cards to Macy's, Sear's, JC Penney, Old Navy, Gap and Target are greatly needed. 

If you can donate any of these supplies or gift cards, or if you prefer to make a cash donation, please contact Denise Tredwell at denisetredwell@friendsofkaren.org or 914-617-4052.

Help us make sure that our Friends of Karen children start school with a smile on their face and a brand new backpack in their hands.

Birthday Presents

Every child looks forward to his or her birthday. For children living with cancer and their siblings, receiving birthday presents may take a back seat when parents are struggling with paying medical bills and housing expenses.

Friends of Karen provides age-appropriate gifts for every child in the family, so that birthdays remain a happy occasion. We take one additional burden off the shoulders of parents who are just trying to make ends meet.

Our birthday wish list gives you an idea of which items are most popular with our children.  We are always very grateful for your donation of these items.  If you prefer, you can make a cash donation to the Birthday Program on our secure donation page.  Thank you for helping make birthdays happier!