Katonah Connect, The Meaningful Connections Issue November / December 2023
When you walk up to the doors of Friends of Karen headquarters in North Salem, the first thing you might notice is their walkway – a “path of compassion” filled with several hundred dedicated bricks featuring loving messages and tributes from supporters. It demonstrates how this local organization has changed the lives of thousands by providing customized support for over 550 sick children and their families annually. Friends of Karen began in 1978 by Sheila Petersen, a friend of the MacInnes family whose 16-year-old daughter Karen was suffering from a rare genetic disorder.
Sibling Grief Month
“The loss of a brother or sister is not small, unimportant or invisible. In fact, it’s quite the opposite. I call sibling loss the ‘loss of a lifetime,’ because who else do we expect to have relationships with that stretch our entire lives?” – Lynn Shattuck Worldwide Bereaved Siblings Month is an annual designation observed in November. The death of…
Friends of Karen delivers gifts and smiles for the holidays with your help
NORTH SALEM, NY, November 14, 2023 — Help Friends of Karen deliver gifts and smiles for the holidays! Nearly 900 Holiday Wish Lists need to be filled this year. Join us in helping fulfill a child’s wish list or fill the lists for several children.
Thank You
We want to express our heartfelt gratitude to each and every one of you who celebrated our Friends of Karen 45th Anniversary Gala. It is your generosity and commitment that allows us to continue our vital mission. Your presence and support truly made the evening a memorable one! Your dedication to our mission helps us to continue to provide financial,…
Meet Cameron and Brinley
Brinley, age 9 and her sister Cameron, age 6, met with Friends of Karen Creative Arts Therapist Jane and created “I am” posters. The “I am” posters helped to discuss who they are and if the cancer diagnosed changed any of these things. They agree they are still themselves despite all the changes happening in their lives and but sometimes…
How to Talk With Kids About Tragedies & Other Traumatic News Events
Television and newspapers today are filled with headlines about the tragic conflict with Israel and Palestine, and the brutal war between Ukraine and Russia. In this very difficult time, children want to know what’s going on in the world and may be asking you questions about what they have heard discussed or seen in the media. The American Academy of…
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