When their five-year-old son, Taylor, was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma in 2012, his parents Ron and Kesa were at a loss. How were they going to manage when Kesa had to give up her job as a human resources analyst to be Taylor’s primary caregiver? Like so many parents, Ron and Kesa didn’t know what to expect or what they…
Alyssa and Melissa are the two newest social workers at Friend of Karen, having joined the organization two years ago. They share their perspectives on working with children being treated for cancer, and their family members.
Cate Bartilucci of Luna Power Yoga in Danbury, CT along with Lululemon and Soulber Kitchen & Market hosted “Yoga in the Park” to benefit Friends of Karen. Everyone who participated enjoyed a peaceful morning practicing Yoga in the park for a special local cause.
Charlotte chose Friends of Karen to benefit from Scarsdale High School’s Community Service Day. Charlotte raised money and bought art supplies to make 150 art bags for Friends of Karen’s children. Each high school student filled a bag with art supplies and made a card to include with each one.
Midsummer’s Dream Evening was held in July at the Coliseum in White Plains to a room filled with enthusiastic Friends of Karen supporters, many new to our organization. Thank you to our sparkling Master of Ceremonies, Blaise Gomez from News12 New York.
Friends of Karen currently supports eight families whose child is in treatment for Sickle Cell disease. September is Sickle Cell Awareness Month and Friends of Karen is marking the month by shining a light on the illness and how we support children with Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) and their families.
Angel was 19 when he passed away in September 2023 after being diagnosed with a brain tumor. Angel and his single mother Milagros were paired with Friends of Karen social worker Rhonda during his treatment. Rhonda continues to support Milagros for bereavement support. Milagros shares her memories of Angel and how Friends of Karen helped the family.
Our Jr. Advisory Board Members, Charli, Alexa, and Jack, hosted a successful restaurant fundraiser at Chris & Tony’s, raising over $4,000 for Friends of Karen! Their dedication and hard work were integral to the event’s success, showcasing their commitment to making a difference in the lives of families in need.
In March at our Long Island AlwaysGold Gala, we proudly honored Michael Bauer (L), Senior Data Analyst at Sedgwick, and Rory Bulovas (R), President & CEO of Bulovas Restorations Inc., pictured with Friends of Karen Regional Director, Leslie Bellissimo. Their remarkable efforts helped us exceed our fundraising goal of $275,000, and we welcomed over 300 guests in attendance. It was an unforgettable evening celebrating Friends of Karen’s mission and the incredible support of our community.
Seventeen years ago, in appreciation for the support they received when their son was ill, the Anderson Family established our Friends of Karen 5K Team for the Long Island Marathon weekend, and their unwavering dedication has made a lasting impact. This year, they went above and beyond by participating in several media interviews, helping raise visibility and vital funds for our mission. We are deeply grateful for their continued support and for courageously sharing Luke’s story with the community.
WESTCHESTER HEADQUARTERS
118 Titicus Road
North Salem, NY 10560
(914) 277-4547
LONG ISLAND OFFICE
150 Broadhollow Road, Suite 112
Melville, NY 11747
(631) 473-1768
NEW YORK CITY OFFICE
217 W 18th Street, Unit 2015
New York, NY 10011
(212) 308-1378
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