Video: Gratitude, Reflections
November 24, 2021

The season of gratitude, joy and peace is upon us. Despite the festivities around us , the holidays can be a particularly challenging time for many of our Friends of Karen families.

Celebrate the holiday spirit by giving to a child
November 10, 2021
NORTH SALEM, NY, November 10, 2021 -- 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...
Mental Health Awareness
October 22, 2021

The World Health Organization officially recognizes World Mental Health in October.  The organization states that the pandemic has greatly impacted people’s mental health.  They report people...

Join the Friends of Karen Social Work Team and Make a Difference!
September 20, 2021

The position of Social Worker will work closely with and report to Rhonda Ryan, LMSW, Friends of Karen’s Director of Family Support. She/he/they has responsibility to provide financial, psychosocial and advocacy support to families of children in treatment for a life-threatening illness. Using a multicultural approach, our support is tailored to the need of the individual family.

Friends of Karen
Bereavement: Helping Families as They Grieve
September 17, 2021

Sadly, not all of the children we help at Friends of Karen survive their illness, but Friends of Karen’s help does not stop after the death of a child. Since the organization was established, we...

Sibling Art
Sibling Spotlight: Super Caoimhe
September 13, 2021

Throughout September the nation recognizes Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. At Friends of Karen we take this time to honor the many families we serve and reflect on the work we do to help them....

Long Island marathon
Long Island Walk/Run Marathon 3 Day Event
September 3, 2021

September 17- September 19, Join the team, Long Island Walk Run. Feel the team spirit, camaraderie, and good will as you cross the finish line for our kids! Click...

Looking Forward: Christopher’s Story
August 25, 2021

Christopher, 25 years old, was diagnosed with Leukemia at age 20, just 10 days before starting college. He reflects on his journey then and now.

How did cancer change your daily...

Friends of Karen
Staying with Families Every Step of the Way
August 19, 2021

Imagine what it would be like if someone stepped in, stood with you and guided you from the moment that event began to upend your life. When I work with the families assigned to me, I am that...

Welcoming Families to a Circle of Support
August 19, 2021

When parents learn their child has cancer they are immediately thrown into an overwhelming crisis. The child’s medical care team gives them a thick binder mapping out what the child’s treatment...

Helping a Family Cope After a Cancer Diagnosis
August 17, 2021

On his 16th birthday in December 2019, Luis got in the shower to get ready for his day to celebrate. When he stepped out of the shower his whole world fell apart. He was immediately short of...

Friends of Karen Gets Ready for Back to School 2021
July 30, 2021
It has undoubtedly been a year like no other for all of us, but for the critically ill children and their families served by Friends of Karen, life remains complicated. As the rest of the
...
The King of Friends Having Fun
July 7, 2021
At the heart of the Sibling Support Program at Friends of Karen is the individual, sibling and family therapeutic sessions that provide illness education and emotional support to Friends of...
Shining Stars: Virtual Gala
June 9, 2021
Shining Stars: Virtual Gala
Thursday, October 28, 2021 7:00pm
 
Join Friends of Karen at our 2021 Virtual Gala, an inspiring event that will...
Nico, Nicolette & Matteo
May 10, 2021
Born just 14 months apart, siblings Nico, 6, and twins Matteo and Nicolette, 5 have always been more like triplets. The strength of their bond was immediately apparent the first time we met them...
FROM OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
May 4, 2021
Resilience, the theme of this newsletter, is a defining characteristic of our Friends of Karen (FoK) children and their families.  Against what seem like insurmountable challenges, they tap into...
Staff Profile: Terri
May 4, 2021
Hello, my name is Terri, and I am the Director of Finance and Administration for Friends of Karen.  This June will mark ten years that I have worked for this amazing organization.
The...
A Family Stays Strong by Accepting Help
April 29, 2021
Gang and Lihong were living a parent’s worst nightmare. Their teenage daughter Xingyu was more than 1,000 miles away in Florida during a hurricane, and she was suffering from a strange headache...