One of Friends of Karen’s strengths is meeting a family where they are and tailoring our support to their needs. Often that’s an opportunity to provide our expertise in new, creative ways. A perfect example of our creativity is how Jennifer, one of our Sibling Support Program professionals, worked with Michael in September 2023 when his little brother John was
Long Island Advisory Board Member and 2025 Long Island Gala Honoree, Tom Papadopoulos and his wife Farelle hosted “Cars & Coffee” at Autosport Designs benefiting Friends of Karen.
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.
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.
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
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
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
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. Ayden was diagnosed with a Wilms tumor, a rare type of kidney cancer that affects children. The tumor on his right kidney had ruptured
Check out our latest article on Forbes ‘How Volunteering Can Bring Connection And Meaning To Your Life’ with Friends of Karen volunteer, Jami Feldman.
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.
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
Exciting news! Friends of Karen will be featured on The Kelly Clarkson Show with guest host Molly Sims. Don’t miss this special episode airing on Thursday, March 13, at 3pm Eastern, on NBC.
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.
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.
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
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
Friday, May 2, 2025 | Eisenhower Park | Race Start 8:00PM
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
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
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