Support Us Archives - Friends of Karen http://www.friendsofkaren.org/category/support-us/ Supporting critically-ill children and their families Wed, 08 Apr 2026 20:50:42 +0000 en hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.6.2 https://www.friendsofkaren.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/fok-balloons-150x150.png Support Us Archives - Friends of Karen http://www.friendsofkaren.org/category/support-us/ 32 32 Feed a Family https://www.friendsofkaren.org/feed-a-family/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=feed-a-family Thu, 27 Apr 2023 17:35:30 +0000 https://www.friendsofkaren.org/fokdev2022/?p=4707 At Friends of Karen, we know that a family’s financial resources are stretched thin when at least one parent must stop working to care for their critically ill child. They need help putting food on the table for their family, now more than ever with the increased cost of groceries. In addition, chemotherapy, radiation, and other forms of medication used...

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Feed a Family

At Friends of Karen, we know that a family’s financial resources are stretched thin when at least one parent must stop working to care for their critically ill child. They need help putting food on the table for their family, now more than ever with the increased cost of groceries. In addition, chemotherapy, radiation, and other forms of medication used to treat life-threatening illnesses compromise an ill child’s immune system, which makes a simple, nutritious meal even more essential.

No parent should choose between paying for their ill child’s medical care and feeding their family.

Friends of Karen’s Feed A Family Program provides supermarket gift cards to families in need.

This is how you can help!

  • A gift of $100 will help feed a family of 4. A donation in any amount is gratefully appreciated.
  • Donate gift cards for ShopRite, Stop & Shop, Key Food, Target, Walmart, Amazon, Visa, or MasterCard to Friends of Karen to distribute to our families. Please attach activation receipts.
Click here to donate

Mail or drop off Gift Cards to Friends of Karen at either office:
Attention: Allison Watson, 118 Titicus Road, North Salem, NY 10560 or
Attention: Lexi Latino, 150 Broadhollow Road, Suite 112, Melville, NY 11747

Thank you for being a caring partner by helping to feed a Friends of Karen family. They will greatly appreciate the kindness of being remembered during this challenging time. In the words of Stephen’s Mom: “The Love and support we gained by this helped us feel normal during a time when nothing is normal.”

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]]> Be a Corporate Partner https://www.friendsofkaren.org/be-a-corporate-partner/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=be-a-corporate-partner Fri, 24 Mar 2023 14:59:38 +0000 http://www.friendsofkaren.org/fokdev2022/?p=4473 We are proud to have the support and confidence of our corporate partners. Their generosity strengthens our ability to be a lifeline to our families. View all These are some of the ways your business can partner with Friends of Karen: NOTE: Businesses that support Friends of Karen at a level of $5,000 and higher will have their logo and a...

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We are proud to have the support and confidence of our corporate partners. Their generosity strengthens our ability to be a lifeline to our families.

View all

These are some of the ways your business can partner with Friends of Karen:

      • Designate us as a charity for employee donations.

      • Enhance employee donations through corporate matching funds.

      • Host fundraising activities and volunteer projects in your workplace to promote team spirit. Download Info Card

      • Be a sponsor for one of our special events or host a new one that showcases your business.

      • Engage your employees to form a team for our annual “Journey of the Heart” bike tour or “Walk/Run for Friends of Karen at the L.I. Marathon or our Adina’s Angels 5K Walk, in Rockland County.”

      • Support our gift programs, including back-to-school, birthday, and holidays.

      • Provide a challenge grant to inspire others to help achieve our mission.

    NOTE: Businesses that support Friends of Karen at a level of $5,000 and higher will have their logo and a link to their corporate website listed on our Corporate Partners page.

    If you need more ideas or want more information about opportunities, email Volunteer Coordinator, Allison Watson or call her at (914) 617-4054. On Long Island, email Regional Director, Leslie Bellissimo or call her at (631) 473-1768 ext. 904.

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    ]]>         Donate Your Vehicle https://www.friendsofkaren.org/donate-your-vehicle/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=donate-your-vehicle Fri, 24 Mar 2023 14:58:48 +0000 http://www.friendsofkaren.org/fokdev2022/?p=4471 Donating your car, truck, boat or any other vehicle is a great way to support Friends of Karen and may qualify you for a tax deduction. To get started, complete our simple donation form or call Vehicles For Charity at (866) 628-2277. They will pick up your vehicle and provide you with a receipt for tax purposes, all at no charge to

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    ]]>     Donating your car, truck, boat or any other vehicle is a great way to support Friends of Karen and may qualify you for a tax deduction. To get started, complete our simple donation form or call Vehicles For Charity at (866) 628-2277. They will pick up your vehicle and provide you with a receipt for tax purposes, all at no charge to you.

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    ]]>         Donate Gifts in Kind https://www.friendsofkaren.org/donate-gifts-in-kind/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=donate-gifts-in-kind Fri, 24 Mar 2023 14:57:09 +0000 http://www.friendsofkaren.org/fokdev2022/?p=4462 Donations of in-kind items provide our families with food, clothing, transportation and quality of life enhancements, such as school supplies and birthday and hospital gifts for children. They allow us to maximize our funding to help families with their everyday living expenses, medical bills, and the services they desperately need. Our wish list includes: Grocery gifts cards Key Food MasterCard

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    Donations of in-kind items provide our families with food, clothing, transportation and quality of life enhancements, such as school supplies and birthday and hospital gifts for children. They allow us to maximize our funding to help families with their everyday living expenses, medical bills, and the services they desperately need. Our wish list includes:

    Grocery gifts cards

    Gift cards for birthdays, holidays, back to school

    Gifts cards to help parents visiting their hospitalized child

    Donate OMNY Cards help parents get their child to and from treatment or enable them to visit their child in the hospital.

    Please mail gift cards to our North Salem or Melville office:
    Friends of Karen, 118 Titicus Road, North Salem, NY 10560, 914-617-4052
    Or 
    Friends of Karen, 150 Broadhollow Road, Suite 112 Melville, NY 11747, 631-473-1768 ext 903

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    ]]>         Donate a Gift Stock https://www.friendsofkaren.org/donate-a-gift-stock/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=donate-a-gift-stock Fri, 24 Mar 2023 14:56:28 +0000 http://www.friendsofkaren.org/fokdev2022/?p=4460 The gift of an appreciated asset is a powerful way to support our families. If your investments have increased in value since you acquired them, a gift can result in a charitable income tax deduction for the full fair market value of the securities, and you may avoid capital gains taxes on the appreciated stock. Your financial planner or tax

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    ]]>     The gift of an appreciated asset is a powerful way to support our families. If your investments have increased in value since you acquired them, a gift can result in a charitable income tax deduction for the full fair market value of the securities, and you may avoid capital gains taxes on the appreciated stock. Your financial planner or tax advisor can answer your questions about this kind of gift.

    You may download our Stock Transfer Form for information. Please contact Gabriella DiSisto or call (914) 617-4047 for further assistance.

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    ]]>         Workplace Giving and Matching Gifts https://www.friendsofkaren.org/workplace-giving-and-matching-gifts/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=workplace-giving-and-matching-gifts Fri, 24 Mar 2023 14:55:43 +0000 http://www.friendsofkaren.org/fokdev2022/?p=4458 These programs offer you the convenience of automatic payroll deductions without losing the tax benefits of charitable giving. Some companies match their employee’s contribution, increasing the impact of your gift. Your company may have a special form to include with your contribution. Check with your Human Resources Department about workplace giving and matching gift program. If your employer’s program does

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    ]]>     These programs offer you the convenience of automatic payroll deductions without losing the tax benefits of charitable giving. Some companies match their employee’s contribution, increasing the impact of your gift. Your company may have a special form to include with your contribution.

    Check with your Human Resources Department about workplace giving and matching gift program. If your employer’s program does not include Friends of Karen, please email  Gabriella Disisto at gabrielladisisto@friendsofkaren.org or call (914) 617-4047

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    ]]>         Leave a Legacy https://www.friendsofkaren.org/leave-a-legacy/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=leave-a-legacy Fri, 24 Mar 2023 14:52:59 +0000 http://www.friendsofkaren.org/fokdev2022/?p=4449 Begin your legacy with us. Your legacy plan starts, first, with your loved ones and then reflects what else is important to you that you want to continue long into the future. Wise planning for family, friends and charities, like Friends of Karen, that are important to you, allows you to ensure your assets will be used according to your

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    Begin your legacy with us.

    Your legacy plan starts, first, with your loved ones and then reflects what else is important to you that you want to continue long into the future. Wise planning for family, friends and charities, like Friends of Karen, that are important to you, allows you to ensure your assets will be used according to your wishes and that your values will be expressed in your plans.

    For a long time, I knew that I was going to leave part of my estate to various meaningful local charities. When it comes to Friends of Karen, knowing that anything I leave behind is going to help multiple families during unimaginable times made the decision very easy.
    – Michael Bauer


    You can join Michael and leave Friends of Karen in your will or trust. Simply use this sample bequest language to bring to your professional advisor to be written into your will as part of your legacy planning. “I give, devise, and bequeath ________________ (a certain sum, a percentage of the estate, or the remainder of the estate) to Friends of Karen [Tax ID #14-1612290].”

    There are many other ways you can fulfill your philanthropic and financial goals.

    • With Gifts of Appreciated Stocks and Investments, you can reduce or possibly eliminate federal capital gains taxes on the transfer, and you may also be entitled to a federal income tax charitable deduction.
    Donate a Gift Stock
    • A Donor-Advised Fund is like a philanthropic savings account. It gives you the flexibility to determine how much and how often money is donated to Friends of Karen.
    • Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) from a Retirement Account can be transferred from your IRA directly to Friends of Karen (up to $100,000 annually). If you are over 70½ years of age, you may make a gift from your IRA as a tax-free distribution.
    • Name Friends of Karen as a beneficiary – some prefer the increased flexibility that a beneficiary designation provides. It is very simple to name Friends of Karen as a beneficiary. Start by requesting a change-of-beneficiary form from your policy administrator.
    • IRAs and retirement plans
    • Life insurance policies
    • Donor advised funds
    • Bank or brokerage accounts

    If you have already included Friends of Karen in your estate plan, please let us know. We would like to thank you and welcome you into the Sheila Petersen Legacy of Giving Circle. By letting us know, we can ensure that we fulfill your gift exactly as you intended.

    Please contact GabriellaDiSisto@friendsofkaren.org, 914-617-4047.

    Always consult with your attorney or financial planner about the best way to create your legacy gift.

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    ]]>         Become a Monthly Guardian of Hope https://www.friendsofkaren.org/become-a-monthly-guardian-of-hope/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=become-a-monthly-guardian-of-hope Fri, 24 Mar 2023 14:50:07 +0000 http://www.friendsofkaren.org/fokdev2022/?p=4446 By contributing a predetermined amount each month, you will have the satisfaction of knowing you are providing the on-going vital support that our families need. Your donation will be charged to your credit card each month. If for any reason you wish to increase, decrease or suspend your gift, just let us know. Click here to become a Monthly Guardian

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    Guardian of Hope

    By contributing a predetermined amount each month, you will have the satisfaction of knowing you are providing the on-going vital support that our families need. Your donation will be charged to your credit card each month. If for any reason you wish to increase, decrease or suspend your gift, just let us know.

    Click here to become a Monthly Guardian of Hope, or call Gabriella DiSisto at 914-617-4047 to enroll and set up a monthly gift from your checking account or credit card.

    Donate

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    ]]>         Give a Tribute/Memorial Gift https://www.friendsofkaren.org/give-a-tribute-memorial-gift/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=give-a-tribute-memorial-gift Fri, 24 Mar 2023 14:37:47 +0000 http://www.friendsofkaren.org/fokdev2022/?p=4440 Celebrate a birth, marriage, anniversary, graduation, holiday or any other milestone by making a tribute gift. Remember a loved one or express your sympathy with a memorial gift. We will send a letter acknowledging your gift with your special message to the person(s) you designate. The amount of your gift will not be disclosed to them. Donate

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    Celebrate a birth, marriage, anniversary, graduation, holiday or any other milestone by making a tribute gift. Remember a loved one or express your sympathy with a memorial gift.

    We will send a letter acknowledging your gift with your special message to the person(s) you designate. The amount of your gift will not be disclosed to them.

    Donate

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    ]]>         Thanksgiving Feed a Family​ https://www.friendsofkaren.org/thanksgiving-feed-a-family/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=thanksgiving-feed-a-family Mon, 03 Nov 2025 21:44:49 +0000 https://www.friendsofkaren.org/?p=15232   Bring a Holiday Meal to a Family Caring for a Critically Ill Child This Thanksgiving, you can make a meaningful difference through Friends of Karen’s Feed-A-Family program. Your donation provides grocery gift cards so families can prepare a holiday meal that’s just right for them. Urgent need: As of Saturday, November 1, one-third of Friends of Karen families have not

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    Bring a Holiday Meal to a Family Caring for a Critically Ill Child

    This Thanksgiving, you can make a meaningful difference through Friends of Karen’s Feed-A-Family program. Your donation provides grocery gift cards so families can prepare a holiday meal that’s just right for them.

    Urgent need: As of Saturday, November 1, one-third of Friends of Karen families have not yet received their SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits, making it even more challenging for them to get food for the Thanksgiving holiday. Your support is more critical than ever.

    Our goal: support 300 families this Thanksgiving.

    How your gift helps:

    • $50 provides a turkey for a family of four.

    • $125 covers a full Thanksgiving meal with all the items a family loves.

    • Any amount helps a child and their family enjoy a holiday together.

    You can also donate gift cards from ShopRite, Stop & Shop, Target, Walmart, Visa, or MasterCard. Please include activation receipts so Friends of Karen can distribute them directly to families.

    Click Here to Donate

    Click on the link above to donate securely online, or mail gift cards to:
    Gwen Salmo
    c/o Friends of Karen
    118 Titicus Road
    North Salem, NY 10560

    Your generosity ensures families facing the challenges of a critical illness can share the warmth, comfort, and joy of a Thanksgiving meal.

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