FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 16, 2020
Annual Adopt-A-Family Program Fulfills Wish Lists of Critically-Ill Children and Their Siblings
 
NORTH SALEM, NY, November 16, 2020 -- Friends of Karen, which supports critically-ill children and their families, has launched a new Holiday Adopt-A-Family program for 2020. The goal is to bring smiles to each Friends of Karen child and their siblings this holiday season. This year, because of COVID-19, we are sending gift cards so that our families may safely order their gifts online and have them shipped directly home.
 
Help Friends of Karen deliver smiles for the holidays! Nearly 950 "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. You will be the reason that seriously ill children, their brothers and sisters can celebrate the holidays this year. "Each of our children sends us their wish list for a gift card, and we match each child with a kind-hearted 'elf' who purchases one or more of the gift cards on the list," according to Volunteer Coordinator, Denise Tredwell, who organizes the program. "Every child looks forward to the holidays, but when parents are caring for a child with a life-threatening illness, preparing for the holidays are emotionally and financially difficult. Now with COVID-19, life is even more complicated. We want them to have joyful memories, even in the midst of illness."
 
You can help our children celebrate the holidays by purchasing one gift card for one child or several gifts cards. And if you don’t have a lot of time, we welcome cash donations and we’ll do the shopping for you. Friends of Karen asks for donors to help make sure every child is remembered for the holidays. To participate, please contact Denise Tredwell at 914-617-4052 or denisetredwell@friendsofkaren.org to get started.
 
 “Wow!!!! You should have seen their faces when they opened their gifts. All the kids big and small are so pleased with what they got. Helping out families and children during this time is really special. Wishing you and the Friends of Karen family all the best this holiday season.”
- Thanks again, Becca and family.
 
About Friends of Karen: Friends of Karen, established in 1978, provides emotional, financial and advocacy support for children with a life-threatening illness and their families in order to help keep them stable, functioning, and able to cope. Friends of Karen serves families living in the New York tri-state region and offers its lifeline of support services at no cost to them so they have more time for what's most important: each other. Friends of Karen has received top ratings from Charity Navigator, an independent organization that evaluates the financial efficiency and responsibility of over 9,000 U.S. charities. Friends of Karen also meets the 20 Standards of Charity Accountability of the BBB of Metropolitan New York.
 
For more information, visit www.friendsofkaren.org or call (914) 277-4547.

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