Volunteers Archives - enCourage Kids Foundation

Meet Team EKF’s Chelsea Tuazon

Michaela — Fri, 15 Oct 2021 12:00:20 +0000

Meet Chelsea Tuazon

Meet Chelsea Tuazon, one of our amazing Team EKF runners! She will be running the TCS New York City Marathon this year and raising funds for enCourage Kids. We are so grateful for her dedication!

What inspired you to run the TCS New York City Marathon this year?
This past year has brought a lot of unforeseen challenges both personally and professionally. I signed up for the marathon as a way to motivate myself to do something I have never done before.

Have you ever run in a marathon before?
I ran the virtual United Airlines half marathon in March with a few co-workers but this will be my first live marathon ever!

Why do you want to run with Team EKF and raise funds for our mission?
As a nurse that works in the hospital setting I see first hand how difficult having a child in the hospital can be on not only the child but their families as well. So I’m very grateful that there our organizations like Team EFK that can provide support to these children and their families. And it’s an honor to help support them and raise funds for their mission!

What is a fun fact about you?
My mom and I were featured on NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt!

If you had to give people one piece of advice, related to anything, what would it be?
As cliche as it sounds I would say to just enjoy every second of life! Go for that extra slice of pizza (even while training)!

We are so grateful to Chelsea for her dedication to enCourage Kids and we cannot wait to cheer her on during the marathon on November 7th! If you want to support Chelsea in her fundraising, you can visit: https://fundraisers.hakuapp.com/fundraisers/3690a88badd37eb4f3c4

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Meet Team EKF’s Brian Hirt

Michaela — Tue, 12 Oct 2021 16:41:36 +0000

Meet Brian Hirt

We are very excited to introduce one of our amazing runners Brian Hirt, who has joined Team EKF for his very first ever TCS New York City Marathon. We hope you enjoy meeting and supporting Brian as he raises funds to support our mission!

What inspired you to run the New York City Marathon this year?
I had a friend run a few years back so I made a sign and watched her from the sidelines. It was my first time watching the marathon and it was such a great day. The energy from the crowd and the motivation from all the runners was amazing. From that day, I knew I had to add it to my bucket list.

Why do you want to run with Team EKF and raise funds for our mission?
EKF is such a wonderful foundation with a great mission. When I got the opportunity to partner with them, I jumped on it. To be able to support a great cause and get the opportunity to run was a win win.

What is a fun fact or story about you that you would want to share with our community?
Usually my fun fact is “I am running the NYC Marathon this year.”

If you had to give people one piece of advice, related to anything, what would it be?
I always say, if you have patience and be kind you will eventually get what you want. This may not apply to everything in life but a general rule.

We are very appreciative for Brian’s dedication and for running his first marathon with Team EKF! enCourage Kids can’t wait to cheer you on during the marathon on November 7th! If you want to support Brian in his fundraising, you can visit: https://fundraisers.hakuapp.com/fundraisers/688a76156549aded38b1

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Meet Team EKF’s Jarett Poliner

rbrochard — Thu, 26 Aug 2021 16:21:54 +0000

Meet Jarett Poliner

Jarett Poliner has joined Team EKF for the first time to run in the TCS New York City Marathon this year! We are thrilled to introduce our amazing runners, including Jarett, to our community., We hope you enjoy getting to know them during their journey to 26.2 miles around NYC and as they raise funds to support our mission!

What inspired you to run the TCS New York City Marathon this year?
It has always been a dream of mine to run the New York Marathon, and after researching different charity organizations I could run it with, I felt even more excited at the prospect of running with team EKF.

Have you ever run in a marathon before?

I have actually run an Ultra Marathon (100 miles in 24 hours) but have never run an official Marathon. I was registered for the Big Sur marathon in 2020 but it was canceled due to COVID- 19.

Why do you want to run with Team EKF and raise funds for our mission?

After doing my research into different charity organizations, I believe the mission of Team EKF is worth committing to as I feel strongly about the cause of aiding impact-driven pediatric programs and supporting the child life community. I’ve seen how harsh healthcare can be for a child, and I’m honored to be able to play a small role in correcting that truth.

What is a fun fact about you?

A fun fact is that I used to be a Division I NCAA Fencer in college!

If you had to give people one piece of advice, related to anything, what would it be?
The most widely applicable advice I can think of is: You can’t get to point B before knowing where point A is, and baby steps turn into huge leaps.

We are so grateful to Jarett for his dedication to enCourage Kids and we cannot wait to cheer him on during the marathon on November 7^th! If you want to support Jarett in his fundraising, you can visit: https://fundraisers.hakuapp.com/fundraisers/038777b082326eb2486a

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Volunteer Feature: Jenn

rbrochard — Mon, 19 Apr 2021 14:31:42 +0000

Meet Jenn Valentine, our third volunteer feature for National Volunteer Month! Jenn has been volunteering with enCourage Kids Foundation for about twelve years now and is a long-time member of our Young Professionals Board (YPB). She has been with us through our growth and transformation over the years and we are very lucky to have her.

Jenn believes in creating an environment where the children can feel comfortable, while also enjoying themselves. This has led her to keep volunteering year after year, while also raising funds and planning events as a member of our YPB. She says, “Being able to help contribute to making this experience less intimidating and giving the children moments of true joy has been a real source of inspiration and happiness for me.”

Jenn ran the NYC Marathon with Team EKF. With her love for running and the children, she felt inspired and felt that it put meaning in every mile she ran. She also shared some of her favorite memories. One being the annual holiday parties, she said that she loved seeing the kids enjoying themselves and seeing their faces when they saw Santa and received their presents.

enCourage Kids Foundation is delighted to have a volunteer like Jenn. Her dedication to our mission and love for making a difference is inspirational. If you are interested in joining the Young Professionals Board alongside Jenn, please email Mallory Humphries at mhumphries@encourage-kids.org or visit our website.

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Volunteer Feature: Marisa

rbrochard — Wed, 14 Apr 2021 17:02:26 +0000

Meet Marisa! She has been volunteering with enCourage Kids Foundation for over 10 years. Marisa has a passion and gift for helping others through their most challenging times. She also works as a healthcare worker in an adult unit and wanted to expand her reach to the pediatric realm through enCourage Kids. Marisa’s kindheartedness is quite clear as she shares, “I am a nurse manager and it has been really challenging working throughout the pandemic. There have been many times where I felt exhausted and burnt out. However, I am grateful to be able to contribute to fighting this pandemic on the frontlines.”

Marisa has touched so many families with her simple acts of kindness and has made a huge lasting impact in their lives. Her dedication to contributing to the happiness of so many lives is inspiring and we are eternally grateful for her compassion and enthusiasm in making these children’s lives a little sweeter.

We asked Marisa what her favorite memory was of volunteering with enCourage Kids. She says, “Weekends at Camp Pontiac will always be my favorite! From making s’mores by the big bonfire to watching the kids scream with excitement during relay races, to seeing the smiles on the parents’ faces knowing their children can fully be themselves in this environment- there is simply nothing better.”

We are very fortunate to have a wonderful volunteer like Marisa. While she shares that she highlights the staff for creating these programs for the EKF families, we want to thank her for being a part of it. We would not be able to make them as much of a success without volunteers like Marisa. If you are interested in learning more about how you can support enCourage Kids and volunteer, please email Briana Horwich at briana@encourage-kids.org.

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2020 Volunteer of the Year- Walter

rbrochard — Wed, 07 Apr 2021 17:53:36 +0000

Meet Walter. He has been volunteering with enCourage Kids for over 10 years and was recently awarded the enCourage Kids Volunteer of the Year for 2020. His dedication and passion for our mission are unparalleled and we are grateful to have him as a part of our community. Outside of donating his time, Walter also provides generous financial and in-kind contributions through his company, My Paint By Numbers.

Walter has taken to heart how traumatizing a hospital admission could be for children and how it can affect their emotional well-being. He aims to help reduce the loneliness, fear, and anxiety children often experience during a hospital stay and he continues to donate thousands of Paint by Numbers kits to help pediatric patients experience joy and a measure of normalcy. In addition to his work with Paint by Numbers, he also created a “Kits4Kids” cause marketing initiative that promotes incentives for customers to donate even more kits to the hospitalized children we serve. Walter is our biggest advocate and has done it all with compassion, thoughtfulness, and a beaming smile.

https://mypaintbynumbers.com/pages/kits-4-kids

We asked Walter about his experience volunteering with enCourage Kids and what makes him so dedicated to our work. He says, “I’m passionate about the mission because of how happy the kids and families are with enCourage Kids’ programs. I can only imagine how difficult it is for families at home. I showed up to the weekend away at camp with a bag that can fit as an overhead carry-on. Many of these families had car trunks full of just medical devices they needed to make it through the weekend. It is just wonderful to be able to give the kids and their families respite from the challenges they face. The joy it brings them is palpable and contagious.”

Volunteers like Walter are a huge part of how we carry out our mission. They are an integral part of our organization and we are thankful for their dedication to making hospitals a better place to get better for pediatric patients across the country. If you are interested in learning more about how you can support enCourage Kids, please email Briana Horwich at briana@encourage-kids.org.

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Virtual Camp EKF

rbrochard — Fri, 09 Oct 2020 17:42:18 +0000

Each summer, our kids and families look forward to our weekend away at Camp Pontiac. This year, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, enCourage Kid hosted our annual camp weekend virtually. Our families' safety and providing them with joy and laughter is our top priority. Since they couldn't take the trip to upstate NY, we decided to bring camp to them!

Our children coping with chronic and serious illness are more vulnerable to infection and have had to be extra careful during the pandemic. Being able to do very little beyond their homes, they have come to feel incredibly isolated, worried, bored, and anxious. But while enjoying virtual camp activities, our kids were able to step out of their everyday challenges and experience a break from their stress and heightened isolation. They felt a sense of normalcy and had fun playing and bonding with their friends.

41 enCourage Kids families received Camp in Boxes filled with crafts materials, games, crafts, and s'mores kits to get them ready for hours of fun! As our kids participated in a ton of engaging activities across the last weekends of August, the weight of fear and loneliness turned into laughter, smiles, and fun. There were over 30 hours of live content provided, and they enjoyed Restorative Yoga; Family Trivia, Mindfulness and Meditation, a Magic Show, a Donuteers Entrepreneur Workshop, an Ice Cream Party, a Live Concert from Zaxai of season 24 of The Voice, and Sing and S'mores by the Campfire! Our kids, their siblings, and parents also enjoy tons of crafts sessions such as Birdhouse Making, Photo Frame Decorating, Robot Making, Paint by Numbers, a Graphic Art Tutorial, Tie-Dye T-shirts, Friendship Bracelet Making, Camp Hat Decorating, and Slime Making. For parents, we held happy hours, coffee hours, and support groups to connect with others who understand their experiences with children with medical challenges.

A special thank you to The Donut Pub, Zaxai & The Band Date Night, LOG-ON, and Amazing Savings who helped to make Virtual Camp EKF possible. We'd like to also extend our deepest appreciation for our volunteers, Angelae, Casey, Catherine, Eleanor, Jody, Katie, Melanie, Mike, Nicolette, Shanti, Shreya, Travis, Walter, and Zoey.

Watch the recap of Virtual Camp EKF!

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International Volunteer Day

rbrochard — Thu, 05 Dec 2019 16:23:58 +0000

“The heart of a volunteer is never measured in size, but by the depth of the commitment to make a difference in the lives of others.” – DeAnn Hollis

At enCourage Kids Foundation, we are extremely grateful to have a group of volunteers who are committed to making a significant impact in the lives of children facing medical challenges. From volunteering at events to taking time out of their busy workday to put together treat bags to spending a weekend at camp to facilitate activities just to see them smile, they truly go above and beyond to work towards a world where every child—regardless of the difficulty of his or her medical journey—experiences joy, hope, resilience, and healing.

To our incredible volunteers, THANK YOU for all of your continued hard work and dedication to the sick children and families that we serve at enCourage Kids. We could not do it without you!

In honor of International Volunteer Day, we wanted to share with you how our volunteers brighten the lives of children with a few stories below.

To sign up or for more information, please visit encourage-kids.org/volunteers or contact Briana at Briana@encourage-kids.org or 212-354-2878.

Meet Angelae

Angelae has been a volunteer with enCourage Kids for over 20 years. She is constantly relocating for work; however, she makes it her priority to attend events even if that requires her to fly in for only 24 hours!

What makes you so passionate about our mission?

From the amazing, wonderful staff to the volunteers, to the children and their families, of course. It fills my heart with pure and utter joy and happiness. Helping one another and our community is what makes the world go round, isn’t it? And the EKF does an amazing, absolutely amazing, job of making each and every child and their family feel special…as they are. It is my pleasure and my honor to be a volunteer with the enCourage Kids Foundation.

What is your favorite event/memory from volunteering with enCourage Kids?

I enjoy the look on the faces of the children and families. It is priceless and is one of the most meaningful and rewarding experiences in my life. Every moment is a treasure and a favorite but camping at Camp Pontiac is one I always look forward to. Seeing the families’ faces and witnessing them enjoying every moment, I can’t stop smiling and it means so much to me to be even a little part of helping make that happen.

From Volunteer to President & CEO: Meet Michele

Our President & CEO, Michele Hall-Duncan, started out at enCourage Kids as a volunteer. After volunteering for four years, the company she was working at got taken over by another company and she lost her job. They gave her opportunity to move to Dallas or take the severance package and stay in New York City. Not wanting to leave the city, she chose the latter option. Right around that time, a young lady at the foundation was about to go on maternity leave. Leadership asked if Michele was willing to take over her job for three months, and she said sure. It would be a great opportunity for her to look for another job. That was 23 years ago. Since then, Michele has held many roles at enCourage Kids as she passionately works to make hospitals a better place to get better. If you would like to hear more about Michele’s story, you can watch her interview on The Donna Drake Show.

Meet Walter

Walter has been volunteering with enCourage Kids for over 10 years now. He first volunteered with an honor society during his freshmen year of college and has been volunteering ever since. We can always find Walter joyfully skipping around our events making sure everyone is having a wonderful time.

What makes you so passionate about the mission?

I’m passionate about the mission because of how happy the kids and families are with enCourage Kid’s work. I can only imagine how difficult it is for families at home. I showed up to camp with a bag that can fit as an overhead carry-on. Many of these families had car trunks full of just medical devices they needed to make it through the weekend. It is just wonderful to be able to give the kids and their families respite from the challenges they face. The joy it brings them is palpable and contagious.

What caused you to stay with enCourage Kids as a volunteer?

The staff was always incredibly kind and respectful to us as volunteers. As the years have passed, there were new faces, but the culture has always endured (and many of the old faces returned). enCourage Kids always makes sure we volunteers are well fed, informed, included, and entrusted with jobs that have a strong and direct impact on the event’s outcome. The staff spends days, weeks, and months preparing, but then trust their volunteers on the day of to help tie it together. The staff also gives us a lot of autonomy and responsibility, but also the perfect amount of guidance, to do our best and get creative.

You can also see how much the staff genuinely cares about the mission every time they speak about it. I have only started to get to know the children, but the staff has all their names and bios memorized, and whenever they do speak of families and kids, their eyes light up and smiles grow wide. As I work with the children more and see how much positivity an experience with enCourage Kids can add to their lives, it’s even easier to see why the staff are as amazing and happy as they are.

What is your favorite memory from volunteering with enCourage Kids?

Oh, definitely the ping pong ball game at Camp Pontiac during Minute to Win It. I have re-watched that video over 100 times. (See video below)

Meet Jody

Jody has been a volunteer with enCourage Kids for over 20 years. She is our go-to musician and we love to watch her perform for our kids and their families. volunteer with enCourage Kids.

What makes you so passionate about our mission?

Bringing smiles to children is the greatest thing and act I could ever do.

What is your favorite memory from volunteering with enCourage Kids?

There are just so many memories. From meeting the fabulous families to creating lifelong connections. I am an industry professional, so when I have the opportunity to arrange tickets to shows, I am more than happy to do so.

This summer at Camp Pontiac, enCourage kid KE and I started talking about how much he loves The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. I was happy to reach out to friends who made it possible for KE to receive merchandise from the show.

Meet Mike

Mike has been volunteering with enCourage Kids for over 20 years. He found out about enCourage Kids Foundation through one of our community partners, LOG-ON, when he was interning there. Mike has volunteered at almost every single one of our events since 1999 and has developed strong and trusting relationships with the families that we serve.

What makes you so passionate about the mission?

My brothers and I were very fortunate to be able to have a fairly healthy and normal childhood and it saddens me so much that others cannot just live carefree and enjoy their youth at times. If donating my time, energy and personality can help brighten their days just even for a little while, I feel like it’s the least I can do. I have loved meeting the kids and their families and some have become like family to me as well over the years.

What is your favorite memory from volunteering with enCourage Kids?

Fundraising is always important and I take pride in working hard at those events to raise as much money as possible to be able to do as much as we can for these families and the hospitals, but all of the events where we get to do fun and exciting things with the kids and their families directly is the most rewarding for me. The first few years of Camp Pontiac I was not able to join due to work obligations, but once I attended and was able to spend an entire weekend with so many kids and their families it changed my life forever.

You get to meet amazing people and hear their stories and take their minds off of their difficulties for a bit. They also get to meet other kids and families that are going through things as well and see they truly aren’t alone.

Is there anything else you want to share about your time with enCourage Kids?

One of the most powerful moments I have ever experienced that resonate with me to this day actually occurred at that first Sports Auction. I was introduced to one of our guests of honor and his family a young man who was there to see his favorite Yankee at the event. As we were walking around I asked him if he was planning on playing or working for the Yankees one day and he told me that he only had a few years left to live, so he didn’t think that could happen. I immediately became super emotional and he told me not to cry but said he expected me to live my life to its fullest and do a lot of great things since he didn’t have a lot of time to do them himself. His memory and words inspire me to this day. (Totally crying just remembering this.)

Meet Marisa

Marisa has been a volunteer with enCourage Kids for a little over 10 years. She originally started working with enCourage Kids as an intern her freshman year of college and stayed involved once her internship ended. Working in the medical field, she understands and demonstrates the importance of making the hospital a better place to get better.

What is your favorite memory from volunteering with enCourage Kids?

My favorite memory from volunteering with enCourage Kids is my very first time at Camp Pontiac. It was an amazing experience I will never forget- bonding with staff and other volunteers, having a ton of fun with the kids making s’mores at the big bonfire, playing games. It really set the stage for my continued involvement with EKF all these years. As a healthy child, I always dreamed of going away to summer camp, and it made me really appreciate the experience that this weekend allows for families of seriously ill children.

Is there anything else you want to share about your time with enCourage Kids?

It has been an absolute pleasure volunteering for EKF all these years. The staff is so extremely welcoming and the other volunteers have become lifelong friends due to our shared passion for the work EKF does.

Meet Casey and Rob

Casey was enCourage Kids’ Manager of Special Events for almost 3 years. She and her husband, Rob, are extremely passionate about making a difference in the world. As volunteers for about four years, they continue to brighten the lives of many enCourage kids.

What makes you so passionate about enCourage Kids?

Since enCourage Kids started out, their goal has been to enrich and strengthen the quality of life of children with illnesses or disabilities. When you see the children and their families, whether at an escape or with a clown in the hospital, you are overwhelmed by the hope and excitement you don’t expect to see. enCourage Kids families, give perspective on life. It is so amazing that they have an outlet like enCourage Kids to be themselves and feel relief if only for a little while.

What is your favorite memory of volunteering at enCourage Kids?

Our favorite memories, since we can’t pick one, are when families arrive at camp, or Loony Louie comes into the hospital, and you can feel the happiness and excitement!

Casey also shared her favorite staff memory:

We were at a hospital visit with Gala Honorees at NY Pres. As always on Tuesdays, Loony Louie was preforming and we got to sit with the children and watch his show. There was one child who was resistant to come into the playroom but came and sat in the back. As the show was going on, you could see the child get more comfortable and smile at Louie’s silly jokes and tricks. Eventually, this child was the most involved participant in the room and even helped him with a trick in front of the room! The way enCourage Kids works with Child Life Specialists to make a kid feel like a kid was so obvious to me in that moment. I was so proud to be a part of it all.

Meet Sarah Jane

Sarah Jane started with enCourage Kids as an editorial intern the summer after she graduated from college. During her time as an intern, she helped with many events and continued to help as a volunteer once her internship ended. Being one of our newer volunteers, Sarah Jane has already stolen the hearts of many of our enCourage kids and their family members.

What makes you so passionate about our mission?

I’m so touched by EKF’s determination to bring fun and laughter to the kids that need it most. These kids and their families go through so much, seeing the difference EKF’s events make in their lives is truly amazing.

What is your favorite memory from volunteering with enCourage Kids Foundation?

My favorite EKF event is definitely Camp Pontiac! S’mores are always a real highlight.

Is there anything else you want to share?

Just that I’ve been so thankful to contribute in any way I can to EKF and EKF families!

To sign up or for more information, please visit encourage-kids.org/volunteers or contact Briana at Briana@encourage-kids.org or 212-354-2878.

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enCourage Kids Partners with Samsung Day of Service

rbrochard — Thu, 17 Oct 2019 16:34:34 +0000

Being in the hospital during Halloween can be a hard break for a child. Undergoing medical procedures and being sick is an unfair substitute for trick or treating. On October 11th, our partners at Samsung Electronics set out to make a hospital Halloween a little more fun. 40 Samsung volunteers, including 16 Samsung family members, partnered with enCourage Kids for their annual Samsung Day of Service with a mission of sending Halloween cheer to hospitalized children. In just over three hours, the Samsung team put together nearly 2,000 spooky-fun-filled Halloween Treat Bags complete with games, art supplies, finger puppets, and just a little candy. Through Samsung Day of Service, our hospital partners across the country will be able to share trick-or-treating with the children in their care.

Thank you Samsung for making hospitals a better place to get better this Halloween! enCourage Kids Foundation truly values the commitment of time and hard work our Samsung Day of Service volunteers gave to this project. We hope to see you all again next year.

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Summer Series #1: enCourage Kids’ Night at Citi Field

rbrochard — Fri, 12 Jul 2019 14:46:49 +0000

17th Annual enCourage Kids Night at Citi Field

The day started off with rain and storms, but as the start time approached for enCourage Kids’ 17^th Annual Night at Citi Field, the sun came out and the weather was nothing short of perfect. On Thursday, June 13^th, over 800 enCourage Kids supporters and families gathered for a great night cheering on the New York Mets against the St. Louis Cardinals. Each child was greeted with an enCourage Kids’ t-shirt and a foam finger, before being shown to our private area in the Bullpen Plaza full of hamburgers, hot dogs, popcorn, and more.

While they were eating, the kids and families had the opportunity to wander around to have their face painted, watch a clown work his magic, and get tattoos from a volunteer and a Mets’ Wife. They even got the chance to create their own signs to cheer on the Mets with poster board and markers. Right before the game began, Mr. Met stopped by for a special visit. Each of the kids and their families had the chance to meet him and take their picture before heading into the stadium to take their seats.

Each year, we get the special opportunity to let one of our enCourage kids throw out the first pitch to start the game. This year, the honor went to Dorian Solimano. She went out on the field with her dad and threw quite the underhanded pitch, showing off her skills. After taking pictures, everyone headed up to their seats and the game began.

With our seats so close to the field, we kept our eye on the skies to see if we could catch a homerun ball at any point during the game. A few flew our way and one even landed at the front of our section for one of our supporters to take home.

It was a great night full of fun, food, and baseball. Thank you to our families, supporters, sponsors, volunteers, and staff who made this night possible! We can’t wait to see you next year. Go Mets!

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Child Life Spotlight

In our mission, it says we support the Child Life Community, but many people ask “What is Child Life?” In this section, we hope to shine a light on the work Child Life Specialists are doing in hospitals around the country and how enCourage Kids is supporting them in this work.

A Child Life Specialist is a trained professional that works closely with children and their families in a hospital or other medical setting, providing support and helping them cope during traumatic and difficult situations. Child Life Specialists develop coping strategies for pediatric patients and their family members to decrease the stress and anxiety that comes with the challenges of hospitalization. Their goal is to make a hospital experience as comfortable and positive as possible. One of their most important roles is to explain a child’s diagnosis and/or treatment in a way that the child will be able to understand and know exactly what is going on.

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Family Outing to Six Flags Great Adventure

On Wednesday, July 10^th, our enCourage Kids families enjoyed a fun family outing at Six Flags Great Adventure! Over 520 people were in attendance, riding roller coasters, having dance parties, and eating a delicious lunch. Six Flags generously handed out superhero capes to all our kids and they visited with all kinds of characters! enCourage Kids mom, Darcy, said “I just wanted to send a great big thank you for the Great Adventure Trip. My kids of course absolutely loved it and you can tell by all the smiles. Thank you so much again. We always enjoy your events that we can go to!!”

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