Medically Focused
HopeKids
“HopeKids provides ongoing events, activities, and a unique support community for families who have a child with cancer or some other life-threatening medical condition. We surround these remarkable children and their families with the message that hope is a powerful medicine.”
A favorite quote from their website: “Numerous studies shown that hope can increase one’s overall ability to cope and that familial support in chronically ill children is vital. HopeKids understands we are not a cure for the illnesses, but we believe hope is a powerful medicine.”
Louise is a HopeKid! Katie learned about the organization from another mom of a child with a trach at their home hospital.
HopeKids has chapters in: Scottsdale. AZ; Denver, CO; Kansas City, MO; Nashville, TN; Eden Prairie, MN; Keller. TX; and Charlotte, NC.
Tiny Super Heroes
Tiny Super Heroes fills requests to provide super hero capes for children who are battling illnesses or have disabilities.
“Where others see differences we see superpowers”
How it works: When you nominate a Tiny Superhero or Sidekick for a cape, we make a personalized crowd-funding tool, and ask you to share it. $50 funds the cape, and any money raised over that helps other Tiny Superheroes on the waitlist get a cape. Every person nominated gets a cape – no matter what.
As of right now, about 30% of people will raise funds, but they raise enough to support 100% of the Squad!
Feeding Matters
“Feeding Matters is the first organization in the world uniting the concerns of families with the field’s leading advocates, experts, and allied healthcare professionals to improve the system of care for pediatric feeding disorder through advocacy, education, support, and research.
Defined as impaired oral intake that is not age-appropriate, and is associated with medical, nutritional, feeding skill, and/or psychosocial dysfunction, pediatric feeding disorder is estimated to affect more than 1 in 37 children under the age of 5 in the United States1. For these children, eating, drinking, and swallowing are painful and frightening – ultimately affecting their behavioral, physical, and emotional development. Yet, there is no functional system of care for pediatric feeding disorder locally, nationally, or internationally.
“In 2014, Feeding Matters’ Founder and Emeritus board member, Shannon Goldwater, envisioned pediatric feeding disorder as a stand-alone diagnosis, recognizing that the absence of a universally accepted term was the root cause of the system issues that failed her children and many more. Because these children were seen as having symptoms instead of a disorder, there was no comprehensive system in place that included collaborative care, qualified providers, proper insurance coverage, or an educational path to become a qualified feeding therapist.
In March 2016, Feeding Matters gathered in Arizona with over 17 experts from around the world to determine a name, definition, and diagnostic criteria for pediatric feeding disorders. This pivotal meeting led to two years of collaborative work to write and publish the paper, “Pediatric Feeding Disorder: Consensus Definition and Conceptual Framework” in the January 2019 Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition.”
I encourage you to study their website and learn all about their initiatives to help children with oral aversions and feeding disorders to find proper care and thrive.
Partnering with Feeding Matters is going to be a top focus for ALF. Much more to come!
Graeme McDaniel Foundation
“The Graeme McDaniel Foundation is excited to grow and strengthen relationships with heart centers around the country. We are learning of these centers’ planned research projects and hearing how additional support from our foundation can progress their hard work. We will be able to choose which projects we support with the money you help us raise, and we are excited to share the progress and outcomes of these projects.”
This foundation gave two grants to CHD research in Texas last year totaling $300,000!
An annual run and gala are each hosted in Katy, Tx in Graeme’s honor, and I have tremendous respect and admiration for the work of this foundation.
“OUR MISSION IS TO FUND CONGENITAL HEART DEFECT RESEARCH AND SUPPORT HEART FAMILIES”
Giving Angels Foundation
“The mission of the Giving Angels Foundation is to assist special needs children from lower income families with a physical disability aged 21 years or younger throughout the U.S.
Families who wish to receive assistance must complete an application and demonstrate financial need. We have a $50,000 maximum annual income threshold.
Applications are accepted throughout the year and Board voting on applications happens once per month. Grants are only to be awarded once per family.”
Giving Angels is based in Pennsylvania.