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December 2007 |
This has been the year of the hero for Hope for Henry Foundation. Superheroes and Hope for Henry have always been a natural fit. Mythic figures like Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman represent unimaginable power and the promise that good will ultimately triumph. For kids with life-threatening illnesses these are particularly potent concepts. Superheroes represent the prospect of a world away from their hospital rooms — a world where they can win the battle over their illnesses, and create a life that better fits their dreams.
On behalf of the board of directors and the families and children we serve, thank you. With warm regards, |
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As we enter the heart of the holiday season, we have a lot of thanks to give. It has been a most remarkable year for Hope for Henry Foundation, and we could not have done it without your help. 
Children need superheroes, and Hope for Henry supplies them — through events like Superhero Celebrations, the magic of which is captured in the photos inside this newsletter. We brought these children Harry Potter, too — first thing in the morning, the day the book was released. As you look through the photos be sure to focus on the faces of the children. See the smiles? The spirit and perseverance of these kids is truly inspiring as is your commitment to Hope for Henry.
With plans for more Superhero Celebrations, summer carnivals, and Halloween parties, 2008 promises to be our best year yet. Thanks to Hope for Henry, next year hundreds of hospitalized children will tune into their new iPods and tune out the beeping of their IV pumps; watch new movie releases on their own DVD players instead of staring at blank walls; listen to their home teams play baseball on XM satellite radio hundreds of miles from home; and use their digital cameras to capture and share photos of their recovery with loved ones waiting for them to get better. With champions like you, a new board of directors and ambitious plans for growth, we are confident that Hope for Henry will bring more smiles, laughter and joy to hospitalized children than ever before.
Delivering Superheroes and Smiles
In February — when Superman is said to be born on Krypton — Hope for Henry Foundation brought superheroes to the kids who need them most. At hospitals from Washington, DC to Minneapolis, MN, Batman and Wonder Woman flew in to meet their heroes — kids facing the threat of cancer and blood disease head on and with a smile. Hope for Henry brought Superhero Celebrations to more than 400 kids and their families. They watched superhero cartoons, got caricatures of themselves as their favorite superhero, got photo after photo with their favorite superhero or arch villain and answered trivia questions. Dressed in Hope for Henry superhero capes, all the kids left the parties with goodie bags filled with superhero-themed action figures, comic books, play sets, stickers, t-shirts and more.
Harry Potter is a Hero Too
If the children can’t get to the party, then the party must come to the children. At midnight on July 21 HFHF volunteers were loading minivans with boxes of pre-ordered books so that hospitalized and immuno-suppressed kids could join in the frenzy of the release. 
We didn’t just give out books – 450 of them to be exact — we gave a party. Four actually. One at each of our partner hospitals: Georgetown University Hospital in Washington, DC; Hackensack University Medical Center in New Jersey and University of Minnesota Children’s Hospital in Minneapolis; and thanks to Hannah Low and her family and friends, we held a party at St. Louis Children’s Hospital in Missouri. There were Potter capes, and glasses, and Bertie Botts’ beans, and a few hours for children to forget they were in the hospital. Hope for Henry’s Harry Potter parties received national media attention in The Washington Post, ABC.com, CNN and on numerous local television stations. Watch a YouTube montage of our media attention.
Halloween – What Better Time to Wear a Cape
On October 31, thanks to Hope for Henry, hospital corridors were filled with little superheroes, princesses, witches and fairies trick or treating for candies and toys. For those too ill to leave their hospital rooms, we delivered the treats to their door, ensuring that these children did not miss out on one of the most wonderful days of the year.
Teens Deserve to Smile Too
Teenagers often get lost in the world of the hospital – too old for childish distractions, too young to soldier on like adults. Hope for Henry provides teen patients at Hackensack University Medical Center with dozens of their favorite magazines from Seventeen to Car and Driver, National Geographic and Sports Illustrated. At University of Minnesota Children’s Hospital, Hope for Henry outfitted the teen room with a hockey table, flat screen TV, guitar tuner, X-box and games, lunch program and more, all for the teenage patients who don't get much solace from teddy bears.
Hope for Henry Has Delivered More than 500 Gifts to Hospitalized Children
This month, Hope for Henry delivered its 565th electronic gift – a new PlayStation Portable (PSP) with a selection of games - to Cody who recently relapsed with neuroblastoma. Thanks to Hope for Henry, children undergoing bone marrow transplants, chemotherapy and other life saving procedures now are enjoying their very own video iPods, XM satellite radios, digital cameras, portable DVD players, and PSP players. While they are preparing for surgery, getting blood transfusions or waiting for their doctor’s appointments, they are listening to their favorite music, watching movies and taking photographs to share with friends and family. Recently a little girl named Kate wrote, “I was soo excited to receive the gift of the iPod! It was exactly what I have wanted ever since it came out. I have filled it up already and I use it all of the time. It is perfect to have with me during my long appointment days. It is actually great for anytime since my mobility is very limited and I play it all the time!” Like Cody and Kate, each and every patient treated in the hematology/oncology services at Georgetown University Hospital in Washington, DC; Hackensack University Medical Center in New Jersey and University of Minnesota Children’s Hospital in Minneapolis get to choose their favorite gift of entertainment.
Kids Champion the Cause
Kids around the country continue to help other children by donating their hearts, time and money to Hope for Henry. Here are some examples of the power of one child to make a difference:
Michael Cherner organized and hosted Hope for Henry’s first Game Day at Georgetown Hospital. Featuring Bingo, Uno, Connect Four and smile upon smile, Game Day attracted dozens of patients and siblings, each of whom left with a brand new board games and a party bag filled with Mad Libs, Sodoku, crossword puzzles, playing cards and other treats.
Emily Shoyer created and delivered more than 200 Emily’s Dream Duffles filled with games, arts & crafts, toys and toiletries for children facing overnight stays in hospitals across the country.
Alex Gelb collected hundreds of superhero action figures at his bar mitzvah which he will distribute at our 2008 Superhero Celebration.
Natalie Goodman organized a lemonade and cookies sale, raising more than $100 for Hope for Henry.
Hannah Low organized and hosted the Harry Potter party for 50 hematology/oncology patients at St. Louis Children's Hospital.
Sonia Robiner donated a portion of her bat mitzvah money to help bring smiles to the faces of ill children.
Jacobs Music Company Hosts Piano Performathons Throughout Pennsylvania and New Jersey
Jacobs Music Company hosted piano perform-a-thons throughout the states of New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Young pianists raised more than $15,000 by soliciting pledges and then playing piano – beautifully we might add – on Steinway art case pianos designed by Steuben, Dale Chihuly and others.
Buy a Radio, Help a Hospitalized Child
XM Satellite Radio donated a portion of every radio sold at the Consumer Electronics Show in Vegas. Over the past three years, this program has raised $27,825 for HFHF.
Patients and Families Are Treated to Box Seats at Verizon Center
Thanks to The McGinn Group, this fall, several dozen patients and families from Georgetown Hospital’s pediatric Lombardi Cancer Center clinic were treated to box seats at the recent Wiggles concert and a Washington Wizards game. Because these children have compromised immune systems, they cannot attend crowded events. The privacy of the box enabled these children to have a special family outing in a safe, protected environment.
Elaine Rinaldi Ensures that Hospitalized Children Get Plenty of Treats on Halloween
In memory of her beloved son Michael, Elaine Rinaldi sponsored the Hope for Henry Halloween party at Georgetown Hospital, providing hundreds of costumes, decorations and party bags overflowing with candy, toys and games.
Attend the Hope for Henry 2008 Superhero Celebration
The Hope for Henry 2008 Superhero Celebration will feature Kenny Curtis, aka The Pacifier, XM Radio, live superheroes, superhero cartoons, a superhero video game competition, photos opportunities with your favorite superheroes and villains, caricaturists, live music and more. Come in costume. Bring your family. Donate new, unwrapped superhero-themed items for hospitalized children. Have a fantastic time!
January 27, 2008,
3:00 to 5:30 p.m.
AFI Silver Theatre –
8633 Colesville Road,
Silver Spring, Maryland
Learn more
Plan or Sponsor a Party
Hope for Henry sponsors parties at our partner hospitals throughout the year. Please contact us if you or anyone you know wants to help plan or sponsor our upcoming Hope for Henry Superhero Celebrations to take place this February, the Hope for Henry Summer Carnivals planned for June 2008, or next year’s Halloween parties.
If you are interested in sponsoring an event or volunteering, please contact Laurie Strongin at laurie@hopeforhenry.org.
Plan a Special Event to Support Hope for Henry
From lemonade stands to superhero toy drives, piano perform-a-thons and more, individuals and companies support Hope for Henry and help bring smiles to the faces of hospitalized children. If you are interested in planning or hosting an event to raise awareness and funds for Hope for Henry, please let us know.
Designate Hope for Henry as the Beneficiary of Your Special Day
Young people like Raina Weinstein, Becca and Danny Ingber, and Eliana Kanefield continue to be among our biggest supporters donating birthday, Chanukah or bar and bat mitzvah gift money to Hope for Henry. We are happy to provide you with brochures and other information that you can share with your family and friends so they can learn more about Hope for Henry as they help support our efforts.
Contribute Online
Use you credit card to make a contribution on the website www.hopeforhenry.org/help/donate.html.
For more information, please email laurie@hopeforhenry.org or call 202.277.2710.