Newsletter
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June 2011 Newsletter
As the school year comes to a close and the sun shines brighter and longer, there is much to celebrate. Our long-time partner Georgetown Cupcake and TLC have teamed up to help make your day even sweeter with their brand new, fresh-out-of-the-oven Hope for Henry dozen featuring Georgetown Cupcake's famous Lava Fudge, Red Velvet, Chocolate Squared, and Vanilla Birthday cupcakes.
Eat something sweet; help bring smiles and laughter into the lives of some very special children. It's that simple. TLC and Georgetown Cupcake will donate $30 to Hope for Henry from each exclusive dozen cupcakes with Hope for Henry's signature superheroes. Order yours today!
Hope for Henry's newest program is bringing great authors and great books to hundreds of hospitalized children. This spring, we launched Hope for Henry Reads, featuring a reading and book signing by laugh-out-loud funny Katy Kelly, award-winning author of the "Melonhead" and "Lucy Rose" book series. It was wonderful to see all the kids laughing and having a great time.Laughter is the best medicine, so we were back at the hospital last week with Erica Perl, author of the hilarious "Chicken Butt!," "Chicken Butt's Back!" and "Dotty". Just this week, Mary Quattlebaum (a.k.a. "Capt'n Q") and her sidekick Crab Claw wowed the kids at Children's National Medical Center with "Pirate vs Pirate". Here is what Erica had to say about Hope for Henry Reads. Check out Hope for Henry's Facebook page to see pictures of these – and all of Hope for Henry's – events.
From making and selling colorful duct tape wallets, to rocking out at band showcases, to collecting and donating hundreds of brand-new children's books, kids all over the Washington, DC area are donating their time, skills and money to Hope for Henry so we can make life better for kids fighting cancer and other serious illnesses. Learn how your child can support Hope for Henry.
To make a tax deductible contribution online today, please visit www.hopeforhenry.org or send a check to Hope for Henry Foundation, P.O. Box 39133, Washington, DC 20016.
Hope for Henry's Summer Carnival, generously sponsored by Tracy's Kids, will take place at Georgetown University Hospital's Lombardi Cancer Center on July 13.Hope for Henry Reads Presents Mary Quattlebaum, author of "Pirate vs. Pirate" at Children's National Medical Center at Georgetown University Hospital's Lombardi Cancer Center later this summer.
- Visit Hope for Henry's website at www.hopeforhenry.org
- Visit Hope for Henry's Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Hope-for-Henry/178834538182
- Email laurie@hopeforhenry.org
Summer is Off to a Sweet Start Hope for Henry Reads Proves that Laughter is the Best Medicine Kids Do the Most Amazing Things Help Us Help More Kids For More Information 
TO DATE, HOPE FOR HENRY HAS:• Given more than 900 seriously ill children brand-new, high-end portable electronics.
• Hosted Superhero Celebrations, Summer Carnivals, Birthday Parties and Halloween Parties for more than 4,000 children.
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March 2011 Newsletter
When we get recognition for Hope for Henry's good work in the community it gives us an opportunity to spread the word to a whole new group of potential supporters. And sometimes it is also something really fun. This is one of those times.
In our home town of Washington, DC, we've been nominated for a terrific honor as part of a promotion with the Washington Capitals hockey team. It is a competition to recognize "Community Superstars," so we need everyone to vote. Since each game is a sellout, if we win we'll have a chance to introduce Hope for Henry to almost 19,000 people. The polls close on Wednesday so it is critical that you vote today. Share on Facebook. Help spread the word.
Thanks to your support, Hope for Henry's program keeps growing and getting more exciting. We've hosted a lot of fun and fabulous birthday parties, summer carnivals, superhero celebrations and Halloween parties for thousands of hospitalized children. We've given hundreds of cancer patients brand new iPods, DVD players, cameras and PSP players to provide much-needed distractions from painful procedures and feelings of isolation and fear. Now we are delivering the magic and excitement of a good book.This month Hope for Henry Reads will host its first (of many!) in-hospital book readings and signings. Katy Kelly, the author of beloved children's book series, Lucy Rose and Melonhead, is visiting Georgetown University Hospital's Lombardi Cancer Center to read from her books and to sign them for the kids. Anticipation is high. We're working on getting more authors booked — if you personally know any children's books authors, please let us know. In addition to readings, Hope for Henry is providing hundreds of brand new books to inpatients and clinic patients alike at our partner hospitals. For those of you who want to support this new program, we are accepting donations of new books for children of all ages. Please contact laurie@hopeforhenry.org to get involved.
On Wednesday, April 13, from 6-9 p.m. at the J. Crew store at The Shops at Georgetown Park in Washington, DC, Georgetown Cupcake Founders and TLC reality show stars Katherine Kallinis and Sophie LaMontagne are hosting a special event to benefit Hope for Henry.The store will be closed to the public and all our guests receive a 15% discount on their clothing purchases while 10% of all sales are donated to Hope for Henry. Of course cupcakes will be served. RSVP today to Julie@hopeforhenry.org if you want to attend. Bring friends! Have fun! Be stylish!
We spend a lot of time telling you how important your support is, and how it helps kids at their most vulnerable, challenged and sad. You've heard from us and we've shared some of the thoughtful and heartbreaking thanks we get from the kids themselves.
This time we thought we'd let a guest, a Hope for Henry board member, tell you about her experience at this week's Hope for Henry Superhero Celebration at Children's National Medical Center.
From: Friend of H4H
Sent: Tuesday, March 22, 2011 4:13 PM
To: Laurie Strongin
Subject: Party at Children's Hospital Today
Hey Laurie,The party today at Children's Hospital was amazing - really felt better today than ever about all that H4H does. There were so many kids and they so appreciated everything we did for them. Photo booth, face painters, caricaturists and Batman and Wonder Woman - all amazing.
A couple kids really impressed me – one, a 6th grade boy, really touched home. His mom said he spent his birthday back in January at Children's and was really sad about that...until the H4H birthday box showed up. Boy, were they thrilled!! Another was a young boy – they have stopped all treatment – no hope in sight, but his parents and little brother all came and had a great time.
You really touched a lot of kids and their parents today. I am honored to be a part of it all.
To make a tax deductible contribution online today, please visit www.hopeforhenry.org or send a check to Hope for Henry Foundation, P.O. Box 39133, Washington, DC 20016.
Vote for Hope for Henry Today! Hope for Henry Reads For the Fashionable Among Us We Are All Superstars Help Us Help More Kids 
TO DATE, HOPE FOR HENRY HAS:
• Given more than 900 seriously ill children brand-new, high-end portable electronics.
• Hosted Superhero Celebrations, Summer Carnivals, Birthday Parties and Halloween Parties for more than 4,000 children.
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September 2010 Newsletter
This summer has been the busiest ever for Hope for Henry. We hosted summer carnivals at Georgetown University Hospital in Washington, DC and Hackensack University Medical Center in New Jersey; brought the power of superheroes to kids at Children’s National Medical Center in Washington, DC and Sinai Hospital of Baltimore; and hosted our 150th Hope for Henry birthday celebration to ensure another hospitalized child had a special celebration on his special day.
This fall, there are three ways for you to have a great time while helping to bring smiles to the faces of pediatric patients fighting cancer and other life-threatening illnesses.
1) Buy tickets online right now to the "Passport to Style" fundraiser on Thursday, September 23, at the Shops at Wisconsin Place.
2) Save the date for our 1st annual benefit concert, Hope for Henry Rocks, on Saturday, November 13.
3) Save the date for the 5th annual Hope for Henry Superhero Celebration on Sunday, December 12.Please plan to join us at one, two or three of our upcoming events. Your support is what makes all this merry-making possible.
On behalf of Hope for Henry’s Board of Directors, thank you,
Laurie Strongin
Founder and Executive Director
Come to The Shops at Wisconsin Place in Friendship Heights on Thursday, September 23, 2010 from 5 – 8 pm for a night of fashion, fun, friends and philanthropy to benefit Hope for Henry. A $20 ticket provides you with an evening of wine, delectable treats, a swag bag, in-store promotions and more. To purchase tickets, please click on this link and select Hope for Henry as your charitable beneficiary.
This fall, Hope for Henry will hold its first annual benefit concert featuring the phenomenally-talented singer songwriter Todd Snider. This intimate, private event will be held on Saturday, November 13 at the Rock & Roll Hotel, one of DC’s hottest clubs, located at 1353 H Street, NE. Save the date and tell your friends. Ticket information is coming soon. Also, a limited number of presenting sponsorships are now available. Please contact Hope for Henry Executive Director Laurie Strongin at laurie@hopeforhenry.org or 202.277.2710 for more information.
Hope for Henry will hold yet another family-friendly event of heroic proportions at Imagination Stage in Bethesda, Maryland. On Sunday, December 12, from 6 – 8 pm, bring your kids, your friends and your friends’ kids to meet Batman, take photos with your favorite heroes and villains, and watch superhero-themed cartoons. Stay tuned for your invitation and our always highly-anticipated announcement of who will be this year’s main stage show-stopping entertainer.
Mark a special occasion like a birthday, anniversary or holiday with a contribution to Hope for Henry in someone's honor. Checks can be sent to Hope for Henry, PO Box 39133, Washington, DC 20016.
- Sponsor a birthday party for $140.
- Buy an electronic gift for one of the children for $250.
- Host a Hope for Henry Superhero Celebration or Summer Carnival for $2,500+.
- Or give any amount because every dollar makes a difference.
TO DATE, HOPE FOR HENRY HAS:• Given more than 900 seriously ill children brand-new, high-end portable electronics.
• Hosted Superhero Celebrations, Summer Carnivals, Birthday Parties and Halloween Parties for more than 4,000 children.
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May 2009 Newsletter
Actress Lena Olin and Celebrity Jewelry Designer Mauri Pioppo Collaborate to Benefit Hope for Henry
Tonight at 7:00 p.m. bidding begins online for a stunning gold necklace that Academy Award Nominee Lena Olin and Mauri Pioppo (of LoveLetters fame) designed together to benefit Hope for Henry. This necklace is part of a collection of celebrity-designed "Leaves of Change" creations – the sale of which benefits the charity of their choice. Lena chose to support Hope for Henry and improve the lives of children with life-threatening illnesses. This is the ideal gift for someone you love, think Mother’s Day, or a wonderful way to treat yourself.
Live bidding begins at 7:00 p.m. Please note that you must register to participate in the bidding.
Latest Superhero Party Wows Kids
Zap! Pow! Hope for Henry just brought its annual Superhero Celebrations to hundreds of patients at Georgetown Hospital in Washington, DC, and University of Minnesota Children’s Hospital in Minneapolis. Take a look at the video and see how your support brings smiles and joy to the kids and families who need it most.To view a larger version of this video from Georetwon Hospital, please click here.
There is no better spokespeople for Hope for Henry than the kids we serve everyday. As you can read in their letters, being in the hospital for weeks and months is scary and isolating. Parties like our recent superhero celebrations and gifts like iPods fill downtime with excitement, and provide critical distractions from the fear and loneliness of long hospital stays.
More Hope for Henry Inspired Creations
Like mother, like daughter. Young Mireille Pioppo created a symbolic and beautiful pendant that makes a difference. This powerful piece is perfect for any age.
For those who live in the Washington, DC area, the Bethesda-based store Amethyst is selling Mireille’s Live Well, Laugh Hard pendant, as well as other Mauri Pioppo creations. Throughout the month of May, proceeds from the sale at Amethyst will benefit Hope for Henry.
Mireille’s piece is also available online.
The Good Earth® tea and coffee company is giving away $10K to individuals and $10K to the charity of their choice. Visit www.goodearthgiveaway.com and register to win and designate Hope for Henry as your charity beneficiary. Good luck. Join the new Hope for Henry Facebook Cause
Visit Goodspark.org. Create an account and start being an online philanthropist by designating Hope for Henry as your charity.
Mark a special occasion like a birthday, anniversary or holiday with a contribution to Hope for Henry in someone's honor. Checks can be sent to Hope for Henry, PO Box 39133, Washington, DC 20016.
- Sponsor a birthday party for $140.
- Buy an electronic gift for one of the children for $250.
- Host a Hope for Henry Superhero Celebration or Summer Carnival for $2,500+.
- Or give any amount because every dollar makes a difference.
Bid online for Mauri Pioppo and Lena Olin's custom necklage Latest Superhero Party Wows Kids Why We Do What We Do More Hope for Henry Inspired Creations What Can I Do to Help? 
Check out the Hope for Henry blog >
TO DATE, HOPE FOR HENRY HAS:
• Given more than 800 seriously ill children brand-new, high-end portable electronics.
• Hosted Superhero Celebrations, Summer Carnivals, Birthday Parties and Halloween Parties for more than 3,000 children. -
December 2008 Newsletter
The Difference You Make
Just a last week, Hope for Henry gave a little girl who just found out she has cancer a brand new video iPod filled with Nickelodeon and Disney movies. Now she’s so busy watching the Jonas Bros. and Hannah Montana that she barely notices when she has to get a blood transfusion.These gifts and Hope for Henry’s popular events do much more than simply bring smiles to the faces of these special, deserving children. They provide distraction from pain and fear. They break up the tedium and loneliness that are part of long hospital stays. Also, smiles and laughter reduce stress and improve immune function.
Each time you donate a movie or iPod or money to Hope for Henry, you are delivering smiles and contributing to good medical outcomes. For that and so much more, we are so grateful.
Wishing you a happy and healthy holiday season,
Laurie Strongin
Executive Director
‘Tis the Season of Giving. What Can I Do?As the year comes to a close and you are deciding which charities to support with your dollars and your time, please consider Hope for Henry. Here are some ideas of what you and your family can do.
We provide themed (think: princesses, Spongebob, etc.) birthday parties for kids spending their special day in a hospital bed. Collect and donate new birthday party supplies including themed plates, napkins, cups, hats and blowers; goody bag contents and decorations; and unused, unwrapped birthday gifts for children of all ages.- Plans are already underway for Hope for Henry Superhero Celebrations in February 2009 at hospitals around the country. Collect and donate
new DVDs, birthday partiy supplies, and superhero toys to be distributed at these parties, or volunteer to help in Washington, DC, Hackensack, NJ and Minneapolis, MN. - We need more donors to know about us so we can help more kids. Host a reception at your home, show the Hope for Henry video and introduce Hope for Henry to your circle of friends.
- Encourage your company to sponsor a Hope for Henry event at a local hospital.
Mark a special occasion like a birthday, anniversary or holiday with a contribution to Hope for Henry in someone's honor. Or buy a Hope for Henry necklace to give as a gift.- Send a check or make a donation online today so we can continue to bring laughter and smiles to children with life-threatening illnesses.
- Sponsor a birthday party for $140.
- Buy an electronic gift for one of the children for $250.
- Host a Hope for Henry Superhero Celebration or Summer Carnival for $2,500+.
- Or give any amount because every dollar makes a difference.
The Difference You Make 'Tis the Season of Giving A Year in Photos Business Bring Smiles to Hospitalized Kids Kids Join Hope for Henry to Help Ill Kids Check out the Hope for Henry blog >
Take a look at your investment in Hope for Henry. You and your family should feel good about all those smiles.
One of the wonderful things about the holiday season is that it brings out the hope and generosity in others. Hundreds attended the recent Hope for Henry Superhero Celebration where individuals donated more than $25,000 to support Hope for Henry’s work.Meanwhile, Hope for Henry is benefitting tremendously from the support of corporate partners who make Hope for Henry a beneficiary of their holiday giving or share their holiday celebrations with hospitalized kids and families:
AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals hosted the 2008 Hope for Henry WinterWonderland holiday party where more than 100 patients and familieswere treated to Christmas movie classics like Frosty the Snowman; tookphotos in front the National Christmas Tree in the Hope for Henry photo booth; met a real-life Sugar Plum Fairy and Toy Soldier and enjoyed over-the-top gift bags with holiday DVDs, snow globes, candy and more.
Tishman Speyer Commercial Real Estate made a generous contributionto Hope for Henry in honor of all the guests at its Washington, DC holiday party.
TMG Strategies and its employees made their annual trip to Toys R Us where they shopped ‘til they dropped and purchased dozens of PlayStationPortables and games, iPods and iTune gift cards, and portable DVD players which they generously donated to Hope for Henry.
Please contact info@hopeforhenry.org or call (202) 277-2710 if you or your company would like to support Hope for Henry.
The first week of December, we announced the first annual Hope for Henry Hero Awards. These awards honor kids who have done extraordinary things for other children through Hope for Henry. Together this inaugural group of awardees contributes tens of thousands of dollars of in-kind and financial contributions to enable us to do even more to improve the lives of seriously ill children. This year’s awardees, who did everything from collecting new superhero toys at their schools; to creating original jewelry whose sales benefit Hope for Henry; to donating their own hard-earned money, include:Michael and Rachel Cherner (London, UK)
Natalie Goodman (Washington, DC)
Simon Imbot (Chevy Chase, MD)
Alex Istaphanous (Rockville, MD)
Jake Mintz (Chevy Chase, MD)
Ari Moskowitz (Washington, DC)
Mireille Pioppo (Mt. Kisco, New York)
Emily Shoyer (Chevy Chase, MD)Each month, more and more children contact us to see how they can help bring smiles to the faces of other children. If you or your children are interested in helping ill children to live well and laugh hard, please contact us at laurie@hopeforhenry.org or 202.277.2710.
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December 2007 Newsletter
December 2007 
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. 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.
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.On behalf of the board of directors and the families and children we serve, thank you.
With warm regards,
Laurie Strongin
President and Founder, Hope for Henry
Welcome Hope for Henry in Action Updates and Highlights How You Can Help 
Hope for Henry Annual Superhero Celebration
January 27, 2008
3:00 to 5:30 p.m.
AFI Silver Theatre
8633 Colesville Road
Silver Spring, MarylandLook for your invitation in the mail. And join Batman, Wonder Woman, Superman and the rest of us as we celebrate the power of superheroes while helping the children who need them most.
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, MarylandPlan 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.
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September 2006 Newsletter
September 2006 
Each day in Hope for Henry’s mailbox, I find notes and letters from the kids and families we have served and am reminded how simple, yet how important, what we are doing is.Thanks to all of you, there are hundreds of smiling children in bone marrow transplant centers and hematology and oncology clinics from Washington, DC to Minneapolis, Baltimore and Hackensack, New Jersey.
But this work is not simply about bringing smiles to the faces of these young patients.
It also contributes positively to patient recovery. Parents, doctors, nurses and child life specialists are all telling us how Hope for Henry’s gifts and programs reduce the stress associated with hospital visits, provide distraction from painful procedures, fill down time with fun, and turn sadness into hope.
As you read this newsletter you will see for yourself the incredible impact that Hope for Henry is having because of your generous support.
On behalf of our board of directors and all the children and families we serve, thank you.
With warm regards,
Laurie Strongin
President, Hope for Henry Foundation
Welcome Update and Highlights Hope for Henry in Action Meet Josephine Spotlight on Our Partners How You Can Help 
Whole Foods Market in Glover Park Presents Hope for Henry 5% Day on September 14, 2006. Stock up, indulge yourself and bring laughter and smiles to kids with life-threatening illnesses.
Find Out More
Thanks to Hope for Henry, more than 400 children undergoing bone marrow transplants, chemotherapy and other life saving procedures now are enjoying their very own iPods, XM satellite radios, digital cameras, portable DVD players, and Game Boy and PSP players. While they are preparing for surgery, getting blood transfusions or waiting for their doctor’s appointments, they are listening to music, watching movies and sending photographs to friends and family. Comments like, “Thank you so much, it is all I ever wanted,” and “I was sooooo excited to get my own iPod. It is perfect to have with me during my long appointments,” and “I love it, it made my day” are just a few of those that demonstrate the powerful impact these gifts have on these young patients.- In May 2006, Hope for Henry launched a program at the internationally-renowned Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, MD. Within hours of our arrival, children were watching new movies, emailing digital photos to their friends and families, and rocking out to music on their new iPods and XM Satellite radios.
Thanks to the generosity of piano retailer Jacobs Music Company, Hope for Henry is now in the business of spreading smiles and hope through the gift of musical instruments. This spring, Jacobs Music and a local retailer, Frank & Camille’s, joined Hope for Henry in donating a new state-of-the-art digital piano to Hackensack University Medical Center’s (HUMC) pediatric hematology/oncology clinic. HUMC’s music therapist, Suzannah Scott-Moncrieff was able to work with a patient immediately after the piano arrived. She explained, “We try to help children not be defined by their illness. Music allows access to the healthy part of an individual. It’s great entertainment, and it’s also a vital mode for self expression.” A similar donation by Jacobs Music Company and Hope for Henry Foundation was made to Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia this summer.
Supporting Hope for Henry is officially in style. Celebrity jewelry designer Mauri Pioppo (www.mauripioppo.com) debuted her new “live well laugh hard” jewelry line at a party this summer in Washington, DC where we sold more than $15,000 worth of jewelry. The necklace is available through retailers and the Hope for Henry website. Join your friends and celebrities like Kristin Cavallari, Janet Jackson and Jessica Simpson in wearing this beautiful necklace while supporting a great cause.
Aside from receiving a great gift, what’s the fastest way to put a smile on a kid’s face? A party of course. Because their immune systems are compromised, young patients undergoing bone marrow transplants or chemotherapy often can’t attend birthday parties or go to crowded public places like the movies or amusement parks. Hope for Henry recognizes the importance of bringing normalcy to these children while they are fighting to get better. Throughout the year, Hope for Henry sponsors themed parties at partner hospitals to ensure that the kids get to enjoy the pleasures of childhood.We launched this program in July 2005, by sponsoring Hope for Henry “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince” parties at hospitals from Washington, DC to Hackensack and Minneapolis. Featuring fresh-off-the-presses copies of the new books for each kid, trivia contests, chocolate covered frogs and Bertie Botts jelly beans, these parties were covered nationally by CNN, The Washington Post and The Wall Street Journal as well as on local television news and in local newspapers. Next year, when the final book in the Harry Potter series is published, we’ll be back at the hospitals celebrating its arrival by hosting another series of fabulous parties.
In October 2005, Hope for Henry Halloween parties gave the kids a chance to celebrate one of their favorite holidays by trick or treating and participating in parades throughout the hospitals. Hope for Henry delivered gift bags to kids who were too ill to leave their rooms. Expect to see a host of witches, superheroes and princesses throughout the hospitals yet again this October.
And just last month, the pediatric patients at Georgetown University Hospital’s Lombardi Cancer Center were in for a huge surprise. Thanks to the generosity of Jacobs Music Company, Hope for Henry helped the kids beat the heat with a summer carnival in the hospital courtyard. Patients and their families were treated to salt water taffy, candy buttons, popcorn and ice cream while they played more than a dozen summer carnival games including Bowler Roller, Tip the Cat and Milk Bottles. Smiles abounded as the children won prizes and made beautiful sand art and spin art creations.
This past week, Hope for Henry delivered a Summer Party to Go gift bag to each of the kids undergoing bone marrow transplants at University of Minnesota Children’s Hospital. We provided the children with bouquets of balloons, kits to decorate bird houses and make sand art creations as well as summer-themed gifts. According to the hospital’s child life professional, “The smiles here today were endless.” Next month, Hope for Henry will sponsor an end of summer party at Hackensack University Medical Center.
Josephine Perez, a 14-year-old patient at Hackensack University Medical Center, entertained a roomful of people at the clinic recently, playing professional-sounding piano renditions of such songs as “Beauty and the Beast” and the theme to the movie “Titanic.” The twist: Josephine barely knows how to play the piano. She got to experience her rock-star moment with the help of a brand-new high-tech piano donated to Hackensack’s children’s hospital by the Hope for Henry Foundation, through the generosity of Jacob’s Music Company, in Philadelphia, and local retailer Frank & Camille’s. The piano boasts many features, including an easy-to-use “follow lights” program.Having the chance to make such beautiful music really brightened Josephine’s day, her father said. Josephine who has faced some health challenges throughout her life – including an operation for a heart condition at the age of two –was diagnosed with leukemia in December. Since then, she has spent a good deal of time receiving treatments at Hackensack. She usually brings with her to the hospital the portable DVD player given to her by Hope for Henry, so she can watch her favorite movies, which include anything featuring child star Shirley Temple. “She does karaoke on the TV at home, and she loves all those kid singers,” says Josephine’s Dad, watching her play the piano. “This is really great for her.”
Beginning this spring, Jacobs Music Company has sponsored non-competitive regional piano perform-a-thons throughout Pennsylvania and New Jersey to benefit Hope for Henry. Students who raise money for the Foundation get to perform at exciting venues on Steinway & Sons Art Case Collection pianos. To date hundreds of children have participated, raising more than $10,000. The next perform-a-thon will be held on September 29-October 1 at the Trenton War Memorial in New Jersey where hundreds of children are already busy practicing for their performances and raising thousands of dollars.
- XM Satellite Radio recently donated $10,000 to Hope for Henry by sharing a percentage of its on-site sales at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. We thank Mark Blair and David Rewalt of XM for their continued support.
- Delphi Corporation has become one of our newest corporate partners by generously donating XM Satellite radios. Kids can now listen to their favorite music or tune in to their beloved baseball teams, even though they are miles and miles from home.
- Whole Foods Market in the Glover Park neighborhood of Washington, DC is holding a Hope for Henry 5% Day on September 14, 2006. Five percent of that day’s net sales will be donated to Hope for Henry.
- Fannie Mae Foundation recently awarded Hope for Henry a $5,000 grant to help underwrite our annual fall fundraising event.
Shop at Whole Foods Market in Glover Park on September 14, 2006
For Washington, DC, Maryland and Virginia residents, stock up, indulge yourself and bring laughter and smile to kids with life-threatening illnesses by shopping at Whole Foods Market in Glover Park. On September 14, 2006, Whole Foods Market at 2323 Wisconsin Avenue, NW in the Glover Park neighborhood north of Georgetown (Washington, DC), will donate 5% of all its one day sales to Hope for Henry. Stock up on cases of wine and water, delicious natural and organic foods and
beautiful flowers. Help make a kid smile.
Find out 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 Halloween parties to take place this October or our Hope for Henry Superhero party planned for February 2007, where we will provide children at partner hospitals with everything superhero, including costumes, masks, capes and related accessories; action figures and play sets; t-shirts, pajamas, watches and other clothing items; and comic books, stickers, and temporary tattoos; among other fun gifts.If you are interested in sponsoring an event or volunteering, please contact Laurie Strongin at laurie@hopeforhenry.org.
Purchase a Live Well Laugh Hard Necklace
You can purchase a beautiful silver or gold Hope for Henry “Live Well Laugh Hard” necklace, designed by celebrity jewelry designer Mauri Pioppo, a favorite of stars like Courtney Cox, Sheryl Crow and Debra Messing, direct from the Hope for Henry website.
- Plan a Special Event to Support Hope for Henry
Children and families at Gan Hayeled Nursery School in Washington, DC held an event that raised hundreds of dollars to provide Georgetown Hospital’s pediatric hematology/oncology clinic with new Nintendo Game Cubes and games like Super Smash Bros., Super Mario Baseball, Kirby Air Ride, and other favorite titles. You, too, can hold a special event to help kids feel better.
- Designate Hope for Henry as the Beneficiary of Your Special Day
Young people like Georgie Marcou, Sofia Panero, Reba Pearl, Emily Aledort and Nora Colman continue to be among our biggest supporters donating birthday, Chanukah or 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 http://www.hopeforhenry.org/help/donate.html.
To learn more about the Hope for Henry Foundation, to make a tax deductible contribution, to volunteer or to be informed of future events, please contact us at:
info@hopeforhenry.org or www.hopeforhenry.org
Hope for Henry Foundation
P.O. Box 39133
Washington, DC 20016 -
December 2005 Newsletter
December 2005 
Hope
for Henry Foundation’s first year of operations was spent bringing
smiles (and DVD players, iPods, XM Satellite Radios, Gameboys and
digital cameras) to kids with life-threatening illnesses. We set an
ambitious goal of serving 350 patients at three hospitals and have
surpassed that goal by more than 50 percent.We
knew from our experience with our own son Henry that the gifts we gave
could also reduce stress, distract the kids from pain and boredom, and
transform sadness into hope. If you look at the photos on the website
and below, you can see we were proved right. Seeing the smiles
made us want to do more, so we held Harry Potter book parties the day
the newest book was released, because wasn’t that where every child
wanted to be on July 16th? Then, on October 31, we held Halloween
parties, where hundreds of kids could be kids like everyone else. And
this holiday season hundreds of superhero toys – a fitting tribute to
Henry – will find their way into the hands of sick and hospitalized
kids.This newsletter will show you what we have
been able to do because of your support. On behalf of our board of
directors and all the children and families we serve, thank you.We hope you have a happy holiday season.
Laurie Strongin
President, Hope for Henry Foundation
Welcome What We've Done The Smiles Hope for Henry in Action In The Spotlight Our Partners How You Can Help 
- Hope
for Henry provided more than 550 children undergoing bone marrow
transplants, chemotherapy and other life-saving treatments with
portable DVD players and movies, digital cameras, iPods, XM Satellite
Radios, and Gameboys and PSP players and games. - We delivered nearly 300 new Halloween costumes -- superheroes, princesses, pirates, cowboys and angels -- to pediatric patients.
- To
ensure that the siblings of the patients we are serving are not left
out, Hope for Henry provided them with gift certificates. - Thanks
to the generosity of Jacobs Music in Philadelphia, Hope for Henry
donated a new piano to Georgetown Hospital’s pediatric oncology clinic
so the patients and their families can play and listen to music while
undergoing treatment. - We introduced another hospital partner, world-renowned Johns Hopkins Hospital of Baltimore, Maryland, into our program.
Jewish
Primary Day School of the Nation’s Capital (JPDS) conducted its annual
holiday superhero toy drive in memory of their superhero and former
classmate, Henry. More than 150 Batman, Superman, Mr. Incredible and
other toys were delivered to patients at Georgetown Hospital.- The Covington String Quartet held a benefit concert for Hope for Henry.
- Hope
for Henry Foundation President Laurie Strongin received a 2005 WJLA-TV
Toyota Tribute to Working Women Award “honoring outstanding individuals
who make our community a better place in which to live.” - Hope for Henry was profiled on CNN, NBC and Fox, and in The Washington Post and The Wall Street Journal.
When
he received his gift, he was a different kid. He was smiling and very
happy. He had been feeling very down and for a parent that is hard to
see. It’s great to see him smiling again.It felt like it was my birthday, but it wasn’t.
Hope
for Henry has been a magnificent support in helping us provide the
resources necessary to help children have many wonderful and fun
experiences while receiving treatment in the clinic. You have truly
impacted the lives of these children in an enriching and meaningful way.Kent E. Eklund
President, Fairview FoundationMinneapolis, MN
Candy
— lots and lots of it — and the chance to dress up as your favorite
superhero or villain makes Halloween one of the very best days of the
year. To ensure that illness didn’t take this special day away, Hope
for Henry Foundation provided costumes, candy and party favors for
hundreds of kids who found themselves in the hospital. From Minneapolis
to Hackensack to Washington, DC, the hospital hallways were filled with
Darth Vaders, Cinderellas and superheroes.
Four
year-old Eli was in for a surprise when he went to Georgetown hospital
for his biweekly check-up. Hooked up to an IV, Eli took his first piano
lesson. “I learned the music alphabet,” said Eli. “It’s not like the
real alphabet. It goes A, B, C, D, E, F, G and then A. Then it goes all
over again.”Eli’s piano lesson came compliments of Hope for
Henry Foundation and its partnership with Philadelphia-based Jacobs
Music Company. After learning about Hope for Henry, Bob Rinaldi, Senior
Vice President of Operations of Jacobs Music Company, donated a brand
new, state-of-the-art Yamaha digital Clavinova piano. At the Georgetown
Hospital’s Lombardi Cancer Center’s pediatric clinic, Hope for Henry
arranged for piano lessons provided by students at Catholic
University’s Benjamin T. Rome School of Music. Alex Cifelli, a music
education major, was Eli’s teacher.When asked about the highlights of his lesson, Eli said, “My favorite keys are the high ones. I bend way over to reach them.”
- Fannie
Mae Foundation provided a grant to underwrite the cost of Hope for
Henry’s annual fall hayride. This year, 120 parents and kids braved a
cold and steady rain at Butler's Orchard in rural Maryland to raise
more than $25,000. - Philadelphia-based
Jacobs Music Company and Yamaha Corporation provided Hope for Henry
with a brand new, state-of-the-art Yamaha Digital Clavinova piano and
dozens of music books. - Webb Mason, a national print management company, donated the printing of Hope for Henry’s annual hayride invitation.
- XM
Satellite Radio is again donating to the Foundation a percentage of its
on-site satellite radio sales at the upcoming 2006 Consumer Electronics
Show in Las Vegas.
- The Foundation now can take your donation by credit card on its website at http://www.hopeforhenry.org/help/contribute.html. Click on the “Donate Now” button.
- Allen
is competing to win a large screen TV to donate to the Foundation. XM
Satellite Radio, where he works, has a contest each year to see who can
get the most friends and family to buy XM for the holidays.
If
you are considering giving commercial free satellite radio as a gift
this holiday season, you can purchase at a substantial discount (there
are even free radios offered) and help the Foundation all at once.Visit http://friends.xmradio.com
and enter allen.goldberg@xmradio.com to access this special offer. Feel
free to pass this offer along to family, friends and colleagues.If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to email Allen at allen.goldberg@xmradio.com.
To
learn more about the Hope for Henry Foundation, to make a tax
deductible contribution, to volunteer or be informed of future
fundraising events, please contact us at:info@hopeforhenry.org or www.hopeforhenry.org
Hope for Henry Foundation
PO Box 39133
Washington, DC 20016 - Hope
-
August 2005 Newsletter
August 2005 
We are pleased to share the inaugural edition of the Hope for Henry Foundation's quarterly e-newsletter.As many of you know, Allen and I co-founded the Hope for Henry Foundation (HFHF) to honor our son Henry, who died from Fanconi anemia when he was seven. Henry's ability to live well and laugh hard even as he battled a terrible disease is the inspiration behind the Foundation.
The Foundation's mission is simple — to improve the day-to-day lives of children facing life threatening illnesses and spending far too much time in hospitals.
We have had a very successful first year. We have enlisted great partners and have brought smiles, laughter and hope to so many deserving patients and their families. We plan to build on our success in the coming years by expanding to more hospitals and serving more patients and their families. Your support and generosity make all of this merry-making possible. For that, we thank you,
With warm regards,
Laurie Strongin
President, Hope for Henry Foundation
Welcome What We've Done The Smiles Hope for Henry in Action Patient Profile Our Partners How You Can Help 
- Established partnerships with Georgetown University Hospital and Hackensack University Medical Center, where Henry was hospitalized on many occasions; and University of Minnesota Medical Center, Fairview, where Henry had his bone marrow transplant in July 2000.
- Provided more than 150 children undergoing bone marrow transplants, chemotherapy and other life-saving treatments with portable DVD players and movies; digital cameras; iPods; portable XM Satellite Radios; and Gameboys and PSP players and games.
- Provided Georgetown University Hospital with new computers and monitors so the kids can IM their friends, play games and surf the web while receiving blood transfusions and other treatments; set up a DVD lending library; donated a digital camera and photo printer to enable patients to create scrapbooks as part of their art therapy; and donated a digital video camera so the kids can make a movie about what it is like to be a kid with cancer.
- Provided gifts to 10 Make-a-Wish children attending the 2005 Major League Baseball All-Star Game.
- Garnered national media attention in The Washington Post, Wall Street Journal and CNN — and local coverage on Fox, ABC and NBC broadcast affiliates, and in numerous weekly newspapers.
- Raised nearly $150,000 to support this important work.
- Launched the Foundation's Web site – www.hopeforhenry.org
The photos we have taken and the feedback we have received sum up the impact HFHF is having on these children
“Wow. I can’t believe someone would give this to me. I am so lucky.”
“I never expected such a wonderful gift! I have wanted a digital camera for a long time! This was the best thing that has happened to me since my leukemia was diagnosed last August.”
“Through all (my son) has been through I could never explain how much just one smile on his face means to me and you have brought many to him.”
Of all the “cant’s” that come with being sick, “can’t do what the other kids do” is high on the list. And on July 16, what the other kids were doing was lining up at bookstores to claim their copy of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.Since hospitalized children couldn’t get to the party, the Hope for Henry Foundation brought the party to the hospital. HFHF gave 132 children at our three partner clinics their own copies of the book (or, for those who preferred, the CD) just as it was released. In Georgetown and Hackensack, the books came with a party – there were Harry Potter decorations, streamers, candy and trivia games and even a cake with a scene of Harry playing Quidditch.
And at Fairview, the books came as a surprise. They were tucked onto the dinner trays and delivered to each child on the transplant unit. Come bedtime, up and down the hallway, children were curled up with their parents and with Harry Potter, escaping into a world where magic is real.
When three-year-old Nyera isn’t in the hospital she likes to cook with her Daddy, play with playdough and watch movies. She hangs out with her little brother (call him Peanut, like Nyera does) and with her three fish and her bird (call him Bird, that’s his name.)But Nyera has been spending a lot of time at the hospital lately. She comes in for chemo treatments every three weeks and visits the clinic every Thursday. That’s why she asked the Hope for Henry Foundation for a DVD player, to make the time go faster.
From small children to big corporations, the help offered by friends of the Foundation has been overwhelming. - Toshiba Corporation has provided portable DVD players for kids being treated in Hackensack, New Jersey.
- Eight year old Aaron Katz has sold hundreds of dollars of HFHF’s Live Well and Laugh Hard wristbands in his neighborhood by bicycle.
- Retailers in Washington, DC, like Max’s Famous Ice Cream and Sullivan’s Toy Store, as well as Now and Then in Takoma Park, MD have sold hundreds of Live Well and Laugh Hard wristbands.
- JewsRock.org dedicated its website to HFHF.
- XM Satellite Radio donated a percentage of the proceeds of its on-site sales at the 2005 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas to HFHF.
- Evan Gelb, Rachel Moskowitz, Eli Robiner, Carly Machlis and others have donated Bar and Bat Mitzvah gift money to HFHF.
You can purchase HFHF wristbands and we welcome people selling them as a fundraiser.
To learn more about the Hope for Henry Foundation, to make a tax deductible contribution, to volunteer or be informed of future fundraising events, please contact us at:
info@hopeforhenry.org or www.hopeforhenry.org
Hope for Henry Foundation
PO Box 39133
Washington, DC 20016
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