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PARTIES for HOSPITALIZED Kids AND THEIR FAMILIES

Children undergoing bone marrow transplants, chemotherapy and other life saving treatment are ill for long periods of time and because their immune systems are weak, they miss out on many magical childhood celebrations from birthday parties to trick or treating, movie releases and walks on the beach in the summertime. To ensure that hospitalized children do not miss out on some of the pleasures of childhood, throughout the year, Hope for Henry sponsors theme parties at partner hospitals.

Harry Potter Book Release Parties
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 on the day the book was released to the public. 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. In July 2007, when “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows,” the final book in the Harry Potter series was published, we were back at the hospitals celebrating its arrival by hosting another series of fabulous parties.

Halloween Parties
In October 2005, Hope for Henry Halloween parties gave hospitalized kids a chance to celebrate one of their favorite holidays by giving them brand new costumes so they could trick or treat and participate in parades throughout the hospitals. From the hematology/oncology clinics to radiology and surgical waiting rooms, hundreds of princesses, witches and superheroes filled hospital corridors with cheer while collecting candy and toys. For those too ill to leave their hospital rooms, Hope for Henry delivered gift bags and Halloween cheer. The success of these parties led to similar efforts in October 2006 and 2007.

Summer Carnivals
In the summer of 2006, the pediatric patients at Georgetown University Hospital’s Lombardi Cancer Center and Hackensack University Medical Center were in for a huge surprise. Hope for Henry helped the kids beat the heat with a summer carnival where 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.  Hope for Henry delivered a Summer Party to Go gift bag to patients undergoing bone marrow transplants and other life-saving treatment 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.”

Superhero Celebrations
Most recently, Hope for Henry launched its first annual Hope for Henry Superhero Celebration where Batman, Wonder Woman and Superman flew into the hospitals to pay personal visits to the little superheroes. Photographers took pictures of the kids with their favorite superheroes and villains and caricaturists were busy sketching pictures of all the superkids present. Kids and their siblings left with party bags filled with comic books, action figures, capes, costumes and other superhero-themed toys. The next Superhero Celebration is planned for February 2008.

If you are interested in sponsoring one of these parties, please contact laurie@hopeforhenry.org.