The Inside Press

Magazines serving the communities of Northern Westchester

The Inside Press

Could You Be An Elf For A Sick Child?

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Friends of Karen’s “Holiday Gifts for Kids” Puts Smiles on Sick Children’s Faces

“The most important thing that Friends of Karen provided for us was the warmest holiday of memories that our family experienced.  They sent us gifts from our children’s wish lists, allowing me to stay home with the family, baking cookies and enjoying more precious time together.”

Friends of Karen received this letter from the mother of a boy battling a brain tumor.  Every day, Friends of Karen is a lifeline for families caring for a child with cancer or another life-threatening illness, providing the emotional, financial and advocacy support (at no cost) that helps them cope with the most difficult experience imaginable.  With compassion, dedication and expertise, Friends of Karen meets the specific needs of each family – and each family member – to help free them of everyday concerns so they have more time to love.

This time of year, their “Adopt-A-Family” Holiday Gifts for Kids program provides gifts for each Friends of Karen sick child as well as his or her siblings.  “Watching the joyful expression of a child opening holiday gifts is unforgettable,” says Judith Factor, Friends of Karen’s Executive Director, “but these special moments can be so fleeting if your child is fighting for her or his life. With doctor visits, medical treatments and hospitalizations, parents don’t have the time or the mindset to shop for gifts and prepare for holiday festivities.”

The Adopt-A-Family program is a perfect opportunity to spread the holiday spirit. “Each of our children sends us their wish list,” says Factor. “Then we match each child with a kind-hearted ‘elf’ who purchases the items on their list. We send the gifts with ribbon, wrapping paper and all the trimmings to the child’s parents, to make a holiday of surprises and delight.”

“We love to put smiles on children’s faces, and our children often have little reason to smile,” says Factor. “Imagine being the reason for a child’s happiness.  What better way to celebrate the holiday spirit than by giving to a child?”

You can create those smiles: Friends of Karen needs your help to make sure there are gifts for every one of their sick children and their sisters and brothers. To help, contact Denise Tredwell at 914-617-4052 or DeniseTredwell@friendsofkaren.org  If you don’t have time to shop, you can make a donation: go to www.FriendsOfKaren.org and click on “Holiday Gifts for Children” on the right.

Friends of Karen is a registered 501(c)(3) charity and the only organization in the Tri-State area that provides a comprehensive range of services and programs to enable families caring for a child with a life-threatening illness to cope better.  Founded in 1978 and headquartered in Purdys, NY, with other offices on Long Island and in Manhattan, Friends of Karen has touched the lives of almost 12,000 children.  Charity Navigator, an independent organization that evaluates the financial responsibility and effectiveness of thousands of U.S. charities, gives Friends of Karen a 4-star rating, its highest award.  For more information about Friends of Karen, visit www.FriendsOfKaren.org or call 914-617-4040.

Rosie, The Courthouse Dog Who Made History In New York State, Passes Over To The Rainbow Bridge On November 12, 2012

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Rosie, ECAD’s beautiful Golden Retriever, who became known worldwide as “Rosie the Courthouse Dog” passed away on November 12 at the age of 13. Dale Picard, co founder and Executive Director of ECAD, Educated Canines Assisting with Disabilities, made the sad announcement about “our faithful, loving, hardworking Rose.”

“From the beginning, when she was just a pup, we knew we had something special with our own Rosa Parks who was named after the Civil Rights icon by the students at Children’s Village. She was feisty and smart. She had that knack of knowing just which child in the cafeteria was having a bad time and she would go stand next to him until he had finished his lunch. For years she spent four hours a day at Green Chimney’s in Brewster working in the speech room helping children find themselves, “Mr. Picard recalled.

It was just two years ago that Rosie came out of retirement and was dispatched to the Children’s Home in Poughkeepsie, NY, at the request of the Home’s Director, Dr. David Crenshaw. Rosie subsequently enabled one of their charges to testify in court against the man who had repeatedly abused her. Rosie was the first Assistance Dog allowed by a New York State court to accompany a witness into the witness box during testimony. In order to do this, Rosie learned to lie motionless in the confined space for an indeterminate time, using only her snout to press into the teen’s lower leg to bring calm when needed.

In addition to being a superb Therapy and Assistance Dog, Rosie was also one of ECAD’s top breeders giving them four litters. Her offspring are the living, breathing embodiment of ECAD’s Open Doors Program: among Rosie’s children are Hunter who is with an Autistic Child, Lilly and Compass who are Facility Dogs at Memorial Hospital in Hollywood, FL, Stutz, the Service Dog for a retired US Army Colonel who has both TBI and PTSD. and Eli, a bomb and drug sniffing specialist.  Rosie’s good looks and strong work ethic will continue forever as a number of her children are among ECAD’s top breeders.

In honor of Rosie’s life of unconditional love and hard work, ECAD has established “Rosie’s Legacy Fund” to benefit the Open Doors Program. For more information, please visit www.ECAD1.org or www.Facebook.com/ECADServiceDogs

 

For further information contact: Patricia Robert, 917-664-8092

Bet Torah Volunteers Deliver Supplies to Sandy’s Hard Hit

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Bet Torah Nursery Board Community Outreach chairs Jill Heller and Orly Denker coordinated a caravan of caring delivering two vans full of needed supplies to the UJA Hurricane Sandy Relief Collection. Nursery School families rallied and donated diapers, formula, cleaning supplie, coats, household goods, and other needed supplies for families in Long Island, Staten Island, and the Rockaways.

The Chappaqua Challenge at the Chappaqua Library

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The Chappaqua Library has begun registering for the Chappaqua Challenge. This highly popular, low-key reading program has been an annual event since 1983. Fourth, fifth and sixth graders form teams of 3-4 people, take four months to read from a list of twelve selected books, and write questions about one of the books. During the actual Challenge, which will take place on March 16th, 2013 at 2 p.m., the teams will quiz each other. No score is kept and there are no winners or losers. Each participant will earn a gift certificate to a local bookstore, and there’s a party immediately afterwards.

Space is limited, so those interested in participating should register as soon as possible. Please see our website, www.chappaqualibrary.org, or call the Children’s Room of the Chappaqua Library at (914) 238-4779, ext. 3, for more information.