Camping Out at Sinai

Friday, May 17, 2013

Pediatric patients at the Herman and Walter Samuelson Children’s Hospital at Sinai “camped”, hospital style, for this special Kami’s Jammies party.  Children, who are not healthy enough to actually camp in the woods, were able to experience it anyway.  The children, wearing their new pajamas from Casey Cares, gathered in the child life playroom while they “caught fireflies” in jars, made trail mix and enjoyed s’mores, some of them tasting them for the first time. 

Kami’s Jammies is one of the six programs of the Foundation.  Thus far, Casey Cares has presented the pediatric patients at Sinai with over 1200 pairs of new pajamas and Comfort Kits which are filled with information, journals, thermometers, toothbrushes, and other items these children may find useful for their hospital stay.
 

Dream Girls Delight Casey Cares Girls

Friday, May 10, 2013

Six families from the Casey Cares Foundation attended a performance of “Dream Girls” thanks to the Patricia and Arthur Modell Performing Arts Center at the Lyric.  After the show, the families met members of the cast.  Tickets to shows like these are part of the Family Festivities Program which offers families an opportunity to spend time together at sporting events, local attractions, concerts or shows with extras included like a meet and greet.  Donors of Casey Cares, like the Lyric, are instrumental in making dreams come true for these very special families. 

“The theater is a magical place where people come to be swept away,” says Sandy Richmond, President of the Modell Lyric. “It means the world to us to be able to give this gift whenever we have the opportunity to a child and their families from the Casey Cares Foundation.”
 

Grace who is fighting Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma at Sinai, six year old Reece battling lymphoma, eight year old Azaria and twelve year old Eddlyn, both on treatment for sickle cell disease, attended with their families.  Maria is three years old and on treatment for a brain tumor at Johns Hopkins Hospital.  Although she was too young to see the show, her mom and big sister got a much- needed day out together.  One year old Ariana who is battling leukemia at Children’s National Medical Center was too sick and young to attend, but her family attended which gave her siblings some much needed quality time with their parents.   

Grace’s mom writes, “I have another "whisper from Heaven" that occurred during this event! Grace is losing her hair again…so, she's back to hats.  During the meet and greet, one of the ensemble dancers saw Gracie and with the biggest grin on his face, he blurts out, ‘hey, what a cool hat. Those remind me of home; my high school colors were the same as those in your hat.’ This guy went on and on about how cool she looked. I could have kissed him!  Gracie grinned the biggest smile ever!”
 

Dance Connections Connect with Kids

Friday, May 03, 2013

A big thank you to Dance Connections Student Dance Companies which recently held a benefit concert for Casey Cares.  Dancers ages 8 – 18 performed exciting works by area choreographers.  The senior company also performed their debut of “Driven” by New York City choreographer and dancer, Elisa Clark. 

This was the first fundraiser for Ellicott City-based Dance Connections, Inc.  “Dance Connections decided to get involved when we realized that part of our Dance Connections family is involved with Casey Cares,” explains owner and lead teacher Jennifer Aversa.  “Once I took a closer look at this amazing organization, I tried to figure out how we could contribute.  Children helping children sounded like a great idea!”

 

The benefit was held at the Chesapeake Arts Center in Brooklyn Park. 

 

Children Helping Children

Wednesday, April 17, 2013

Children throughout the Baltimore area will help children with life-threatening illnesses sleep more soundly.  Children from Baltimore area Goddard Schools are holding a pajama drive from now through April 19th for the Casey Cares Foundation.  Children from 14 schools will be collecting new pajamas to give to seriously ill children for the charity’s Kami’s Jammies program. Kami’s Jammies, one of six programs of Casey Cares, provides new sleepwear and themed pajama parties to pediatric patients at area hospitals.

The Goddard School children, faculty and on-site owners will present the pajamas to the Casey Cares on Wednesday, May 1st at 10:00 a.m.
 

“We are so excited that The Goddard School® has chosen Casey Cares as their charity of choice,” said Casey Baynes, Casey Cares Founder. “We find it so incredibly humbling and meaningful when children themselves help other children who desperately need something fun, like new pajamas, to look forward to when they have to stay at the hospital for their treatment.”
 

“In our school, we’ve seen first-hand how the Casey Cares Foundation ‘Kami’s Jammies’ program benefits families,” says David O’Brien, on-site owner of The Goddard School located in Baltimore. “We’ve had families at both of our schools (4960 Mercantile Road in Baltimore and 460 Granary Road in Forest Hill) whose lives have been made just that much brighter during a difficult time.”  
 

Emma B., a graduate of The Goddard School Pre-K program, was hospitalized for two critical illnesses. “During this time,” say Shawn and Susan B., Emma’s parents, “Emma needed lots of TLC, and missed her sister, her home, her friends and her school. Through support provided by Casey Cares, Emma received new pajamas and attended a pajama party as well. You have no idea how much a new pair of pajamas and a few hours to ‘party’ helped her forget that she had been so sick or that she was still in the hospital.”
 

Casey Cares also offered Emma’s family opportunities for family outings in between hospital stays and doctor appointments. “Experiencing a child’s critical illness is stressful on the entire family. Our daughter Brynn had a difficult time as we tried to juggle work, family, and being at Emma’s bedside. The chance to do something together as simple as go to a movie, or go to the circus, is truly a gift and has helped our family to heal in more ways than one.”
 

“In the first week of our pajama collection, we’ve already collected 49 pairs of pajamas,” Amber O’Brien, on-site owner of The Goddard School located in Forest Hills. “We’re thrilled to partner with Casey Cares to make a difference to families in our community.”
 

Preschooler Evelyn W. has been on the receiving end of the Casey Cares Foundation and is excited to now collect pajamas with the rest of the children at The Goddard School located in Forest Hills. Sherri W., Evelyn’s mom, shared a letter with other parents at the preschool, “Evelyn wore the Tinkerbell gown the next time we had to stay overnight at the hospital. Then they gave us tickets to see ‘The Little Caterpillar’ puppet show, and tickets to see Disney on Ice. At Christmas we went to a special party at the Science Center.”
 

“The best part of the tickets was that they always seemed to come just when we needed a break from a difficult reality—just when our family needed an incentive to keep going.”
 

Clowning around with Arthur Jones

Wednesday, April 10, 2013

 

Five Casey Cares families had an evening they will never forget!  Ian, a nine year old on treatment for neuromuscular disease, 10 year old Juliana relapsing twice with a brain tumor, 11 year old Elijah fighting a rare kidney cancer, Scarlett, who’s 2 ½ and on treatment for leukemia, and eight year old Hunter who is battling leukemia, and their families attended a pre-show of the “Greatest Show on Earth!” Thanks to Baltimore Ravens player Arthur Jones, Cricket Wireless, Qorvis and Feld Entertainment, these families were not only guests at the circus, but before the big event, they took pictures with Arthur Jones, met some of the clowns, performers and Ringmaster, and enjoyed a catered dinner. Afterwards, they just felt like “normal” kids while joining thousands of other children eating popcorn and cotton candy and in awe while watching the circus acts. 

“Seriously ill children need a diversion from what they are going through,” stated Arthur Jones, Baltimore Ravens Defensive End.  “I’m so happy to help this worthwhile charity – and what better way than at the circus! These brave Casey Cares children are an inspiration to me.”

Feld Entertainment also generously donated 50 additional tickets for Casey Cares families to see the circus. This event is one of six programs of Casey Cares. The Family Festivities Program provides tickets for area attractions, sporting events and other activities and when possible, enhanced by something special. 
 

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