Our Needs:
HopeKids provides ongoing events, activities, and a powerful, unique support community for families who have a child with cancer or another life-threatening medical condition. Each year, over 500,000 children in the U.S. are diagnosed with these conditions, and behind every diagnosis is a family whose entire world has changed.
That’s where HopeKids comes in. We surround these remarkable children and their families with the message that hope is a powerful medicine. Rather than a calendar filled with clinic appointments, chemo, and hospital stays, families can look forward to a schedule packed with free, fun experiences.
At HopeKids, we serve the entire family (mom, dad, and siblings) because we know childhood illness affects everyone. Our events are free of charge and provide a safe and accepting environment where kids who are bald, in a wheelchair, or using medical equipment aren’t stared at but feel like they belong.
What we do may seem simple, but the impact is profound. A baseball game becomes an escape. A concert becomes a chance to feel normal. And every event becomes a building block in a family’s support system. HopeKids is about more than fun. It’s about strengthening families during the hardest time of their lives.
HopeDay Program:
One of the most powerful aspects of our work is our HopeDay Program. Each week, we schedule a variety of sporting events, theater shows, concerts, museum visits or other types of fun activities for the whole family. We strive to keep kids focused on the future, looking forward to the next fun event around the corner, rather than dwelling on what they are dealing with in the present.
HopeCommunity Program:
These smaller, more intimate gatherings such as parent date nights, book clubs, coffee chats, or private suites are designed for families to receive support and build friendships with others who truly “get it.” At a HopeCommunity event, one parent might say, “My son had leukemia,” and another might respond, “My son was just diagnosed a few weeks ago. How did you get through it?” That kind of honest, immediate connection is what makes these moments so impactful. It’s support disguised as a fun night out.
Virtual Program:
This unique programming allows families to stay connected and engaged, no matter where they are. Whether at home or in the hospital, families can join fun, interactive experiences like book clubs, magic shows, and cooking classes. The virtual program extends our community’s reach beyond each chapter, fostering connections between families nationwide. It introduces new friends who may never meet in person, but who are bonded in hope knowing they are not alone.