Sofias Hope

SOFIA'S HOPE WAS INSPIRED BY THE LIFE AND DEATH OF SOFIA BLANCO AT THE AGE OF THIRTEEN. AND IT IS BECAUSE OF HER AND THE OVER 17,000 CHILDREN IN THE U.S. DIAGNOSED EVERY YEAR WITH CANCER THAT WE WILL FIGHT CANCER BY: INCREASING AWARENESS OF CHILDHOOD CANCER, AND SPECIFICALLY THAT WHILE MORE CHILDREN ARE SURVIVING THEIR DIAGNOSIS, 95% OF THEM ARE FACING A SIGNIFICANT SIDE EFFECT BY THE TIME THEY ARE 45 YEARS OLD; PROVIDING PROGRAMS FOR PATIENTS AND FAMILIES CURRENTLY IN THE JOURNEY; AND FUNDING RESEARCH IN THE AREA OF PEDIATRIC CARDIO-ONCOLOGY WHICH STUDIES THE EFFECTS OF TREATMENTS ON THESE CHILDREN'S HEARTS.

TREASURED MOMENTS: THIS PROGRAM IS MADE UP OF THE SIMPLE THINGS WHICH MAY BE OVERLOOKED BY MANY, BUT WHICH MEAN SO MUCH TO THOSE ON THE RECEIVING END. IT IS PROVIDING CLINICS WITH LOLLIPOPS, TISSUE BOXES AND FUN BAND-AIDS. SMALL THINGS THAT HELP PATIENTS AND THEIR PARENTS DEAL WITH THE ANXIETY AND FEAR OF GETTING PRICKED ONCE MORE, WONDERING WHETHER THEIR CHILD'S COUNTS ARE GOOD ENOUGH FOR TREATMENT, ETC. IT'S THE TOYS FOR THE TREASURE CHEST WHERE PATIENTS CAN CHOOSE A TOY OF THEIR LIKING AFTER HAVING THEIR PORT ACCESSED OR ANY OTHER IN-OFFICE PROCEDURE. IT IS END OF TREATMENT AND BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS, HOTEL STAYS AND MINI WISHES LIKE FAMILY TRIPS TO SPORTS GAMES, DANCE CLASSES FOR TEEN PATIENT WHO LOVES BALLET, ETC. PROGRAM ALSO INCLUDES ANNUAL HOLIDAY DISTRIBUTION OF TARGET GIFT CARDS AS WELL AS THE PROVISION OF GROCERY, GAS, TRANSPORTATION, AMAZON, ETC. GIFT CARDS FOR FAMILIES FACING FINANCIAL HARDSHIP AS WELL AS THE DISTRIBUTION OF BALD AMERICAN GIRL DOLLS AND BUILD-A-BEAR EMOTIONAL SUPPORT TEDDY BEARS.

RESEARCH GRANT: FUND PEDIATRIC CANCER RESEARCH AND ADVANCES IN TREATMENT, ESPECIALLY AS IT RELATES TO THEIR LONG-TERM EFFECTS (INCLUDING PREVENTION, DETECTION, AND TREATMENT). $55,000 IN GRANTS GIVEN TO UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK, TO HELP FUND RESEARCH IN PEDIATRIC CARDIO-ONCOLOGY.

ART PROGRAM: THE FOCUS OF OUR ART PROGRAMS IS TO PROVIDE DISTRACTION THERAPY SO THAT TIME MOVES A LITTLE FASTER FOR THESE AMAZING WARRIORS. AS SUCH, WE PROVIDE PROJECT KITS WHICH PATIENTS CAN DO WHEREVER THEY ARE AS ALL MATERIALS AND INSTRUCTIONS ARE INCLUDED. WE HAVE PARTNERED WITH NAILED IT DIY WHO PROVIDES THESE KITS ON A MONTHLY BASIS SO WE CAN DISTRIBUTE TO CHILD LIFE SPECIALISTS AT NICKLAUS, HOLTZ, JOE DIMAGGIO, PALM BEACH, THE SALAH FOUNDATION CHILDREN'S HOSPITALS AS WELL AS TO THE MIAMI CANCER INSTITUTE (MCI) AT BAPTIST HEALTH AND UM/ALEX'S PLACE. PROGRAM ALSO INCLUDES IN-PERSON VISITS BY OUR PARTNERS CLAYWORLD STUDIO AND NAILED IT DIY ON A MONTHLY OR BI-MONTHLY BASIS. WE ALSO PROVIDE VIRTUAL AND IN-PERSON ART THERAPY SESSIONS BY A LICENSED CREATIVE ARTS THERAPIST AND CERTIFIED CHILD LIFE SPECIALIST. WE BELIEVE THE TIME THESE CHILDREN SPEND WITH EACH ARTIST AND/OR PROJECT EASES THEIR SUFFERING IF EVEN FOR A LITTLE WHILE. FOR ONE TO TWO HOURS, THEY CAN ALMOST FORGET WHERE THEY ARE AND WHY THEY ARE THERE.