Periwinkle Foundation

PERIWINKLE CAMPS & PROGRAMS ARE LIFE-ALTERING AND IMPACT HOW WELL PATIENTS BATTLE THEIR ILLNESSES.

THE MISSION OF THE PERIWINKLE ARTS IN MEDICINE (PAIM) PROGRAM AT TEXAS CHILDREN'S CANCER AND HEMATOLOGY CENTER (TCH) IS TO PROVIDE ENJOYABLE AND EDUCATIONAL ART ACTIVITIES THAT GIVE CHILDREN, YOUNG ADULTS, FAMILIES, AND CAREGIVERS AFFECTED BY PEDIATRIC CANCER AND BLOOD DISORDERS THE OPPORTUNITY FOR SELF-EXPRESSION, EMPOWERMENT, AND HEALING THROUGH THE ARTS.ESTABLISHED IN 1997, THE ARTS IN MEDICINE PROGRAM AT TCH IS INTEGRAL TO THE CENTER'S COMMITMENT TO PROVIDING COMPREHENSIVE CARE IN A CHILD-CENTERED ENVIRONMENT TO MEET PATIENTS' EMOTIONAL, SOCIAL, EDUCATIONAL, AND MEDICAL NEEDS. (CONTINUE ON SCHEDULE O)THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS WITH MORE THAN 20 LOCAL ARTISTS AND ARTS ORGANIZATIONS, PAIM CONNECTS THE COMMUNITY'S VIBRANT ARTS SCENE WITH PATIENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES WHO ARE ENDURING HOURS, IF NOT DAYS, WEEKS, OR MONTHS OF A GRUELING HOSPITAL ROUTINE TO PROVIDE DAILY OPPORTUNITIES FOR ART EXPERIENCES IN THE OUT-PATIENT CLINIC, THE IN-PATIENT UNIT AND BONE MARROW TRANSPLANT UNIT AT BEDSIDE. THROUGH EXPANDED PARTNERSHIPS, PAIM HAS BEGUN PROGRAMMING AT ALL FOUR TCH CENTERS IN TEXAS: HOUSTON MAIN CAMPUS, KATY WEST CAMPUS, THE WOODLANDS CAMPUS, AND THE VANNIE COOK CHILDREN'S CANCER CLINIC IN MCALLEN. THE PERIWINKLE ARTS IN MEDICINE PROGRAM HAD 6,026 PATIENT CONTACTS IN 2022.

LONG-TERM SURVIVOR - IN 2022, PERIWINKLE'S LONG-TERM SURVIVOR PROGRAM INCLUDED A WEEKEND RETREAT AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUNG ADULT SURVIVORS TO GET TOGETHER TO SHARE EXPERIENCES, LEARN LIFE SKILLS, AND GIVE BACK TO THE CANCER COMMUNITY. IT ALSO INCLUDED MONTHLY SOCIALS FOR CANCER SURVIVORS, PROVIDING EMOTIONAL, SOCIAL, AND PROFESSIONAL SUPPORT. TWENTY-TWO LONG TERM SURVIVORS VOLUNTEERED AS CAMP COUNSELORS IN 2022.FAMILY CAMP HELD IN APRIL / SEPTEMBER FOR HOUSTON FAMILIES AND IN NOVEMBER FOR FAMILIES AT THE VANNIE COOK CANCER CLINIC IN MCALLEN, TX, WELCOMED 19 FAMILIES WITH A NEWLY DIAGNOSED CHILD TO GET AWAY FROM THE HOSPITAL ROUTINE, FORGET ABOUT THEIR CHILD'S ILLNESS, CREATE CHERISHED FAMILY MEMORIES AND MEET OTHER FAMILIES WHO UNDERSTAND THE STRESSES THEY ARE EXPERIENCING DUE TO A CHILD'S CANCER DIAGNOSIS.PERIWINKLE DAY CAMP, AN INNER-CITY WEEK-LONG CAMP FOR PATIENTS 7-12 YEARS, WELCOMED 33 CAMPERS FOR A MAGIC WEEK OF CAMP IN THE CITY. THIS PROGRAM ALLOWS CAMPERS WHO MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN OUR OVERNIGHT CAMPS DUE TO MEDICAL NEEDS AN INCREDIBLE CAMPING EXPERIENCE.

CAMP PERIWINKLE - SINCE 1983, THE PERIWINKLE FOUNDATION, CELEBRATING ITS 40TH ANNIVERSARY, HAS PROVIDED A WEEK-LONG CAMP FOR CHILDREN WITH CANCER AND BLOOD DISORDERS AND THEIR SIBLINGS. PERIWINKLE BROUGHT 96 CAMPERS, AGES 7 TO 15, TO CAMP PERIWINKLE IN 2022. CAMPERS CAME FROM DIVERSE ETHNIC AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC BACKGROUNDS. MANY WOULD NOT HAVE THE MEANS TO ATTEND A SUMMER CAMP EVEN IF THEY WERE WELL. PERIWINKLE PROVIDES CLOTHING, BEDDING, AND TOILETRIES FOR ANY CAMPER IN NEED. SAD FACES TURNED BRIGHT IN A WEEK PACKED WITH A MONTH'S WORTH OF AMAZING EXPERIENCES. WITH THE HELP OF MORE THAN 79 ENTHUSIASTIC VOLUNTEERS, CANCER WAS FORGOTTEN, CHILDREN REALIZED THEY WERE NOT ALONE IN THEIR CIRCUMSTANCES, SIBLINGS FELT LOVED, AND PARENTS HAD AN ENTIRE WEEK TO ADDRESS THEIR EMOTIONAL HEALING.

CAMP YOLO - IN ITS 24TH YEAR, CAMP YOLO (YOU ONLY LIVE ONCE) ADDRESSES THE UNIQUE CHALLENGES FACED BY ADOLESCENTS LIVING WITH CANCER, RENAL, CARDIAC, RHEUMATOLOGY, OR HIV-RELATED ILLNESSES. WHILE MOST TEENS WORRY ABOUT HOW MANY TEXT MESSAGES THEY CAN SEND, TEENS WITH SERIOUS ILLNESSES CONFRONT GENUINE LIFE-AND-DEATH ISSUES AND SEEMINGLY UNENDING HOSPITAL ROUTINES. FOR TWO WEEKENDS EACH YEAR, THESE YOUNG PEOPLE HAVE A CHANCE TO REJUVENATE WITH OTHERS WHO UNDERSTAND THEIR STRUGGLES, ANXIETIES, AND FEARS. CAMPERS LEARN TEAMWORK AND LEADERSHIP SKILLS, AND BY THE END OF A FUN-PACKED AND EMOTION-FILLED WEEKEND, THEY LEAVE KNOWING THEY ARE NOT ALONE AND HAVE WHAT IT TAKES TO KEEP FIGHTING THEIR ILLNESS. (CONTINUE ON SCHEDULE O)OVER 116 CAMPERS ATTENDED THE APRIL/SEPTEMBER CAMP SESSIONS, ALONG WITH APPROXIMATELY 60 DEDICATED VOLUNTEERS EACH SESSION.