Periwinkle Foundation

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

CAMP PERIWINKLE - SINCE 1983, THE PERIWINKLE FOUNDATION HAS PROVIDED A WEEK-LONG CAMP FOR CHILDREN WITH CANCER AND THEIR SIBLINGS. IN 2021, DUE TO COVID-19 AND FOR THE PROTECTION OF OUR CAMPERS AND VOLUNTEERS, CAMP PERIWINKLE WAS REPLACED BY A VIRTUAL CAMP, "SIMPLY CAMP PERIWINKLE," ENGAGING 146 CAMPERS ACROSS HUNDREDS OF HOMES AND HOSPITAL BEDS THROUGH LIVE AND PRE-RECORDED ACTIVITIES. FORTY-FIVE IN-PATIENT CHILDREN AT TEXAS CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL PARTICIPATED VIRTUALLY AT CAMP PERIWINKLE. CAMPERS "PLUGGED IN" EACH MORNING TO START THE DAY WITH FUN ENERGIZERS AND JOIN THE CABIN GROUP CONVERSATION. LATER, CAMPERS CONNECTED WITH STAFF AND COUNSELORS VIA ZOOM FOR ACTIVITY SESSIONS TO COMPLETE TOGETHER USING THE MATERIALS IN THEIR BOXES OR ITEMS FOUND IN THEIR HOMES. (SEE SCHEDULE O)ACTIVITIES SUCH AS MINUTE TO WIN IT (A GAME OF 60-SECOND CHALLENGES TO ACCOMPLISH SILLY TASKS), SCIENCE EXPERIMENTS, AND BINGO WERE FACILITATED USING ITEMS PROVIDED IN THE CAMP BOX, WHILE OTHER ACTIVITIES SUCH AS AN AT-HOME SCAVENGER HUNT, TALENT SHOW, AND BUILD A FORT ACTIVITIES ENGAGED CAMPERS TO EXPLORE THEIR OWN SURROUNDINGS, GIFTS, AND TALENTS TO CONNECT IN THE ACTIVITY.

CAMP YOLO - IN ITS 23RD YEAR, CAMP YOLO (YOU ONLY LIVE ONCE) ADDRESSES THE UNIQUE CHALLENGES FACED BY ADOLESCENTS LIVING WITH CANCER, RENAL, CARDIAC, RHEUMATOLOGY, OR HIV-RELATED ILLNESSES. THE SPRING AND FALL CAMP YOLO WERE BOTH HELD AS VIRTUAL CAMPS. SPRING CAMP YOLO ENGAGED 54 TEEN CAMPERS. LATER IN THE YEAR, FALL CAMP YOLO ENGAGED 32 CAMPERS. FOR BOTH CAMPS, TEENS "PLUGGED IN" EACH MORNING TO START THE DAY WITH FUN ENERGIZERS AND JOIN THE CABIN GROUP CONVERSATION. LATER, CAMPERS CONNECTED WITH STAFF AND COUNSELORS VIA ZOOM FOR ACTIVITY SESSIONS TO COMPLETE TOGETHER USING THE MATERIALS IN THEIR BOXES OR ITEMS FOUND IN THEIR HOMES. ACTIVITIES SUCH AS MINUTE TO WIN IT, ARTS & CRAFTS, AND BINGO WERE FACILITATED USING ITEMS PROVIDED IN THE CAMP BOX.

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 AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE CENTER'S COMMITMENT TO PROVIDING COMPREHENSIVE CARE IN A CHILD-CENTERED ENVIRONMENT TO MEET PATIENTS' EMOTIONAL, SOCIAL, EDUCATIONAL, AND MEDICAL NEEDS. (SEE 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.

LONG-TERM SURVIVOR IN 2021, PERIWINKLE'S LONG-TERM SURVIVOR (LTS) PROGRAM INCLUDED AN IN-PERSON WEEKEND RETREAT AND A "SOCIALS IN A BOX" PROGRAM. SIXTEEN SURVIVORS ATTEND THE LTS RETREAT IN PERSON. OVER TWENTY-FIVE, SURVIVORS WERE MAILED A "SOCIAL BOX." FOR OCTOBER, NOVEMBER, AND DECEMBER, SURVIVORS JOINED TOGETHER ON ZOOM TO SHARE EXPERIENCES, LEARN LIFE SKILLS, AND HAVE FUN ENJOYING A VARIETY OF ARTS & CRAFTS ACTIVITIES. SUMMER FAMILY GETAWAY 96 CAMPERS 25 FAMILIES FALL FAMILY GETAWAY 49 CAMPERS 12 FAMILIES