Friends of Karen Receives $75,000 Grant for Its Sibling Support Program

Purdys, NY, April 18, 2012 --(PR.com)-- Friends of Karen, a children’s charity, has received a $75,000 grant from the Insurance Industry Charitable Foundation (IICF) to expand its Sibling Support program. The program provides early and consistent support to the sisters and brothers of children who are diagnosed with cancer or another life-threatening illness. Because of the upheaval in their households caused by the sick child’s situation, the siblings often are at risk for succumbing to negative social behaviors and academic decline.

“The parents are naturally focused on the ill child, so the well child feels forgotten, confused, sad, worried,” explains Judith Factor, Friends of Karen’s Executive Director. “The goal of our Sibling Support program is to help these youngsters find ways to cope during this difficult time in their lives.”

The grant will enable Friends of Karen to add a full-time Sibling Support counselor in order to double the number of at-risk children receiving personalized attention and supportive Expressive Arts sessions.

“Parents often haven’t realized they need to explain what’s going on to the other children,” says Rhonda Ryan, Director of Family Support Services at Friends of Karen. “If the well child is prepared it decreases the anxiety and improves the relationship between parent and child. For so many of these children, this program is the only support they have through their brother’s or sister’s illness.”

That was the case with Sari, a 9-year-old whose sister has leukemia. She was struggling with all the changes in her family and described herself as being “invisible.” She never shared her thoughts with anyone, and felt guilty about being jealous of all the attention her sick sister was getting. “I sweep my feelings under the rug,” she told her Sibling Support counselor. After six months of bi-weekly meetings, however, Sari was able to express her thoughts and announced, “I’m going to have to guide my own feelings now.”

“We have been impressed and moved by the compassion and support that Friends of Karen provides to so many families every year,” says Betsy Myatt, Executive Director, Insurance Industry Charitable Foundation, New York/Northeast. “We are happy that, through our gift, Friends of Karen will be able to extend that support to the sometimes forgotten brothers and sisters of the children who are seriously ill.”

“IICF’s generous support provides the chance to help many more children,” agrees Ms. Factor. “We work with hundreds of families each month, and we know that many of the children are in need of our Sibling Support program.”

Friends of Karen is the only organization that provides emotional, financial and advocacy support to families of a child with cancer or another life-threatening illness, from diagnosis through treatment. Since 1978, they have touched the lives of over 11,800 children in the New York Metro region. With compassion, dedication and expertise, Friends of Karen helps sustain the entire family during an overwhelmingly frightening, confusing and turbulent time. As Friends of Karen founder Sheila Petersen put it, “When parents of a terminally or catastrophically ill child receive financial and emotional help, they have more time to love.”

Headquartered in Purdys, NY, with offices on Long Island and in Manhattan, Friends of Karen serves all qualified families without regard to race, religion, or national origin. For more information about our programs and how to get involved, visit www.FriendsOfKaren.org or call 914-617-4040.