Friends of Karen

On March 13th, we gathered at the stunning Oheka Castle for our Friends of Karen Long Island AlwaysGold Gala: A Night at the Castle. Thanks to our incredible Gala Sponsors, Gala Committee, Long Island Advisory Board Members, and dedicated Gala leadership, the evening was a resounding success! A heartfelt thank you to our honoree, Tom Papadopoulos, our Sheila Petersen Award recipient, Janet Connolly, and our amazing gala co-chairs, Steve Connolly and Joe Romeo, for their outstanding efforts in making this magical night possible. The true highlight of the evening was our incredible spotlight child, Daenarys, and her family, who courageously shared their journey through Daenarys' cancer diagnosis. Their story reminded us why our mission is so vital — ensuring families can stay strong, hopeful, and afloat during unimaginable challenges. Thank you to everyone who played a role in this unforgettable evening. Together, we are truly making a difference. #AlwaysGoldGala #NightAtTheCastle #FriendsOfKaren #OhekaCastle

Get your Early Bird Tickets by March 21 for this year’s fun Cinco de Mayo Party! Join us on Thursday, May 1 at the Coliseum in White Plains for cocktails, dinner, raffles, dancing and entertainment by F Sharp Entertainment, all to benefit Friends of Karen’s children and their families. Your participation will help more courageous children like Mateo and families like his. No family should have to face their child’s life-threatening illness alone. Click here to purchase your Early Bird Tickets and Sponsorships. https://lnkd.in/esiR2UGz #CincoDeMayoParty #EarlyBirdTickets #ColiseumWhitePlains #FSharpEntertainment #FriendsOfKaren #ChildrensCharity #Fundraiser #SupportFamilies #CommunityEvent

The countdown to tonight's event has officially started! We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the sponsors of the Friends of Karen Long Island Night at the Castle Gala for their unwavering support in advancing our mission of aiding critically ill children and their families. Your partnership has enabled us to make a meaningful difference in the lives of those facing urgent challenges. We deeply appreciate your generosity and commitment to our cause.

?? Imagine Awards Finalist Spotlight: Friends of Karen ?? We’re thrilled to celebrate Friends of Karen, a finalist in the Cerini and Associates, LLP Social Impact Category at the Long Island Imagine Awards! For over 45 years, Friends of Karen has been a beacon of hope for families facing the unimaginable challenge of a child’s life-threatening illness. As the only organization in NY, NJ, and CT solely dedicated to supporting families from diagnosis through treatment, they provide critical emotional, financial, and advocacy support—helping families stay stable, functioning, and focused on their child’s well-being. This well-deserved recognition highlights the extraordinary impact they have on our community. Join us in celebrating Friends of Karen and all the incredible finalists at this year’s Imagine Awards! ?? ?? Tuesday, April 29, 2025 ?? Crest Hollow Country Club ?? 8325 Jericho Turnpike, Woodbury, NY 11797 ?? Cocktail Reception: 5:30pm – 6:30pm ?? Dinner & Awards: 6:30pm – 9:30pm ?? Learn more: https://lnkd.in/eZwxC4nM #ImagineAwards #FriendsOfKaren #SocialImpact #NonprofitExcellence #LIImagineAwards

Exciting news! Friends of Karen will be featured on The Kelly Clarkson Show with guest host Molly Sims. Don't miss this special episode airing on Thursday, March 13, at 3pm Eastern, on NBC. Tune in to learn more about our cause. Hear from a Friends of Karen family about how we helped them. Click here to check local listings for when and where to watch in your area.? https://lnkd.in/eF7wmybi Please share with your network so they too can learn more about the life affirming work we do. #FriendsOfKaren #KellyClarksonShow #MollySims #TuneIn #NBC #SpecialEpisode #SupportOurCause #FamilyStories #LifeAffirmingWork #LocalListings #SpreadTheWord @kellyclarksonshow @kellyclarksonshow @kellyclarksontv @kellyclarksonshow @kellyclarkson?

Exciting news! Friends of Karen will be featured on The Kelly Clarkson Show with guest host Molly Sims. Don't miss this special episode airing on Thursday, March 13, at 3pm Eastern, on NBC. Tune in to learn more about our cause. Hear from a Friends of Karen family about how we helped them. Click here to check local listings for when and where to watch in your area.? https://lnkd.in/eF7wmybi Please share with your network so they too can learn more about the life affirming work we do. #FriendsOfKaren #KellyClarksonShow #MollySims #TuneIn #NBC #SpecialEpisode #SupportOurCause #FamilyStories #LifeAffirmingWork #LocalListings #SpreadTheWord @kellyclarksonshow @kellyclarksonshow @kellyclarksontv @kellyclarksonshow @kellyclarkson?

Spring into action by helping a family buy groceries for a springtime holiday meal. Hunger is a significant problem for Friends of Karen families. Now, with the steady increase in food prices, families need your help. Your Donation of $50 or $100 in supermarket gift cards will help Friends of Karen children, and their families enjoy a special Easter, Passover or other springtime holiday meal. If you cannot shop for a gift card, we will gratefully accept a donation of any amount and we’ll purchase the gift card for you. Click here to help now. https://lnkd.in/edqe7rDs #HolidayMeal #SpringtimeSupport #FriendsOfKaren

In celebration of Woman’s History Month, Friends of Karen honors our founder, Sheila Petersen. A modest act of kindness was our beginning in 1978 when Sheila Petersen rallied the community to enable 16-year-old Karen to come home from the hospital to live her last days amid the love of her family. Sheila shared Karen’s story in the local press and established the “Friends of Karen Fund” for the contributions that poured in for Karen’s care, enough for Karen’s 24-hour care at home for the remaining 11 months of her life. After Karen died, leftover funds and memorial contributions enabled Sheila to help more children. Thanks to Sheila’s vision, today, Friends of Karen has supported more than 18,000 ill children and their siblings. Visit friendsofkaren.org to learn more. #WomensHistoryMonth #SheilaPetersen #FriendsOfKaren #KindnessMatters #ChildhoodIllness #CommunitySupport #LegacyOfLove #MemorialContributions #SupportingChildren #VisionaryLeadership?

Do you ever feel paralyzed about the right way to help a friend in crisis? Check out our Forbes article with advice from a Friends of Karen professional with 35 years of experience working with families in crisis. Share your feedback and suggest other topics you'd find helpful for us to address.

**Exciting News** Friends of Karen is a finalist in the Long Island Imagine Awards in the Social Impact category! We need YOUR help to win an additional $3,000 through the Imagine Fan Favorite Award. The nonprofit with the most votes by midnight on March 31st wins! Voting is easy & takes seconds: ? Go to https://woobox.com/xa4e8q ? Enter your name & email (info won’t be stored) ? Click Vote under our photo ? Hit Submit at the top! Vote DAILY & help us make a difference for children with life-threatening illnesses and their families! Every vote counts! Click here to vote: https://woobox.com/xa4e8q #FriendsOfKaren #VoteForFriendsOfKaren #FanFavorite2025 #NerdsthatCareFanFav #LongIslandImagineAwards #ImagineAwards #LongIslandNonprofits