The Valerie Fund Blog

Like many aspects of 2020, Camp Happy Times looked very different this year. For the first time in its 37 year history, Camp Happy Times made the jump to virtual so that the kids of The Valerie Fund could still come together, see their friends, and experience as much of the camp life as possible. 

September is National Sickle Cell Disease Awareness Month and we would like to share the stories of four truly astonishing children and young adults. They are all Valerie Fund kids and have been treated at a Valerie Fund Children's Center near them. Please read their stories and learn why The Valerie Fund is proud of its role supporting children fighting complex medical problems.

September is a very important month for The Valerie Fund. In the United States, September has been designated both National Children's Cancer Awareness Month and National Sickle Cell Awareness Month. The healthcare heroes of The Valerie Fund Children's Centers are dedicated to supporting the children who battle both pediatric cancer and blood disorders so we want to share a little bit more about these two special designations as well as what we can all do during this time to maximize the support for our kids. 

What if the largest gift you ever make to The Valerie Fund costs you absolutely nothing during your lifetime? It’s easier than you think. You simply include a designation for The Valerie Fund in your will. 

In fact, if you don’t have a will you can create a legal, confidential will for free right from this page through a partnership The Valerie Fund has with FreeWill.

By now you've probably heard that The Valerie Fund Walk & JAG-ONE Physical Therapy 5K has gone virtual for 2020. Going from in-person at Verona Park to virtual requires a lot of changes for many people but what does it mean when it comes to fundraising? Let's take a look at what a virtual event means for fundraising especially in 2020!

Dr. Heather Ginter is a Clinical Psychologist at The Valerie Fund Children's Center at the Goryeb Children's Hospital at Morristown Medical Center. She works with Valerie Fund kids every day but her job changed substantially when the COVID-19 pandemic hit. In her own words, she describes this new normal we are in and discusses some of the effects on our families. 

The staff of The Valerie Fund help raise the money that support the seven Children's Centers in hospitals across New Jersey, New York City, and metro Philadelphia. Our staff is responsible for working with donors and partners at all levels to fund the services of The Valerie Fund. Get better acquainted with some of the people you may already know and meet some of the new faces behind The Valerie Fund. 

2020 will be a year of many firsts and The Valerie Fund's Camp Happy Times will follow suit. For the first time ever, Camp Happy Times is going virtual but that doesn't mean our kids are not going to get a robust and fun-filled experience with the fellow campers and counselors they've come to love. 

The COVID-19 pandemic has presented many new challenges for the patients and families of The Valerie Fund in these past months but the staff of The Valerie Fund Children's Centers have never wavered. They are true healthcare heroes who brave the front lines of the hospitals to ensure our kids are not only receiving their regular treatment but are also supported mentally and emotionally during this incredibly difficult time. Here are some stories of our healthcare heroes and how they've been there for our kids.