The Valerie Fund Blog

Our next series of blogs will feature each of the seven Valerie Fund Children's Centers located in hospitals throughout the tri-state area. With multidisciplinary teams of doctors, nurses and healthcare professionals, these centers focus on the physical, mental and emotional well-being of the 6,000 patients that are treated each year by The Valerie Fund. This care starts at the time of a patient's diagnosis to well after their treatment has ended. 

Topics: child life, social worker, Blood Disorders, pediatric, cancer, childhood cancer, sickle cell, caregivers, awareness, oncology, centers, new jersey, nonprofit

On Thursday, January 5th, Valerie Fund board members, staff, educational liaisons and parents all gathered at the Maplewood Country Club, in Maplewood, NJ to honor the 31 named scholarship recipients for the 2016 - 2017 academic year. The current or former Valerie Fund patients were chosen by members of the Valerie Fund Board Scholarship Committee based on merit, need or a combination of both. The program awarded 83 scholarships totaling $370,000, up by more than 30% from last year. 

Topics: Non-profit, education, pediatric, cancer, scholarship, scholarship program, new jersey

This past spring, The Valerie Fund Scholarship Program awarded 83 scholarships to patients from the seven Valerie Fund Centers for the 2016-2017 academic year. The total scholarship funding was over $370,000, up to more than 30% from last year. These scholarships have been made possible through the generosity of individuals and families to whom The Valerie Fund and our scholarship recipients are extremely grateful. 

Topics: Non-profit, education, pediatric, cancer, scholarship, scholarship program, new jersey

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Children who are treated at The Valerie Fund Children's Centers receive comprehensive health care. This not only includes state-of-the-art medical care, but the care of the patient's mental and emotional well-being. From diagnosis to well after treatment has ended, The Valerie Fund Center's multidisciplinary team identifies and treats the physical and emotional effects that manifest in pediatric patients. Psychological effects can include changes in attitude and behavior, breakdown in interpersonal relationships, depression and anxiety.

Topics: psychologists, psychosocial support, education, pediatric, cancer, caregivers, awareness, centers

#GivingTuesday is a social media initiative that encourages people around the world to get involved in their communities, use their talents to help others and give back. #GivingTuesday has been celebrated on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving for the last five years and follows the frenzy of Black Friday and Cyber Monday. This worldwide day of giving marks the start of the charitable season, and is a reminder to give back during the whirlwind of the holiday season. 

 

Topics: Holiday Giving, Non-profit, Charity, childhood cancer, awareness, community events, fundraising

The 25^th Annual Thanksgiving Ball Gala is just a week away!

The Thanksgiving Ball Gala will be held at the Hilton Short Hills and has historically been an unforgettable and very successful fundraising event. This year, the live and silent auction items will include tickets to the smash Broadway musical Hamilton, a week’s stay at the Ritz-Carlton in St. Thomas, exciting autographed memorabilia and much more. Advance bidding on the silent auction items will begin Monday, November 14^th and you will be able to follow your favorites live from the Thanksgiving Ball Gala the evening of Friday, November 18^th .

The Gala has a new addition this year with four Learning Depots hosted by members of the Valerie Fund multidisciplinary team and a Valerie Fund Patient Ambassador. These Learning Depots give guests the opportunity to understand the core services and programs patients and their families receive at the Valerie Fund Children’s Centers. The team includes social workers and psychologists, Child Life specialists, Educational Liaisons, specialists in Palliative Care and Integrative Medicine and Camp Happy Times staff. Bringing The Valerie Fund Center to our guests is a unique way to recognize the 40^th Anniversary of the founding of The Valerie Fund and 40 years of caring for critically ill children and their families from our area.

Below are the profiles of our final four Ambassadors for this year’s 25^th Annual Thanksgiving Ball Gala.  

Topics: Charity, childhood cancer, survivor, events, community events

Last week, we introduced five of our Valerie Fund Ambassadors for this year's Thanksgiving Ball Gala. These Ambassadors represent the thousands of patients throughout the tri-state area that receive multidisciplinary care at our seven Valerie Fund Children's Centers. In honor of the 25^th Anniversary, here are four more of our Ambassadors participating in this year’s Annual Thanksgiving Ball Gala.

Topics: Charity, childhood cancer, survivor, events, community events

Each year The Valerie Fund chooses a group of patients to represent the organization at the annual Thanksgiving Ball Gala and their presence provides an opportunity for personal interaction with the more than 300 guests attending this premier fundraising event. These Valerie Fund patients vary in age, come from different backgrounds, have been diagnosed with different diseases and are treated at one of our seven Valerie Fund Children’s Centers located throughout the tri-state area.

The Ambassadors are united by the support and love they receive from their family, friends and a multidisciplinary team of doctors, nurses and healthcare professionals so they never feel alone during this challenging time. Five of our ambassadors for this year’s 25^th Annual Thanksgiving Ball Gala are featured below.

Topics: Charity, childhood cancer, survivor, events, community events

World Subaru presents The 3rd Annual Rook 5K Run on Sunday, September 25th. Fundraising goal of $250,000 to benefit The Valerie Fund. 

Growing company makes a great cup of coffee and is making a difference in the lives of children battling cancer and blood disorders.

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 Long Branch, N.J., August 22, 2016 - Nearly 1,500 runners have already signed up to participate in the 3rd Annual Rook Run and the field is expected to grow to over 3,000 by the time the starter gun goes off at 10:00 AM on Sunday, September 25th. More than 150 volunteers and hundreds of supporters will be on hand to watch the USATF certified 5K Run at the start and finish lines along the Long Branch boardwalk adjacent to the Great Lawn Amphitheatre, 10 Ocean Avenue. 

Topics: Blood Disorders, childhood cancer, 5k, community events, rook, rook coffee, fundraising

The genesis of a new project by Valerie Fund founders Sue and Ed Goldstein titled “The Voices that Cancer and Blood Disorders Couldn’t Silence. Where They Are Now.”  came out of the understanding that the number of personal experiences that shape patients’ futures are immeasurable. They were curious about the journey current and former Valerie Fund patients have been on since diagnosis and they believe a collection of these stories would be a thought-provoking and rewarding read.

Topics: Blood Disorders, cancer, Publication, survivor, 40 years