With your help

Friends of Karen is a lifeline of support for families in the NY Tri-State area.

Since 1978, Friends of Karen has guided families caring for a child with a life threatening illness through their difficult journey. We have helped families navigate the emotional and financial confusion that lies ahead.

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What's New

A MOTHER’S STORY: Finding Help and Understanding

Finest is a 20-year-old college student being treated for a recurrence of Synovial Sarcoma, a soft tissue tumor, that first occurred when he was 15 years old. His mother Melissa was interviewed about how Friends of Karen has helped her, Finest and his 18-year-old brother Malik.

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Sibling Spotlight

SIBLING SUPPORT: Unmasking the Power of Self-Expression

The little children and teens that Friends of Karen Sibling Support Program professionals work with are carrying some big feelings. How can they not? They are experiencing unimaginable stress, change and worry. Those feelings are hard to talk about, but Friends of Karen’s four licensed creative arts therapists and child life specialists know from experience feelings will only grow if

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EVENTS

79¢

of every dollar supports children and families

18,311

children helped since our founding in 1978

32%

below poverty line family income

322

Families Supported in April

BECAUSE OF YOU!

Mamma Rosa Italian Dinner Party Fundraiser

A former Friends of Karen family – Filomena, Fortunato and their son, Joseph Multari – organized their 10th Annual Italian Dinner Party for more than 80 guests. The event was held at Mamma Rosa Ristorante in Somers, which the Multaris own with their partner Rigo Giron. The Multari family has raised close to $100,000 over the years for Friends of

Become a Volunteer

Our volunteers come in all sizes: children, teens, young professionals, retirees, and all ages in between. We even have multi-generational families who volunteer! We’ll match your time and talents to programs, projects and needs that enable Friends of Karen to support families.

Partners

We are proud to have the support and confidence of our corporate partners. Their generosity strengthens our ability to be a lifeline to our families.