Friends of Karen
The mission of Friends of Karen is to provide emotional, financial and advocacy support for children with a life-threatening illness and their families in order to help keep them stable, functioning, and able to cope.
We started in 1978 with one family; one child, Karen MacInnes; and one inspired woman, Sheila Petersen. Since then, we have assisted more than 18,000 children and their families.
Financials
Programs
Journey of the Heart Bike Tour
Join riders for an inspiring bike ride through Connecticut’s countryside for Friends of Karen’s 20th Annual Journey of the Heart Bike Tour. The ride will raise funds to support hundreds of families throughout the New York Tri-State region struggling to care for their child diagnosed with cancer or any other life-threatening illness.
Adina's Angels Walk
Be an Angel and join us for our 7th Annual 5K Family Fun Walk in the Park at Rockland Lake State Park in Valley Cottage, NY
to benefit the Adina’s Angels Fund at Friends of Karen.
Volunteering + Events
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.
Heroes Among Us!
Friends of Karen invites you to join us at our “Heroes Among Us” gala on Friday, November 8, 2024 at Guastavino’s for a heartfelt celebration of the courageous children facing life-threatening illnesses, their families, and the dedicated staff, volunteers, and generous supporters who make our work possible. The event will be an inspiring night of stories, entertainment, and community spirit, as we come together to celebrate the heroes among us. Your involvement helps us to continue offering the essential support that these brave families need during their most challenging times.