Causes: Children & Youth, Children & Youth Services, Health, Patient & Family Support

Mission: enCourage Kids Foundation helps humanize healthcare for children and their families by resourcing impact-driven pediatric programs and supporting the Child Life Community.

Results: 34 years ago, enCourage Kids opened its doors and hearts to children battling chronic, serious, or life threatening illnesses and injuries. By bringing laughter, comfort, and joy to more than 400,000 children annually, our programs offer relief from the constant burden of treatment, hospital stays, and doctor appointments, and help pediatric facilities to meet the unique needs of their patients. We have built a strong relationship with more than 200 hospital partners in 39 states and Puerto Rico. In total, we have awarded over $15.1 million in funds to support nearly 850 Child Life projects.

Target demographics: 3 million children are hospitalized every year in the United States. And enCourage Kids is on a mission to help every single one.

Direct beneficiaries per year: over 400,000 children and their families

Geographic areas served: United States and Puerto Rico

Programs: Typically not covered by hospital budgets, our programs are critical in improving the emotional well-being of pediatric patients, leading to faster recovery times and reduced feelings of anxiety, depression, and loneliness. Our hospital programs include clown and music sessions and hospital parties to lift the spirits of patients, sending Bears to use as a cuddly companion and invaluable tool for medical play, providing Tablets customized to the needs of the hospitals, and our Pediatric Hospital Support Program to provide vital funding to our hospital partners. enCourage Kids envision a world where every child - regardless of the difficulty of his or her medical journey - experiences joy, hope, resilience, and healing.