The Claire Friedlander Family Foundation supports the good work of The Fly A Kite Foundation Inc.,  which was founded in August 2014 as an IRS 501 (c)(3) non-profit charity by David and Deena Bernstein after the loss of their son Zachary. Zachary was an 11-year-old boy who was diagnosed with, and suffered from DIPG (Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma). DIPG is a type of brain tumor found in the Pons, the part of the brainstem near the lower back of the head near the top of the spinal cord. The Fly A Kite Foundation is dedicated to three main objectives:

Partners In Art – The Fly A Kite Foundation provides custom art packages for children with pediatric brain cancers. These packages are intended to provide a creative and therapeutic outlet for children suffering from diminished motor function. They have partnered with Patricia Kearney, a Neuro-Occupational Therapist (Therapy Partner) who works for Transitions of Long Island (part of the North Shore-LIJ Health System), an outpatient rehabilitation center specializing in helping people recover from neurological injury or illness. Patricia designs these art packages based on the therapeutic needs of each child.

Partners In Advocacy – The Fly A Kite Foundation seeks to provide parents of newly diagnosed patients with support and guidance as they try to define and navigate treatment plans. The members of The Fly A Kite Foundation are passionate third parties available to guide, organize, support, listen, identify treatment options, and help bridge communications between family and medical provider.

To date, they have helped many families who are recently informed about the devastating disease. The Fly A Kite Foundation support services range from weekly phone calls to families to one-on-one personal discussions helping families work through the emotional and financial roller coaster that will immediately affect their lives. They are here to help – whether it’s to be a shoulder to cry on or working with their team to build out a cancer plan of attack that will help organize the family’s lives for what lies ahead. For more information, visit www.flyakitefoundation.org

Sunrise Day Camp–Long Island is the world’s first full-summer day camp for children with cancer and their siblings, provided completely free of charge. The fun, friendship and smiles continue year round through various camp-like programs and in-hospital services.

The Claire Friedlander Family Foundation grant will help ensure that Sunrise will be able to continue providing these programs to every child who needs them, changing months of loneliness and isolation into summers filled with sunshine, laughter and happiness.

Sunrise Day Camp-Long Island is a proud member of the Sunrise Association, whose mission is to bring back the joys of childhood to children with cancer and their siblings world-wide, through the creation of Sunrise Day Camps, Year-Round Programs and In-Hospital Recreational Activities, all offered free of charge. Sunrise Day Camp-Long Island is a program of the Friedberg JCC, a beneficiary agency of UJA-Federation of New York. www.sunrisedaycamp-longisland.org

Pink Aid’s mission is to help under served local women survive breast cancer treatment with support and dignity, to provide screening to women in financial need, and to empower breast cancer survivors to heal by helping and inspiring others. Pink Aid provides grants to support programs that provide services including free breast cancer screening and help covering non-medical expenses such as food cards, household bills, wigs, recovery garments and transportation for patients undergoing treatment. The Claire Friedlander Family Foundation is proud to contribute to Pink Aid so they, in turn, can continue to assist local agencies with their missions – to help Long Island women survive breast cancer with compassionate care.

Photo from Pink Aid’s recent “Evening of Gratitude” event… Shown L to R:  Irene Klein, Vice President, The Claire Friedlander Family Foundation, Peter Klein, President, The Claire Friedlander Family Foundation, Kerry Striano (Pink Aid Grant Committee), Ali Mitchell (Pink Aid Long Island President)

To learn more about Pink Aid and the organizations they support, visit www.pinkaid.org