Sunshine Kids
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Mission The Sunshine Kids Foundation adds quality of life to children with cancer by providing them with exciting, positive group activities, so they may once again do what Kids are meant to do...have fun and celebrate life! Goal We look forward to the day when the Sunshine Kids Foundation will no longer need to exist. Until that time, the entire Sunshine Kids family is dedicated to providing the most exciting activities, trips and events for as many young cancer patients as possible. “This experience offered the Kids an opportunity at independence in “I think our experiences have made us appreciate life and recognize good a safe environment allowing them the chance to explore who they are things that come our way. And Sunshine Kids is better than good... it's and where they are going in the world.” amazing and I will always be grateful for the trip and their kindness.” Child Life Specialist – Aurora, CO Sunshine Kid - Bennington, NE 2 A Message from our Board Chairperson Dear Friends, Since 1992, it has been my honor to serve the Sunshine Kids Foundation, first as coordinator of the annual Mardi Gras Fun-Time Fantasy in New Orleans and then as a member of the National Board of Directors and now as its Chairman. During these last twenty- three years, I have had the pleasure to continue coordinating the New Orleans trip. In 2015, as always, it was exciting and inspiring to have Sunshine Kids in our unique city with its amazingly generous people who hosted us in the finest restaurants and venues. Per tradition, the trip ended with a ride on a Mardi Gras float in the Krewe of Alla Parade down historic and stately St. Charles Avenue. My gratitude goes out to the nurses and volunteers that make this and all our National Trips so successful. Also, special thanks to the Kids themselves whose presence makes each of these events so extraordinary. Their energy Chief Deputy Craig Taffaro with Sunshine Kid Emily Bossano and zest for life inspire us in ways that are unimaginable. On a personal note, each year when the Kids arrive from across North America, I have the privilege to witness a transformation I call magical. Most of these Kids are strangers as they arrive in our city. In a matter of hours, I see them become friends as they talk openly about their treatments, nicknames for medical devices, their hopes…their dreams. I often see friendships that will last a lifetime created in a few short days. These experiences and relationships are only made possible because of your generosity and support. On behalf of the Board of Directors, the staff and especially the Kids and their families...a profound thank you. Sincerely, Chief Deputy Craig Taffaro Board Chairman 3 2014 Regional and National Events JANUARY APRIL Princess Day - Disney On Ice: "Princesses and Heroes" - Shelton & Bridgeport, CT Disney On Ice: "Princesses & Heroes" - Hershey, PA Sesame Street Live! - Omaha, NE Harlem Globetrotters Basketball Game - Omaha, NE Monster Jam - Manchester, NH Houston Rockets Meet & Greet Basketball Game - Houston, TX Sundae Spa - Milford, CT DIRECTV Blimp Activity - Atlanta, GA Ice Skating at Downtown on Ice - Los Angeles, CA Hospital Party at Children's Hospital of Los Angeles - Los Angeles, CA Creighton University Basketball Game - Omaha, NE “It was such a wonderful The Jet Award Gala - Omaha, NE Winter Carnival with the Freeze Team - Houston, TX trip and it was so nice DIRECTV Blimp Activity - Florence, SC Monster Jam - Houston, TX International Horse Show - Omaha, NE Hospital Party at Miller Children's Hospital - Long Beach, CA meeting other kids going 1 Gun Ranch - Malibu, CA Houston Astros Caravan Party - Houston, TX through similar situations Spring Party - Houston, TX Hospital Party at Texas Children's Hospital - Houston, TX as myself.” Hospital Party at Loma Linda University Medical Center - Loma Linda, CA Family Suite at Houston Rockets Basketball Game - Houston, TX Disney On Ice: "100 Years of Magic" - Loma Linda, CA Disney On Ice: "100 Years of Magic" - Brooklyn, NY Sunshine Kid – Troy, MO DIRECTV Blimp Activity - Charlotte, NC Disney On Ice: "Rockin' Ever After" - San Diego, CA Hospital Party at Driscoll Children's Hospital - Corpus Christi, TX Los Angeles Lakers Basketball Game - Los Angeles, CA Hospital Party at Miller Children's Hospital - Long Beach, CA Chalk Art - Naples, FL Disney On Ice: "100 Years of Magic" - Long Beach, CA Hospital Party at Medical City Children's Hospital - Dallas, TX FEBRUARY Disney LIVE! - Bridgeport, CT Mardi Gras Fun-Time Fantasy - New Orleans, LA Winter Games - Steamboat Springs, CO MAY Teen Day at Sempeck's Family Fun & Entertainment - Omaha, NE Washington D.C. Adventure - Washington, D.C. Hospital Party at Southern California Permanente Medical Group - Los Angeles, CA Hospital Party at Doernbecher Children's Hospital - Portland, OR Princess Party - Los Angeles, CA MetLife Blimp Activity - New Orleans, LA Sesame Street Live! - Houston, TX Cirque Du Soleil: "Totem" - Portland, OR Monster Jam - Hartford, CT Corpus Christi Hooks Meet and Greet Baseball Game - Corpus Christi, TX Snow Tubing at Campgaw Mountain - Mahwah, NJ Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus: "Legends" - Hartford, CT Hospital Party at Texas Children's Hospital - Houston, TX Hospital Party at Children's Hospital of Orange County - Orange, CA Hospital Party at Loma Linda University Medical Center - Loma Linda, CA Hospital Party at Texas Children's Hospital - Houston, TX Los Angeles Clippers Basketball Game - Los Angeles, CA Shriner's Circus - Morris Township, NJ Harlem Globetrotters Basketball Game - Los Angeles, CA Family Fishing Day - La Porte, TX University of Nebraska Hockey Game - Omaha, NE Disneyland Day - Anaheim, CA MetLife Blimp Activity - Pacific Palisades, CA DIRECTV Blimp Activity - Cincinnati, OH Monster Jam - Worcester, MA Chivas USA Soccer Game - Carson, CA Family Suite at Demi Lavato Concert - Houston, TX AMC VIP Grand Opening Party - Houston, TX Monster Jam - Providence, RI Mardi Gras Galveston - Galveston, TX Disney On Ice: "Rockin' Ever After" - Oakland, CA Cirque Du Soleil: "Totem" - Santa Monica, CA MARCH Cold River Cattle Company Barbecue Cook-Off - Houston, TX Hospital Party at M.D. Anderson Children's Cancer Hospital - Houston, TX Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo & Concert - Houston, TX Monster Jam - Tucson, AZ MetLife Blimp Activity - Fort Lauderdale, FL MetLife Blimp Activity - Dallas, TX Hospital Party at The Children's Hospital at Montefiore - Bronx, NY Hospital Party at Yale Pediatric Hematology/Oncology - Guilford - Guilford, CT Washington Wizards Basketball Game - Washington, D.C. Hospital Party at St. Joseph's Children's Hospital - Paterson, NJ MetLife Blimp Activity - Fort Worth, TX Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus: "Super Heroes Circus" - Jackson, MS Springfield Armor Basketball Game - Springfield, MA Hospital Party at Seattle Children's Hospital - Seattle, WA Los Angeles Kings Hockey Game - Los Angeles, CA MetLife Blimp Activity - Austin, TX Hospital Party at Dell Children's Hospital - Austin, TX Nuclear Cowboyz - San Jose, CA Build-A-Bear Party at Children’s Hospital and Medical Center - Seattle, WA "Vampire Diaries" Set Visit - Atlanta, GA Stars on Ice - Fort Myers, FL 4 2014 Regional and National Events JUNE AUGUST Texas Hill Country Adventure - San Marcos, TX Houston Astros Meet & Greet Baseball Game - Houston, TX San Francisco Bay Adventure - San Francisco, CA 7th Annual Beach Party - Torrance, CA Beantown Blowout - Boston, MA Round Rock Express Meet & Greet Baseball Game - Round Rock, TX Monster Jam - East Rutherford, NJ Camp AOK Prom Night - Magnolia, TX Kaiser Family Super Hero Picnic - Los Angeles, CA Marvel Universe Live! - East Rutherford, NJ Teen Lake Escape - Lake Travis, TX Overnight Adventure at The Natural History Museum - Los Angeles, CA Los Angeles Zoo - Los Angeles, CA MetLife Blimp Activity - Louisville, KY "Here Comes Summer" Party in Bushnell Park - Hartford, CT Skyzone - Anaheim, CA Set Sail with Sunshine Kids - Mystic, CT Family Day at Houston Astros Game - Houston, TX MetLife Blimp Activity - Baltimore, MD Chivas USA Soccer Game - Carson, CA Family Night at Houston Astros Baseball Game - Houston, TX Teen Galveston Getaway - Galveston, TX Catalina Island Adventure - Avalon, CA New York Yankees Baseball Game - Bronx, NY New Britain Rock Cats Baseball Game - New Britain, CT Radio Disney - Houston, TX Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus: "Built to Amaze" - New Orleans, LA Anaheim Angels Baseball Game - Anaheim, CA Houston Astros Meet & Greet Baseball Game - Houston, TX Chivas USA Soccer Game - Carson, CA SEPTEMBER Grand Prix of Houston - Houston, TX California Fun-Time Fantasy - Los Angeles, CA 8th Annual Schlitterbahn Splash Day - Galveston, TX JULY Disney On Ice: "Frozen" - Providence, RI Summer Broadway Break - New York, NY 10th Annual Schlitterbahn Splash Family Weekend - New Braunfels, TX Hospital Party at M.D. Anderson Children's Cancer Hospital - Houston, TX DIRECTV Blimp Activity - Chester, SC York Revolution Baseball Game - York, PA Disney Live! - Los Angeles, CA Teen Movie Night - Houston, TX Texas Rangers Meet & Greet Baseball Game - Arlington, TX Glassybaby - Seattle, WA Houston Astros Game - Houston, TX Los Angeles Dodgers Baseball Game - Los Angeles, CA Teen Screening Party of "Red Band Society" - Houston, TX Rocketman Celebrity Slam - Houston, TX Hospital Party at Texas Children's Hospital - Houston, TX Hospital Party at Rady Children's Hospital - San Diego, CA Hospital Party at M.D. Anderson Children's Cancer Hospital - Houston, TX Bowling Party