The Valerie Fund

Every two years the New Jersey Juniors membership selects an organization within our state to support through fundraising and volunteer activities.   The organization selected for our State Project for 20010-12, is The Valerie Fund

Since 1976, The Valerie Fund’s mission has been to support comprehensive health care close to home for New Jersey children diagnosed with solid and brain tumors; leukemia; sickle cell disease; and other blood disorders. Today, six Valerie Fund Children’s Centers are located at the major hospitals in Newark, Livingston, Summit, Morristown, Monmouth, and at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Specialty Center in Voorhees. Before The Valerie Fund existed, families had to incur the additional stress and expense of traveling away from their home and support systems to access treatment.

The Valerie Fund Children’s Centers provide outpatient medical care, as well as psychosocial services not reimbursable by health insurance. Central to these services is the support of child life specialists who help the child deal with the emotional aspect of their disease and its treatment and help the child feel nurtured and safe. Family members receive support and assistance from social workers who support parents and siblings, serve as advocates to secure additional services like transportation, home health care, and emergency funding, etc. The Valerie Fund recognizes that when a child is seriously ill, the entire family is affected, each member in a different way.

The Valerie Fund also operates Camp Happy Times, a totally free one-week overnight summer camp for children who have or have had cancer. Additionally, in 2009 we embarked on a new program for childhood cancer survivors, a growing population of older children and young adults who will encounter emotional, cognitive and medical issues like fertility, cardiac, pulmonary and growth problems as a result of the powerful life-saving therapies they have received.

Because of the Jersey Juniors distribution around the state of New Jersey, there is an opportunity for clubs to “adopt” Valerie Fund Children’s Centers in their region.

Year Round Projects:

Valerie Fund Centers - Various types of in-kind donations are sought at the centers where children spend a lot of time being treated on an out-patient basis. Clubs can assemble pre-made activities kits (all-in-one art project or puzzle kits for all age levels). For Jersey Juniors who knit, crochet, or sew, Centers always need a supply of hats and contemporary kerchiefs for kids with hair loss. Kids also like soft pillow cases to make them feel cozy at the center, and afghans and quilts to cuddle on the rougher treatment days.

Projects for Summer Camp - Every year, Camp Happy Times hosts 200 children with cancer or are now cancer-free. We rely on donated items small and large (including like-new clothing and bathing suits). In 2010, the theme is Superheroes. So we will be asking for donations of costumes and decorations to make sure that the theme is played out fully throughout the week!

Winter Holiday Parties - Each center hosts a December holiday party for 200-500 patients, their siblings and parents/guardians. These parties offer dinner, visits with Santa, music, activities, and a huge gift bag for each patient and his/her siblings selected especially for them based on their wishes and needs. Jersey Juniors could work with the closest Valerie Fund Children’s Center to assist with decorations for the party; help check in families; distribute huge bags of gifts at the end of the evening; and even organize local toy drives for new items and clothing that the patient families will receive in their giant gift bags!

Valerie Fund Walk and 5K Run on June 12 in Verona Park - Last year, community members and over 150 patient families formed teams with names like “4 My Cuz,” and “Gwen’s Gang” and “Willie’s Warriors.” Jersey Junior Clubs could join patient teams from their area in a compassionate show of support for families in their own communities or create teams of your own like the Verona Women’s Club did in 2009 and make a Jersey Junior statement! (The Valerie Fund also needs volunteers to help on the day of the walk as we anticipate about 2000 people!)

Direct Help to Valerie Fund Families in Your Area - Many Valerie Fund families have one or more healthy children in addition to the child who is sick. Because of the numerous appointments and complications that are inevitable throughout the course of treatment, many parents find themselves in need of last-minute help shuttling the healthy child(ren). Sometimes the thing they need most for their family is a home-cooked meal. A network of Jersey Juniors that social workers could call on from time to time to help a family in their community directly could be created and provide a meaningful experience for all parties involved.