Therapeutic Play Kits
Our carefully curated collection of age- appropriate activities are designed for Child Life Specialists (CLS) to engage with patients....
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Healing Children with Play
Smiles & Healing
Since September 2022, Smiles from Sarah (SFS) has aimed to bring smiles and healing to children. We focus on expanding the impact and reach of child life programs and therapeutic play in hospitals.
SFS was created to honor Sarah Catherine Fyock - and her sassy, playful, generous spirit - as she faced many health challenges and hospital stays.
Smiles & Healing
Since September 2022, Smiles from Sarah (SFS) has aimed to bring smiles and healing to children. We focus on expanding the impact and reach of child life programs and therapeutic play in hospitals.
Therapeutic play serves a vital function in children’s medical care. Using play, child life specialists help children cope with illness, injury, or disability.
Partnering With Child Life Specialists
A hospital can be a scary place for kids and families. When a Certified Child Life Specialist (CCLS) engages in activities with patients, they help children cope with their situation and build relationships. These connections allow the CCLS to advocate for the patient and become a critical part of the care team.
We support and enhance resources available to Child Life teams so more patients and families can benefit from them. We also help cultivate the relationship between the child and the CCLS. That starts with play!
Our Impact
to children in hospitals
2,300+
play kits delivered
4
hospital partnerships formed
$70K
direct funding provided
Strong Partnerships with Hospitals
Smiles from Sarah (SFS) partners with major children's hospital centers to support therapeutic play programs. In 2023, SFS secured three strong partnerships, providing a vital benefit to children while staying in hospitals.
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$20K in direct funding to their child life program ($40K total contribution)
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1K therapeutic play kits delivered
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In 2024, therapeutic play kit deliveries begin to CHOPs Specialty Care Center
Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia
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$20K in direct funding to their child life program
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450 therapeutic play kits delivered
Children's National
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$10K in direct funding to their child life program
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In 2024, therapeutic play kit deliveries begin
Inova J. L. Murphy Children's Hospital
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Strong Partnerships with Hospitals
A hospital can be a scary place for kids and families. When a Child Life Specialist (CLS) engages in activities with patients, they help children cope with their situation and build relationships. These connections allow the CLS to advocation for the patient and become a critical part of the care team.
We support and enhance resources available to Child Life teams so more patients and families can benefit from them. We also help cultivate the relationship between the child and the CLS. That starts with play!
Smiles Spotlight
Every year, CORE Foundation selects one CORE Cause of the Year. In 2023, that CORE Cause was Smiles from Sarah. Learn more about the award and their accomplishments.
Smiles Spotlight
April is XYZ Month
This is your News article. It’s a great place to highlight press coverage, newsworthy stories, industry updates or useful resources for visitors.
New Play Kit Projects
This is your News article. It’s a great place to highlight press coverage, newsworthy stories, industry updates or useful resources for visitors. Learn More
2023 CORE Cause of the Year
Every year, CORE Foundation selects on CORE Cause of the Year. In 2023, that cause was Smiles from Sarah. Learn more about the award and our accomplishments.
What Our Hospital Partners Are Saying About SFS
This is your News article. It’s a great place to highlight press coverage, newsworthy stories, industry updates or useful resources for visitors.
Save the Date: Second Annual Sip & Smile Fundraiser
Join us on Saturday, September 21, 2024, at the Deloitte Observation Deck in Rosslyn, Virginia. Volunteer and sponsorship opportunities are available today!
Stories from the Smile Squad
Our Impact
Providing Direct Funding to Hospitals
SFS provides direct funding to Child Life departments at children's hospitals to support therapeutic play activities. Learn More
Creating Therapeutic Play Kits
Designed for CCLS to engage with patients, our kits contain everything needed to inspire children while fostering coping, emotional expression, and playfulness. We've teamed up with groups of all types and sizes to build over 3,000 kits! Learn More
Raising Awareness
Through events and social media, we're raising awareness about the importance of the child life specialty and therapeutic play's impact on children, families, and caregivers. Learn More.
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Our Mission
Smiles from Sarah supports and advances the quality of child life programs. These programs help children and their families during challenging and traumatic hospital admissions.
With a focus on expanding the reach and impact of therapeutic play, we strive to bring smiles and healing to children during these difficult periods.
Our Impact
Smiles from Sarah provides hospitals with direct funding to support child life programs. With your help, we also supply countless therapeutic play kits.
Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Children’s National Hospital of Washington DC, and INOVA Children's Fairfax are three of the hospitals that Smiles from Sarah has impacted. But we can do more!
© 2023-2024 by Smiles from Sarah
4206 35th St. North,
Arlington, VA 22207
Smiles from Sarah is a 501(c)(3) organization fiscally sponsored by the CORE Foundation, EIN 20-59997764.
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