What We Do
Smiles from Sarah (SFS) supports patients, families, and caregivers by providing inspiring therapeutic play kits and direct funding to children's hospitals for child life programming.
What We Do
Child Life Manager, CHOP
"The funds allow our team to be creative in their interventions and buy the things insurance doesn’t cover to truly improve the experience of the patients and families at the hospital."
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Support for Children
SFS touches patients, families, and caregivers by providing inspiring therapeutic play kits and direct funding to children's hospitals.
Manager of Child Life Services, Children's National
"Because or your support, we are able to keep these items in stock, giving our team the materials they need to provide their patients with effective (and fun!) therapeutic activities."
Our Partnerships with Children's Hospitals
Smiles from Sarah (SFS) supports patients, families, and caregivers by providing inspiring therapeutic play kits and direct funding to children's hospitals for child life programming.
"The funds allow our team to be creative in their interventions and buy the things that insurance doesn’t cover to truly improve the experience of patients and families at the hospital."
- Child Life Manager, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
Our Partnerships with Children's Hospitals
Smile from Sarah (SFS) is proud to partner with various children's hospitals to support child life programming and therapeutic play including:
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Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA
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Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
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Children's Hospital of Richmond at VCU
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Children's National Hospital, Washington, DC
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Inova L. J. Murphy Children's Hospital, Falls Church, VA
SFS funds have given Child Life teams more access to medical play supplies, calming toys, get-to-know-you games, and much more. Our hospital partners have used SFS funds in various ways to support therapeutic play such as providing:
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Worry Monsters to help children express their thoughts and feelings
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Workshops that allow families and patients to make resin pendant keepsakes to help cope with separation
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Blank cloth dolls for emergency room visits, used to talk through pains or procedures
Our Therapeutic Play Kits
Our curated collection of age-appropriate activities is designed for Certified Child Life Specialists (CCLS) to engage with patients. They contain all the necessary items to inspire young builders, artists, storytellers, and scientists while facilitating coping, emotional expression, and playfulness.
What Play Inspires
Through these activities, children develop age-appropriate skills to process their emotions, direct their care, share their voice, and advocate for their needs. Therapeutic play also fosters the relationship between children and their CCLS. Patients gain another advocate and vital member of their care team.
How Play Inspires
Building eruptive Play-Doh volcanos gives voice to fear and frustration. Hands-on art projects decorate a hospital room, bringing the comforts of home. Sensory jars offer relaxation, music and singing replace tears, and games provide a much-needed distraction.
OUR PARTNER HOSPITALS
“The sensory [jars] promote creativity and autonomy with a final product that can be used as an outlet for distraction or ... cool decoration for the room." - Samm Wilkens, Children's National
Sensory Jar
Creative Journal
Bedside Volcano
“The volcanoes … encourage kids to make a mess – something that can be characteristic of play at home or in a classroom, but clashes with the sterile nature of a hospital environment." - Samm Wilkens, Children's National
Examples of our Therapeutic Play Kits include Sensory Jars, Creative Journals, and Bedside Volcanos.
The kits have been amazing and a true game changer in the activities we ... provide our patients and the therapeutic interventions we ... have with our patients.
Manager of Child Life Services, Children's National
I am so grateful for ... the impact that [SFS] kits have had on my practice and ... the patients I have worked with.
Kerry Young, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
SFS has had an incredible impact on the child life team ... and the families we support. The activity kits ... are easy to navigate, therapeutic in their design, and so fun!
Samm Wilkens, Children's National
Sarah's Story
Sarah's Smile
A hospital can be a strange and lonely place for a child, even with a skilled and compassionate medical team. Fortunately, Sarah had Certified Child Life Specialists (CCLS) who transformed this foreign and sometimes scary world into a safe playground. Her CCLS helped Sarah smile when she needed it the most.
Sarah's Play
Through therapeutic play, Sarah bravely faced her medical treatments and procedures. A CCLS coming to her room to stay and play made the difference between a good and bad day. Building eruptive Play-Doh volcanos gave voice to Sarah’s fear and frustration. Hands-on art projects decorated her hospital room, bringing the comforts of home. Spa time offered relaxation, baking gave rise to courage, music and singing replaced tears, and games provided a much-needed distraction.
Sarah's Spirit
Through these activities, Sarah developed age-appropriate skills to process her emotions, direct her care, share her voice, and advocate for her needs. She also developed the spirit and resilience to navigate the hospital’s challenges.
Sarah was born with a rare form of congenital muscular dystrophy and received a lifesaving heart transplant at age four. She and her family spent nearly a year in the hospital with frequent visits and procedures throughout her life. Sarah passed in 2022 at age 17. She spent long periods away from home, school, friends, dogs, and her much-loved big brother.
Child Life Manager, CHOP
"The funds allow our team to be creative in their interventions and buy the things insurance doesn’t cover to truly improve the experience of the patients and families at the hospital."
What We Do
Smiles from Sarah provides direct funding and play kits to hospitals to support children during their stay
Manager of Child Life Services, Children's National
"Because of your support, we are able to keep these items in stock, giving our team the materials they need to provide their patients with effective (and fun!) therapeutic activities."
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Cheryl Fyock
Co-founder
Brian Fyock
Co-founder
Jacob Fyock
Board Member
Lisa Adams
Board Member
Doug Bushée
CORE Foundation Founder
Gillian Bushée
Board Member
Jill Scherer
Board Member
Gayle Severance
Board Member
Samira Thabet
Board Member
Sherry Polise-Hughel
Advisor, Certified Child Life Specialist
Our Leadership Team
Contact Us
What We Do
Smiles from Sarah (SFS) supports patients, families, and caregivers by providing inspiring therapeutic play kits and direct funding to children's hospitals for child life programming.
Our Partnerships with Children's Hospitals
Smile from Sarah (SFS) is proud to partner with various children's hospitals to support child life programming and therapeutic play including:
-
Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
-
Children's National Hospital, Washington, DC
-
Inova L. J. Murphy Children's Hospital, Falls Church, VA
-
Children's Hospital of Richmond at VCU
SFS funds have given Child Life teams more access to medical play supplies, calming toys, get-to-know-you games, and much more. Our hospital partners have used SFS funds in various ways to support therapeutic play such as providing:
-
Worry Monsters to help children express their thoughts and feelings
-
Workshops that allow families and patients to make resin pendant keepsakes to help cope with separation
-
Blank cloth dolls for emergency room visits, used to talk through pains or procedures
What Our Partners Are Saying
"Because of your support, we are able to keep these items in stock, giving our team the materials they need to provide their patient with effective (and fun!) therapeutic activities." - Manager of Child Life Services, Children's National