Little Moments, Lasting Memories: Spotlighting the Casey Cares Foundation
Casey Cares Foundation Spotlight: How One Nonprofit Is Changing Lives for Critically Ill Children
Some organizations do good work. Casey Cares Foundation does something deeper than that. They show up for families going through some of the hardest moments of their lives and they keep showing up month after month, year after year.
The Brickers Foundation recently sat down with Erin Ritter, Deputy Director of Casey Cares Foundation, to learn more about their mission, their programs, and the stories behind the work. What we heard reminded us exactly why nonprofit visibility matters and why the right organization can change everything for a family in crisis.
Who Casey Cares Foundation Is
Casey Cares Foundation was founded in 2000 by Casey Baynes with a $2,500 loan and five families. Today the organization serves a little over 2,300 families annually and has reached over 470,000 program participants since its founding.
The mission is straightforward. Casey Cares provides ongoing, uplifting programs to critically ill children and their families. Kids battling leukemia, brain tumors, sickle cell disease, cystic fibrosis, and other life-threatening illnesses. And not just the kids. The whole family. Siblings. Parents. Caregivers. Because when one person in a family is fighting for their life everyone around them is fighting too.
What makes Casey Cares different from a lot of organizations is the word ongoing. This is not a one-time wish. This is consistent, compassionate support that meets families where they are every couple of months throughout their journey. As Erin shared during our conversation the goal is simple. Give families a break from medication, a break from hospital stays, a break from doctor's offices, and just let them be a family.
And the need keeps growing. Casey Cares currently receives one to two dozen new applications every single week and not a single family waits. As soon as an application comes in the team reaches out and gets to work.
The Programs That Make It Happen
Casey Cares runs six programs and every single one of them was built around a real need that real families expressed.
Family Festivities sends families to sporting events, movies, and local attractions. Birthday Blast makes sure every critically ill child gets a surprise on their birthday because every birthday is a milestone worth celebrating.
Caring Connections brings Casey Cares families together so they can meet other families who understand what they are going through. And Better Together supports families even after the loss of a child, including a monthly online bereavement circle for parents navigating grief.
Then there is Kami's Jammies. Started in memory of a young girl named Kamryn whose grandmother wanted to honor her by giving pajamas to hospitalized children. Last year Casey Cares sent out over 26,000 pairs of pajamas to hospitals across the United States so that kids on extended hospital stays did not have to wear scratchy hospital gowns. Over 200,000 pairs of pajamas have been given away through that program since it began.
And there is Hammy's Heart. Created in memory of Abraham "Hammy" Scrivner, a child who believed deeply that mealtime brought families together. After Hammy passed away his mother Gina approached Casey Cares about partnering to provide grocery store gift cards to families in need. Last year Hammy's Heart sent gift cards to over 1,700 families. Some of those families used them for essentials. Some used them so their child could have the ribs dinner they had been asking for. Both of those things matter equally.
How You Can Get Involved
Casey Cares accepts new patient applications year round. If you have a critically ill child in your life or know a family who could use support the door is always open.
If you want to give back there are several ways to do that. You can join the Grateful Family Program, become a Memory Maker, or volunteer your time to help support the families Casey Cares serves. Every pair of pajamas donated, every grocery gift card contributed, and every hour of volunteer time adds up to something real for a family that really needs it.
Organizations like Casey Cares do not get the recognition they deserve often enough. That is exactly why the Brickers Foundation exists. To make sure the work that is already happening in communities gets the visibility it needs to reach more people and make a bigger difference.
If you want to learn more about Casey Cares Foundation visit them directly. And if you want to support the Brickers Foundation's mission of amplifying nonprofits like this one we would love to have you in our corner too.
