NEWTON, NC—For children living with serious illness, every milestone matters. These moments of achievement can include completing a medical treatment, overcoming a hospital stay, celebrating a birthday, or reaching a personal goal for the first time.
To help create more of these meaningful moments, the Carolina Caring Foundation has awarded a $5,000 Gift Back Grant to the Cardinal Kids Beads of Courage® program. This grant supports one of the many life enrichment experiences offered to pediatric patients and families served by Carolina Caring.
Beads of Courage® is a nationally recognized program that honors the journeys of children facing complex medical conditions. Each colorful bead represents a unique experience, challenge, or achievement throughout the care journey. Over time, children collect beads that tell the story of their strength and resilience, and they often use these beads to create sentimental artwork that serves as a strong reminder of their courage.
Since bringing the program to local families in 2023, Cardinal Kids has seen rising participation from patients and their siblings. Over the past year, 60 Cardinal Kids patients took part in the program. Patients’ siblings often participate as well, and families will save these beads as lasting keepsakes that symbolize their child’s bravery.
By contributing $5,000 to the program, Carolina Caring Foundation will fund the purchase and distribution of beads as demand continues to grow. This ensures that more families and children can experience life enrichment and memory making together.
“At Carolina Caring Foundation, we believe compassionate care extends far beyond medical services,” said Tara Bland, Executive Director of Carolina Caring Foundation. “Programs like Beads of Courage create opportunities for children and families to celebrate victories, preserve memories, and find moments of joy during incredibly difficult circumstances. We are honored to support Cardinal Kids and grateful for the donors whose generosity makes investments like this possible.”
The grant reflects Carolina Caring Foundation’s ongoing commitment to strengthening programs that bring comfort, hope, and dignity to Carolina Caring’s patients and families.
Community members can further support programs like Beads of Courage through Cardinal Keepers, the fund dedicated to enhancing quality of life for Cardinal Kids patients. Gifts of any size help sustain the compassionate care programs that are necessary to help these young patients fill each day with purpose.
To learn more about Carolina Caring Foundation, to support the Cardinal Keepers campaign, or to discover how your generosity can impact local patients and families facing serious illness, visit www.CarolinaCaring.org/Our-Foundation. To learn more about Carolina Caring, its services, and its mission to provide compassionate care for patients living with serious illness, please visit the organization’s website, carolinacaring.org or call 828.466.0466.
###
ABOUT CAROLINA CARING FOUNDATION
The Carolina Caring Foundation is a 501c3 nonprofit which supports Carolina Caring by securing funding, cultivating community partnerships, and connecting donors to the needs of patients and families. We serve individuals who may otherwise go without care through the diligent effort of our philanthropic goals: Grief & Healing, Innovation, Life Enrichment, Cardinal Kids, Charity Care, and Capital Expenses.
ABOUT CAROLINA CARING
Founded in 1979, Carolina Caring is an independent, community-based, nonprofit healthcare provider. It specializes in programs that offer relief from chronic conditions, serious illnesses, and the challenges they bring, including palliative medicine and hospice care for all ages, primary care, and grief counseling. Carolina Caring serves 13 counties across western North Carolina and the Charlotte Region. For more information about the organization and its mission, please call (828) 466-0466 or visit www.carolinacaring.org.
