| Our Mission Statement |
 The mission of the Shadow Buddies Foundation is to provide emotional support through education regarding illness, disability, or medical treatments. The foundation accomplishes this mainly through unique programs designed to enhance the lives of children and adults and increase compassion and understanding of differences. In pursuit of that mission, the foundation will continually raise funds, develop new programs, and build relationships between organizations with complimentary goals. Shadow Buddies are condition-specific dolls designed to be a friend "just like me" for seriously ill or medically challenged children. The Buddies not only provide comfort to the ill child, but also provide physicians a hands-on method of educating newly diagnosed children and their families about a particular disease or medical condition and its treatment. Shadow Buddies are also a unique form of play therapy. The Buddies remain with the child throughout their treatment, providing long-term psychological support. Each Buddy wears a smile on its face and has heart eyes for love. Our goal is to help these children view themselves in a positive manner. In accordance with its mission, the Shadow Buddies Foundation continues to develop partnerships so that we may provide Shadow Buddies to hospitals and organizations at no charge. The Buddies are given to sick children upon their diagnosis or treatment. Designed to be both a friend and a teaching tool, the Buddy can help increase compassion and understanding while spanning the gap between treatment and awareness. The Shadow Buddies Foundation launched its most ambitious program to date with the Know Your Buddy Book Program, available to educate students in kindergarten through sixth grade. It focuses on re-entry programs for medically challenged children, teaching healthy children about visible and invisible medical differences present in other children. The Shadow Buddies Foundation is also committed to a mentoring program whereby children are exposed to medicine as a viable career option. Students age 12-15 will have the opportunity to learn firsthand some of the rewards inherent in providing medical education to younger people. It is our goal, through the Shadow Buddies Foundation, to provide educational support to hospitals and schools while helping families cope with a particular illness. Our Buddies are also used to support children who are going through any crisis situation. Your generous contributions will ensure that funds are available for the financial future and growth of the Shadow Buddies Foundation, making it possible for Shadow Buddies? to be given to any child in need without any cost to their families. We appreciate you including the Shadow Buddies Foundation for consideration. We thank you in advance for your support and commitment to these children and their families. When you touch a child's life.....you've touched an entire lifetime. |
