Standish Foundation for Children

05/12/2026

This International Nurses' Day, we honor the quiet heroes behind some of the most painful healing journeys.

At the Khechinashvili University Hospital Burn Centre in Tbilisi, Lika and Zifa care for children undergoing intense and often painful burn treatments — offering not just medical skill, but comfort, courage, and hope.

👩‍⚕️ Lika has been a nurse for more than 11 years. Encouraged by her mother to pursue the profession she admired from afar, she finds her greatest joy in seeing children recover and knowing her work helped them get there.

💜 Zifa, dressed in purple, has been a nurse since 1972 — over 53 years of healing. She doesn’t remember choosing nursing; she simply always knew. At five years old, she already felt called to care for others. Today, she is the steady, skilled nurse behind countless bandage changes and brave young patients.

To Lika, to Zifa, and to nurses everywhere — thank you for standing beside children in their hardest moments and guiding them back to health with compassion and strength.

Happy International Nurses' Day!

05/11/2026

Grateful for a meaningful meeting this week between the Standish Foundation for Children and our partners at MAC Georgia in Tbilisi, Georgia.

Even across screens and time zones, conversations like these remind us how powerful partnership can be when the focus is creating better opportunities and support for children and families. We’re thankful for the collaboration, shared vision, and commitment to making a lasting impact together.

Looking forward to what’s ahead. 🌍🤝💙

05/05/2026

We had a very special opportunity for some of our team to connect in London while our founder, Andy, was visiting the other week. Time together like this strengthens relationships, deepens collaboration, and helps move our work forward for the children and families we serve.

05/01/2026

A hospital visit doesn’t just affect the body—it affects the mind, too.

For children, fear, uncertainty, and loss of control can stay long after the appointment ends. Mental health is part of every medical experience.

That’s why this work matters.

Through play, preparation, and connection, children are given the tools to understand what’s happening and cope in ways that feel safe and manageable.

Healthcare providers are equipped to reduce fear in real time—turning overwhelming moments into ones children can move through with confidence.

More than 1,036,489 children and families have been reached through this approach.

Because mental health care doesn’t start after the experience.
It starts in the moment.

04/23/2026

April is the Month of the Military Child 💜

Today we’re honored to spotlight Lisa McWhorter, Program Manager of SF4C’s 4MilKids program, military spouse, and proud mom of three.

“Being a CCLS and former military spouse, my role as Program Manager for SF4C’s 4MilKids program is near and dear to my heart. I know firsthand from watching my own three boys grow up that military-connected children endure a great deal—frequent moves, prolonged separation during deployments and training, and many other stressors of military life. As a CCLS, I am honored to give back to the military-connected community through Teddy Bear Clinics and child life resources that help make future medical visits less stressful.”

Lisa’s lived experience and professional expertise help shape a program designed to meet military-connected children where they are—with compassion, preparation, and support.

This month and every month, we celebrate the strength and resilience of military children everywhere.

04/20/2026

They don’t always stand in the spotlight—but they change everything.

Some guide strategy.
Some train providers.
Some roll up their sleeves on the ground.
Some step in exactly when needed.

Different roles. One shared purpose: helping children feel safer, calmer, and more supported in healthcare.

We are a volunteer-led organization—and that shows up in every part of this work.

Our board members, volunteer advisors, and volunteers are the backbone behind it all.

Every program, every training, every moment of comfort we help create starts with them.

On National Volunteer Day, we’re celebrating the people behind the impact.

More than 1 million children reached—and every one of them connected to someone who chose to give their time.

A heartfelt thanks to each of you! 💜

Some of our board and volunteers: Arash Babaoff, Kristy Fisher, BobbiJo Pansier, Cheri Oliveri, Megan Kirkpatrick, Ellen Steele, Casey Fisher, Stephen Owens, and Kasey Anderwood.

04/17/2026

2025 Impact Report. This is a snapshot of what our donors made possible last year for children and families around the world. It reflects a year of bringing comfort, care, and support to children when they needed it most.

04/09/2026

“If you would take a few minutes to help support my beloved Child Life profession, I’d be grateful!! This initiative will ensure that your children and grandchildren receive care from professionally trained and licensed Certified Child Life Specialists. Thanks so much!” - Andy

Protect Texas Children: Support Licensure for Certified Child Life Specialists

04/07/2026

A child’s health is more than what you can measure.

It’s the moment fear softens.
It’s a steady breath before a procedure.
It’s play turning the unknown into something manageable.

This World Health Day, we celebrate a simple truth: when we care for a child’s emotional world, we change their medical experience.

03/30/2026

💜 Honoring the doctors who help kids feel safe, seen, and supported.

On National Doctors’ Day, we’re celebrating the physicians who do so much more than provide medical care. They offer reassurance in scary moments, patience when little ones need extra time, and compassion that helps families breathe a little easier.

At Standish Foundation for Children, we’re inspired every day by doctors who champion child‑ and family‑centered care. Their commitment to reducing fear and building trust transforms healthcare experiences for children around the world.

To every doctor who leads with empathy—you’re making a lasting impact, and we’re grateful for the light you bring to every hospital room and clinic hallway.

🌟 Thank you for helping children heal not just physically, but emotionally too.