Sam's Fans

Sam's Fans Sam's Fans is a non-profit organization based in Columbus, Ohio that supports music & art therapy for seriously ill children.

Sam's Fans was created in memory of Samantha Jane McCarthy who died from Fanconi Anemia in 2009. Sam's Fans was created in memory of Samantha Jane McCarthy (March 15, 1998 - October 15, 2009) who loved music and art. After being diagnosed at the age of 7 with Fanconi Anemia, Samantha spent a good part of the her life visiting hospitals including an even longer and more intense 14 months in and out

before she passed away in October, 2009 after complications from a bone marrow transplant. During that time one of the things that brought her peace, joy and comfort was her friend and music therapist, Brian Schreck. No matter how sick, uncomfortable or unwilling to have visitors, if Brian knocked on the door Sam would welcome him in with a smile. The two would play and record music or just listen to her favorite songs by Sarah McLachlan, Miley Cyrus (Hannah Montana back then), and to her and her mom's favorite, Mat Kearney. Sam's family decided that the best way to keep her memory alive and create her legacy was to bring that same peace, comfort and joy to other sick children and their families. You can read Sam's full story at www.caringbridge.org/visit/samanthamccarthy. To find out more about Fanconi Anemia visit www.fanconi.org.

Did you know that in 2025 Sam’s Fans has raised $624,694 that helped us serve a total of 3,061 families? 🥰Thank you to o...
06/19/2026

Did you know that in 2025 Sam’s Fans has raised $624,694 that helped us serve a total of 3,061 families? 🥰

Thank you to our incredible donors who made this all possible and helped us spread more joy through Music and Art Therapy. We are honored to help so many families, and these numbers motivate us to keep growing!

If you want to take part in enriching lives through Music and Art Therapy, donate to Sam’s Fans today!

A family who had just adopted newborn twin boys reached out to record their heartbeats before one underwent surgery for ...
06/17/2026

A family who had just adopted newborn twin boys reached out to record their heartbeats before one underwent surgery for a congenital heart defect. Using our equipment, we captured both twins’ heartbeats and blended them with their special song, “You’ll Be in My Heart.” The final recording featured each twin’s heartbeat on separate audio channels, fading in and out of one another. The family described the experience as a deeply meaningful way to welcome their sons home.

This story among many others is a great reminder of the impact Music and Art Therapy has on those who need it. 🎶🎨

06/16/2026

Sam’s Fans proudly supports the LGBTQ+ community. 🏳️‍🌈 Just as we believe that every seriously ill child and their family deserve to be seen, heard and loved, we extend that same commitment to the LGBTQ+ community!

Happy Pride Month, Sam’s Fans! 🤩🌈

Both Music and Art Therapy have the power to reduce stress, enhance creativity, improve social skills and help with emot...
06/15/2026

Both Music and Art Therapy have the power to reduce stress, enhance creativity, improve social skills and help with emotional processing. Sam’s Fans started funding Music and Art Therapy in Children’s Hospitals in 2015, hoping to heal kids and families that need it.

Since then, we’ve been able to spread more joy for more families! If you want to help us enrich more lives through Music and Art Therapy, visit our website to donate. 🐞

An elementary-aged patient with a chronic gastrointestinal condition is frequently admitted to Dayton Children’s and con...
06/12/2026

An elementary-aged patient with a chronic gastrointestinal condition is frequently admitted to Dayton Children’s and consistently receives Music Therapy as part of her treatment plan. Music Therapy supports pain management, normalizes the hospital environment, and provides emotional support for both the patient and her family.

Through live music and interactive engagement, the patient demonstrates visible relaxation and improved coping during her hospital stays. Her mother often shares at the end of sessions that not only does her child appear calmer and more comfortable, but she herself also feels more relaxed—illustrating the family-centered impact of music therapy.

06/10/2026

The event of the year is coming… ✨ Mark your calendars for October 22nd for the 12th Annual A Thread of Hope at The Exchange in Bridge Park. Visit our website to explore the A Thread of Hope event page for more information and make sure to follow us on ALL social platforms for event updates. 🥰 We can’t wait!

Same time next year? 🥰 We are still reliving the Annual Sam’s Fans 5k! Thank you to everyone who made it such an unforge...
06/08/2026

Same time next year? 🥰 We are still reliving the Annual Sam’s Fans 5k! Thank you to everyone who made it such an unforgettable day and thank you again to our sponsors!

Mark your calendars and JOIN US for No Ordinary Night. 🎸 On Friday September 4th at Park Street Tavern, enjoy a night of...
06/05/2026

Mark your calendars and JOIN US for No Ordinary Night. 🎸 On Friday September 4th at Park Street Tavern, enjoy a night of wonderful of music that benefits Sam’s Fans. More info to come! 🥰

06/03/2026

Thank you to everyone who ran with purpose at the Sam’s Fans Annual 5k on Sunday! 👟 It was an incredible turnout, and we are so grateful to all our participants. We want to give a special thank you to our wonderful sponsors who made this event possible.

We were able to raise more funds to enhance and support Music and Art Therapy in children’s hospitals. From the bottom of our hearts, THANK YOU! 🥰

06/02/2026

Place your preorder for the Sam’s Fans x Philocracy hoodie today! Philocracy is a student-led organization at the Ohio State University. These students work with local nonprofits and design the merchandise that will benefit the nonprofit. 🫶🏼

We are so lucky to work with such talented students that are dedicated to giving back! The link to preorder is in our bio. 🐞

Address

4041 N High Street
Columbus, OH
43214

Opening Hours

Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

(614) 619-4957

Alerts

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