enCourage Kids Foundation

enCourage Kids Foundation We help humanize healthcare for children and families by resourcing impact-driven pediatric programs and supporting the Child Life Community.

Since 1985, enCourage Kids has helped humanize healthcare for children and their families by resourcing impact-driven pediatric programs and supporting the Child Life Community. Serving more than 1 million children annually, our programs offer relief from the constant burden of treatment, hospital stays, and doctor appointments, while also supporting pediatric facilities in meeting the unique need

s of their patients. enCourage Kids Foundation envisions a world where every child–regardless of the difficulty of his or her medical journey—experiences joy, hope, resilience, and healing.

Keeping kids safe goes far beyond scraped knees and bike helmets.During National Safety Month, it’s a reminder that prot...
06/11/2026

Keeping kids safe goes far beyond scraped knees and bike helmets.

During National Safety Month, it’s a reminder that protecting children means caring for both their physical and emotional well-being. From buckling them into the right car seat and teaching them to stop, look, and listen before crossing the street, to keeping medicines out of reach and making sure they wear sunscreen and protective gear, small habits can make a big difference.

But safety also means helping children feel secure enough to share their worries, ask for help, and express their emotions without fear of judgment. It means checking in after a hard day, creating trusted relationships with caring adults, and reminding them that they never have to face challenges alone.

Here are a few simple ways to support the children in your life:
• Buckle up and use the right car seat or booster seat.
• Practice water, playground, and pedestrian safety.
• Keep medications and household chemicals safely stored away.
• Stay up to date on checkups, vaccines, and preventive care.
• Encourage open conversations about feelings and mental health.
• Help children identify trusted adults they can turn to when they need support.

The truth is, kids don’t just need protection from life’s biggest dangers. They need the everyday reassurance that the adults around them are paying attention, setting healthy boundaries, and showing up with love and consistency.

Because every child deserves to grow up feeling safe, supported, and free to just be a kid.



Tonight, two incredible kids from NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst traded hospital hallways for the bright lights of Madi...
06/11/2026

Tonight, two incredible kids from NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst traded hospital hallways for the bright lights of Madison Square Garden.

Thanks to the generosity of the Garden of Dreams Foundation, they had the opportunity to experience Game 4 of the NBA Finals—cheering alongside thousands of fans, soaking in the excitement, and creating memories that will last a lifetime.

At enCourage Kids Foundation, we believe joy is powerful. Moments like these give children facing medical challenges the chance to simply be kids: to laugh, celebrate, and experience the magic of being part of something bigger than themselves.

A huge thank you to Garden of Dreams Foundation for helping make nights like this possible. We can’t wait to hear all about their unforgettable experience—and hopefully share some photos from the big game soon.

The dog days of summer are here, and we’re celebrating some of the hardest-working members of the hospital team: facilit...
06/10/2026

The dog days of summer are here, and we’re celebrating some of the hardest-working members of the hospital team: facility dogs.

More than friendly faces, facility dogs provide comfort, companionship, and a calming presence for children navigating hospital stays, treatments, and procedures.

They can help reduce stress and anxiety, encourage participation in therapy, provide emotional support during difficult moments, and even help children feel more confident and at ease in an unfamiliar environment.

For a child facing a scary diagnosis or a long day of appointments, a wagging tail and a gentle nuzzle can make all the difference.

At enCourage Kids Foundation, we’re proud to support programs that bring facility dogs into children’s hospitals, helping create moments of comfort, connection, and joy when kids and families need them most.

Because sometimes, healing comes on four paws! 🐶🐾

A moment of joy can make all the difference.Play is more than fun. For children facing illness, play therapy and therape...
06/07/2026

A moment of joy can make all the difference.

Play is more than fun. For children facing illness, play therapy and therapeutic play interventions can help reduce anxiety, support emotional well-being, encourage self-expression, and bring a sense of normalcy during a difficult time.

While many children are spending their summer days at the pool, at camp, or on family vacations, thousands of children are spending theirs in hospital rooms. That reality doesn’t change when school lets out. But even in the hospital, joy is possible.

Through games, crafts, special visitors, and moments designed just for them, we help create opportunities for children to laugh, connect, and simply be kids. These moments may seem small, but they can brighten a day, ease a fear, and remind a child that they are surrounded by people who care.

We are honored to help bring play, comfort, and joy to children when they need it most.

Sometimes the most meaningful moments happen when adults step back and let children take the lead.Child-led play is not ...
06/04/2026

Sometimes the most meaningful moments happen when adults step back and let children take the lead.

Child-led play is not just fun. It is how children learn about themselves and the world around them. When kids are free to direct the play, they build confidence in their own ideas, practice decision-making, work through big emotions, and stretch their creativity in ways that cannot be scripted.

A teddy bear might not look like much to us, but to a child, it can become a best friend, a patient in need of care, a student in a classroom, a brave adventurer, or a trusted companion during a difficult day. Through play, children rehearse real-life situations, express feelings they may not yet have words for, and find comfort in familiar routines.

That is one of the reasons we love seeing our enCourage Kids teddy bears find their way into the hands of children. These bears become part of stories, adventures, and moments of comfort. They offer a sense of familiarity during uncertain times and a little extra courage when it is needed most.

Play may look simple, but it is doing important work. Every imaginary tea party, classroom lesson, or teddy bear checkup is helping a child grow, learn, and feel a little more at home in the world.

As child life specialists, you know that learning doesn’t stop once you’ve earned your credentials. The field is constan...
06/02/2026

As child life specialists, you know that learning doesn’t stop once you’ve earned your credentials. The field is constantly evolving, and so are the needs of the children and families we serve.

At enCourage Kids Foundation, we are passionate about supporting child life professionals at every stage of their journey. Whether you’re pursuing CPR certification, strengthening your skills in grief counseling or bereavement facilitation, learning ASL or Spanish, or exploring areas like crisis management and disaster relief, every new skill adds another layer to the care and comfort you provide.

Professional growth is about more than adding credentials to your résumé. It’s about building confidence, expanding your perspective, and finding new ways to connect with children during some of their most vulnerable moments. The more tools you have, the more equipped you are to advocate, educate, support, and inspire.

The impact of a child life specialist reaches far beyond a hospital room. By continuing to invest in your own development, you’re investing in better experiences, stronger support systems, and brighter outcomes for countless children and families.

We love celebrating the dedication of child life specialists who never stop growing, learning, and finding new ways to make a difference.

What training, certification, or professional development opportunity has had the biggest impact on your practice?

Last night at Radio City Music Hall was the kind of night that reminds you just how powerful joy can be.The stage was fi...
05/28/2026

Last night at Radio City Music Hall was the kind of night that reminds you just how powerful joy can be.

The stage was filled with incredible young performers whose talent, courage, and spirit moved the entire room. These are children who have faced enormous challenges, yet they stepped into the spotlight with confidence, excitement, and so much heart.

There is something deeply emotional about watching a child realize they are capable of something extraordinary. Hearing the applause. Seeing the pride on their faces. Watching families cheer through tears as these kids take center stage, not because of what they have been through, but because of who they are.

Over the years, we have been so proud to see children from enCourage Kids families participate in the Dreams of Tomorrow Talent Show. Watching them stand on that iconic Radio City stage has always been a beautiful reminder that every child deserves moments of celebration, confidence, and pure joy.

We are endlessly grateful to the Garden of Dreams Foundation for creating experiences that uplift children and remind them, and all of us, that their light is far greater than any obstacle they may face.

What an unforgettable night.

This Memorial Day, we honor those who gave everything in service to others—and inspire the next generation to lead with ...
05/26/2026

This Memorial Day, we honor those who gave everything in service to others—and inspire the next generation to lead with courage, compassion, and care.

We are incredibly grateful to UP Entertainment and their amazing New York team for choosing enCourage Kids Foundation as...
05/21/2026

We are incredibly grateful to UP Entertainment and their amazing New York team for choosing enCourage Kids Foundation as part of their inspiring “UPlift Someone” initiative.

With so much care and generosity, their team assembled Hospital Comfort Kits filled with crayons, colored pencils, activity books, games, and other thoughtful items designed to bring comfort and joy to children in the hospital.

For pediatric patients and families facing long days, difficult diagnoses, and overwhelming moments, these small acts of kindness can mean everything. A distraction during treatment. A reason to smile. A moment to simply feel like a kid again.

Because of UP Entertainment’s compassion and commitment to uplifting others, children in the hospital will experience a little more comfort, creativity, and joy during some of their hardest days.

To everyone who packed kits, donated supplies, and helped deliver them — thank you for showing our families that they are seen, supported, and cared for. Your kindness is already making a meaningful impact.

Swipe to see the incredible team in action putting these kits together and delivering them to our office!

1 in 5 children experience a mental health challenge each year — but with support, connection, and the right tools, kids...
05/20/2026

1 in 5 children experience a mental health challenge each year — but with support, connection, and the right tools, kids can build resilience that lasts a lifetime.

Mental health isn’t just about crisis intervention. It’s about teaching children how to name their feelings, ask for help, rest, move their bodies, and know they are deeply valued exactly as they are.

A few simple ways to support kids’ mental wellness:
• Encourage open conversations without judgment
• Prioritize sleep, movement, and routine
• Limit overstimulation and create calm spaces
• Celebrate effort, not perfection
• Remind them that emotions are temporary — and they never have to face them alone

Strong kids aren’t kids who never struggle. They’re kids who learn they are supported through the struggle.

Every caring adult has the power to change a child’s story.

Address

New York, NY

Opening Hours

Monday 10am - 5pm
Tuesday 10am - 5pm
Wednesday 10am - 5pm
Thursday 10am - 5pm
Friday 10am - 5pm

Telephone

+12123542878

Website

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