Holiday Smiles Campaign for Children Battling Illness
The Emiliio Nares Foundation (ENF), a local nonprofit dedicated to helping families navigate their children’s cancer journey and other life-threatening illnesses, will launch its Holiday Smiles campaign on November 5 and it will run through December 31. This year’s eight-week initiative will benefit the patients and families served by Transplant, Oncology, and Sickle Cell Units at San Diego Rady Children’s Hospital and Children’s Hospital of Orange County (CHOC).
Through the campaign, ENF is collecting both monetary donations and toys to bring holiday cheer to children and support the dedicated hospital staff who care for them year-round. The nonprofit aims to raise $100,000 and collect 500 toys to make this season brighter for families facing difficult journeys.
Each donation helps support year-long programs and fund holiday celebrations where children can open gifts, share a meal, and celebrate the holidays. For some families, this is the only celebration they have during the season and ENF believes that no child should miss the magic.
“Day in and day out, the staff at Rady Children’s Hospital work alongside ENF to provide inclusive care for every patient and their families,” said Elsa Morales-Roth, executive director of ENF. “This campaign is our way of giving back to both the families we serve and the healthcare heroes who make such a difference.”
Community members are encouraged to participate in several ways. This year, ENF received a higher demand of patients needing support due to the impacts on equitable healthcare access. A monetary donation will help patients receive quality care and spread holiday cheer this season and beyond. Every donation of $50 or more earns an entry into a raffle for one of four prizes and winners will be announced on January 6, Emilio Nares’ birthday. New, unwrapped toys are being collected at various drop-off locations throughout San Diego County. Visit ENFHope.org for a complete list of sites. Not able to donate? Join ENF by volunteering your time to wrap gifts or pack snack bags that will get hand delivered to the hospital units.
Category: children, Donations, Events, Local News, Nonprofit, Students
