Past
Causes

2023

Hospice & Community Care’s Sunflower Pediatric Program and The Penn State Children’s Hospital Facility Dog Program

This year's recipients were Hospice & Community Care's Sunflower Pediatric Program and The Penn State Health Children's Hospital Facility Dog Program. Through the work of these two organizations, lives are enriched, suffering is eased, and memories are made.

We were pleased to present a total of $148,297.80 to both Hospice & Community Care Sunflower Pediatric Program and The Penn State Children's Hospital Facility Dog Program. Thank you to all our supporters who made this gift possible!

Past
Causes

2022

Hospice & Community Care’s Sunflower Pediatric Program

Since 2017, HOPE in the AIR and our supporters have been coming together to provide hope and create change in our community. We have met some amazing individuals during this journey. This year we shared our vision of hope with Hospice & Community Care's Sunflower Pediatric Program. The Sunflower ... [read more]

Past
Causes

2021

A Year for Reflection

To celebrate our milestone 5th year, HOPE in the AIR is looking back at the past four campaigns. Much like the four stages in the metamorphosis of a butterfly, HOPE in the AIR has grown through the generosity of our supporters to touch the lives of some amazing ... [read more]

Past
Causes

2020

Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Facility Dog

As the first full-time facility dog at CHOP, Dilly plays an important role within a child’s treatment team. Dilly’s extensive training has made him a helpful companion attending to patients across a continuum of care: physical and occupational therapy, procedural support, help with distraction, coping skills, and more. We ... [read more]

Past
Causes

2019

Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Facility Dog

In 2019, we raised awareness and financial support to help establish a new Facility Dog Program at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) and assist with placing the very first dog within the program! Facility dogs are service dogs professionally trained to work in a health care setting as an important part ... [read more]

Past
Causes

2018

Penn State Children’s Hospital Facility Dog Program

In 2018, we raised awareness and financial support for an emerging program being used at Penn State Children’s Hospital currently known as: Facility Dog Program Facility dogs are service dogs professionally trained to work in a health care and other settings as an important part of a child’s treatment plan... [read more]

Past
Causes

2017

Tails of Valor, Paws of Honor

In 2017, we raised awareness and financial support for TAILS OF VALOR, PAWS OF HONOR.  Founded in 2014, TAILS OF VALOR, PAWS OF HONOR is a Non-Profit organization that is dedicated to providing hope to veteran war heroes and their rescued service companions. Every day in the United States ... [read more]

Past Causes

2023

Hospice & Community Care’s Sunflower Pediatric Program and The Penn State Children’s Hospital Facility Dog Program

This year's recipients were Hospice & Community Care's Sunflower Pediatric Program and The Penn State Health Children's Hospital Facility Dog Program. Through the work of these two organizations, lives are enriched, suffering is eased, and memories are made.

We were pleased to present a total of $148,297.80 to both Hospice & Community Care Sunflower Pediatric Program and The Penn State Children's Hospital Facility Dog Program. Thank you to all our supporters who made this gift possible!

Past Causes

2022

Hospice & Community Care’s Sunflower Pediatric Program

Since 2017, HOPE in the AIR and our supporters have been coming together to provide hope and create change in our community. We have met some amazing individuals during this journey.

This year we shared our vision of hope with Hospice & Community Care's Sunflower Pediatric Program. The Sunflower Program helps to provide personalized, quality care and comfort at home for children and teens by enhancing the patient's quality of life and providing an extra layer of emotional, spiritual, and psychosocial support for patients and their families.

We were pleased to present a total of $126,235 to Hospice & Community Care for the continued support they provide through the Sunflower Pediatric Program. Thank you to all our supporters who made this gift possible!

Past Causes

2021

A Year for Reflection

To celebrate our milestone 5th year, HOPE in the AIR is looking back at the past four campaigns. Much like the four stages in the metamorphosis of a butterfly, HOPE in the AIR has grown through the generosity of our supporters to touch the lives of some amazing and courageous individuals.

Tails of Valor, Paws of Honor allows veterans to work with rescued puppies, providing a fully trained ADA/ADI guideline service dog at no cost to a veteran. HOPE in the AIR has already sponsored three puppies - Reshie, Loftus, and Geiger. Penn State Children's Hospital Facility Dog Program hoped to add a third dog to their program and through the generosity of HOPE in the AIR supporters, Pilot was added to the team at Penn State Children's Hospital. Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) established their new Facility Dog program, with Dilly in 2020. Since joining the team at CHOP, Dilly has become a familiar and comforting touchpoint for patients.

Past Causes

2020

Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Facility Dog

As the first full-time facility dog at CHOP, Dilly plays an important role within a child’s treatment team. Dilly’s extensive training has made him a helpful companion attending to patients across a continuum of care: physical and occupational therapy, procedural support, help with distraction, coping skills, and more. We are pleased to share some of Dilly’s contributions made possible by your support.

Normalizing what is oftentimes a daunting hospital experience, Dilly has become a familiar and comforting touchpoint for patients. Coping and comfort can be offered to children in different ways. And sometimes it's in the form of a furry friend that can let kids just feel like kids again.

To learn more about Dilly's impact on the patients at CHOP, click here.

Past Causes

2019

Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Facility Dog


In 2019, we raised awareness and financial support to help establish a new Facility Dog Program at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) and assist with placing the very first dog within the program!

Facility dogs are service dogs professionally trained to work in a health care setting as an important part of a child’s treatment plan. Unlike hospital visiting therapy dogs, facility dogs are employed full-time and live with a staff member referred to as a handler. The handler receives intensive training and is certified in Animal Assisted Therapy.

CHOP envisions their first facility dog to arrive in late 2020.  This team member will do more than just wag its tail, give slobbery kisses and pawshakes - he/she will play a very important role in the Child Life program and the entire Children’s Hospital as the hospital’s first-ever facility dog. This facility dog’s primary focus will be to assist Child Life specialists by attending appointments for interventions with inpatient populations. The facility dog will assist with procedure support, ambulation support, co-treatment options with physical therapy, and deep pressure therapy to combat anxiety in patients.

Past Causes

2018

Penn State Children’s Hospital Facility Dog Program

In 2018, we raised awareness and financial support for an emerging program being used at Penn State Children’s Hospital currently known as: Facility Dog Program

Facility dogs are service dogs professionally trained to work in a health care and other settings as an important part of a child’s treatment plan. The Children’s Hospital Facility Dog Program began with the arrival of Kaia in 2016. This team member does more than just cuddle and play fetch – she plays a very important role in Child Life and the entire Children’s Hospital as the hospital’s first-ever facility dog. 

Kaia’s primary focus is to assist Child Life specialists within pediatric radiology and oncology by helping children and teens cope with hospital procedures and reduce emotional stress. Penn State Children’s Hospital is the first children’s hospital in Pennsylvania to employ a full-time facility dog.

Past Causes

2017

Tails of Valor, Paws of Honor

In 2017, we raised awareness and financial support for TAILS OF VALOR, PAWS OF HONOR.  Founded in 2014, TAILS OF VALOR, PAWS OF HONOR is a Non-Profit organization that is dedicated to providing hope to veteran war heroes and their rescued service companions.

Every day in the United States, more than 22 veterans take their own life.* At the same time, every day in the United States 3,288 dogs are euthanized.**  Tails of Valor Canine Connections Training Program allows veterans to work with in-house trainers to develop/train rescued puppies, all of whom are named after a fallen soldier.  The program is designed to attend to the normal behavior and needs of the canine, while addressing the symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and other physical disabilities.  At the completion of the 14 – 20 months training period, these fully-trained ADA/ADI guideline service dogs are given at no cost to a veteran.