enCourage Kids Foundation

This #ChildrensHospitalsWeek, we’re incredibly proud to be part of the Children's Specialized Hospital Foundation family—and eager to celebrate one very special kid: Nikos Kaymakcian, the 2025 Children’s Miracle Network Champion. Nikos was diagnosed with spina bifida at his 20-week ultrasound. His parents, Nicole and AJ, were told he’d never walk or go to the bathroom on his own. But they held onto hope—and from day one, Nikos defied the odds. After successful surgery the day after he was born, Nikos came close to needing a shunt to relieve pressure in his brain. But minutes before that surgery, his swelling miraculously disappeared. From then on, his journey has been one of strength, perseverance, and joy. At just a year old, Nikos began therapy at Children’s Specialized Hospital, where his care team—especially his physical therapists Tara and Natalie—have cheered him on every step of the way. Today, Nikos walks with braces and a walker, and his smile is just as unstoppable as his spirit. To mark this moment, Nikos created a special t-shirt design to help support other pediatric patients like him. 🧡 ✨ Read his full story: give2csh.org/nikos 👕 Buy his inspiring t-shirt: https://lnkd.in/eSBG424K We hope Nikos’ story fills you with as much hope and gratitude as it has for all of us. Please share and help us raise awareness this week!

Thank you to enCourage Kids Foundation for making a generous grant toward Elizabeth Seton Children’s Cruising Caterpillars initiative – an adaptive cycling program that reflects our belief that every child deserves the opportunity to experience the thrill, exhilaration and joy of bike-riding! Our children and young adults are “wheelie” excited about our new adaptive trike, which allows them to explore new environments within our children’s center, build their self-confidence, increase their range of motion, improve their visual and motor skills and, of course, have fun! #CreatingPossibilities

Last night at Radio City Music Hall was nothing short of extraordinary. The Garden of Dreams “Dreams of Tomorrow” Talent Show brought together some of the most inspiring young performers—children who have overcome unthinkable challenges to step into the spotlight and share their gifts with the world. It was a night of music, dance, and deep emotion. A celebration not just of talent, but of courage, resilience, and the unwavering power of community. At enCourage Kids Foundation, we’ve been proud to see some kids from our enCourage Kids families take part in this incredible event in past years. Watching them shine on stage—against the backdrop of their personal stories—has been one of the most meaningful reminders of why we do what we do. We are so grateful to the Garden of Dreams Foundation for creating these moments of magic, where children are not defined by their circumstances, but by their dreams, their strength, and their light. It was a privilege to witness it once again.

Today is #WorldHealthDay — a global reminder that health is a fundamental human right. But for millions of children facing illness, injury, or long-term medical challenges, good health isn’t guaranteed. That’s where we come in. At enCourage Kids Foundation, we believe that caring for a child’s health goes beyond medicine. It’s about bringing comfort, reducing stress, and creating moments of joy during some of the scariest times in a child’s life. From interactive hospital programs to therapeutic play, we’re working alongside pediatric care teams to support the whole child — body, mind, and heart. This World Health Day, we’re celebrating the resilience of young patients, the compassion of healthcare heroes, and the power of programs that help kids feel like kids again. Because when we care for kids with creativity, empathy, and heart — we don’t just improve health outcomes. We create healing. #EncourageKids #WorldHealthDay #ChildrensHealth #PediatricCare #HealingThroughJoy

Before surgery, it’s completely normal for children to feel nervous or scared. As parents and caregivers, one of the most powerful ways you can support them is through affirmations—simple, reassuring phrases like, 'You are so brave' or 'It’s okay to feel nervous, but we’re here to keep you safe.' These words help provide comfort and confidence. But it’s not just about words—validating a child’s feelings is crucial. When we acknowledge their emotions, we show them that it’s okay to feel the way they do, and that their feelings are important. This helps them feel understood, which can significantly reduce anxiety and give them a sense of control in a situation that feels out of their hands. Child Life Specialists are key in this process. They’re trained professionals who help children cope with medical experiences by providing emotional support and distraction techniques. These specialists work alongside families, explaining what’s happening in an age-appropriate way, using play or storytelling, and offering comforting strategies to help the child feel more at ease. By combining affirmations with the expertise of a Child Life Specialist, we can create an environment where children feel safe, understood, and supported every step of the way.

A child with autism is not someone to be “fixed” or “changed.” They are someone to be loved, supported, and celebrated for exactly who they are. The world doesn’t need to make them fit in— it needs to create space for them to thrive. Acceptance means truly seeing a child with autism—not just their differences, but their brilliance, their creativity, their joy. It means embracing the way they experience the world and recognizing that their perspective is just as valuable as anyone else’s. It means replacing judgment with understanding, hesitation with kindness, and exclusion with belonging. For every child with autism who has ever felt unheard or unseen, let today be a reminder: You matter. You are worthy. You are enough. Let’s make a world where every child with autism grows up knowing they are loved not despite who they are, but because of who they are.

So important to continue to support the causes that are meaningful to you. Celebrating 40 years at the enCourage Kids Foundation Gala for their nonstop work for hospitalized pediatric patients across the country. Thank you ABC News and Ryan Field for all you do to shine a spotlight on the mission.

April is #AutismAcceptanceMonth, a time to celebrate and honor the incredible uniqueness of children with autism. 🌈💙 Neurodiversity is about recognizing that every child’s brain works differently, and those differences make the world more colorful, creative, and compassionate. This month, we’re focusing on fostering understanding and acceptance for children with autism and working to create spaces where they feel seen, supported, and celebrated for who they are. Each child has their own strengths, and when we embrace these differences, we open up a world of possibilities for growth, joy, and connection. We’ll be sharing resources all month long to help empower families, educators, and communities to create a more inclusive environment, especially within medical settings, where every child has the opportunity to thrive. Let’s work together to break down barriers and build a future where every child feels accepted and loved. #CelebrateNeurodiversity #AutismAcceptance #InclusionMatters #SupportAutisticChildren

This Child Life Month, we celebrate the incredible child life specialists who turn fear into courage, loneliness into connection, and hospital rooms into spaces of healing. At enCourage Kids, we ensure these dedicated professionals have the tools they need—play therapy kits, music programs, and comforting resources like Teddy, the enCourage Kids Bear—to ease anxiety, foster resilience, and remind kids they are never alone. Your support makes this possible! By donating, you’re not just providing toys or distractions—you’re giving hospitalized children joy, comfort, and a sense of normalcy when they need it most. Join us in honoring child life specialists and making a difference today! https://lnkd.in/eHvfxD9r #ChildLifeMonth #HealingThroughPlay #enCourageKids

Meet Madeha, a dedicated Child Life Specialist! For the past 8 years, Madeha has been using play as a powerful tool to support children in medical settings. Play helps normalize the hospital environment, provides a common language for children to express themselves, prepares them for procedures, and allows them to process their experiences afterward. As Madeha says, "Organizations such as enCourage Kids help provide hospitals with the play tools that enable us to do all of the above and more. Healing isn’t just about the physical treatment but also ensuring that children leave the hospital with a positive outlook on medical experiences. Thank you, enCourage Kids, for helping so many kids associate medical experiences with joy and comfort." We are so grateful for Child Life Specialists like Madeha who bring comfort, connection, and resilience to children and families every day! 💛 #ChildLifeMonth #ChildLifeSpecialist #HealingThroughPlay #EmotionalSupport