John Theissen Childrens Foundation

The John Theissen Children's Foundation is a great organization that helps sick and underprivileged children on Long Island in many ways- the community is blessed to have such a great organization there to support the children.

John Theissen Children Foundation is an organization that tugs at your heartstrings. I have personally seen them live their mission to help sick and under-privileged children of Long Island. A worthy cause indeed. May the community continue to be blessed by all the good they do.

I’ve been working with JTCF for years and they’ve helped so many people over the years. They do amazing work.

It began with one bear


Thursday, December 8, 1988

Twenty eight years ago today, on Thursday December 8 1988, I was 17 years old I was walking into Schneider’s Children’s Hospital in New Hyde Park to have brain surgery the next day for a brain tumor. That day I met a seven-year old girl named Tasha. Tasha came into my room and greeted me in her pajamas, she said hello introduced herself and walked out, only later to come back in my room.

Tasha spent many hours with me for the next few days, always trying to make me happy. This little girl was in and out of the hospital throughout the year receiving different treatments for her illness. She received very little family support. She was dropped off and then picked up again when it was time to go home without having a visitor. Tasha was very excited about a holiday party sponsored by the hospital staff and was expecting her family to attend. They unfortunately did not. I was still too ill but my family agreed to take her. When Santa asked her what she had wanted, Tasha replied, “ I would like a teddy bear for friend upstairs.” I felt fortunate to be that friend. Her positive attitude and generous spirit inspired me. When I got out off the hospital I wanted to help children just like Tasha.

In 1992, I held a toy drive during the holidays to benefit children in local hospitals. During the first toy drive I collected over 800 hundred new toys in just two weeks and brought them to three different hospitals. Well that was the beginning of what has become a year round organization. Since 1992, we have collected over 950,000 new toys and have donated them to sick and underprivileged children in over 180 hospitals and child-care facilities across Long Island. We have also donated therapeutic and recreational equipment. Donations have enabled us to provide special wishes, video game systems, wheelchairs, and arts & crafts supplies. In addition, we have been able to help families with medical expenses.