Mission: The mission of Teardrops to Rainbows is to improve the quality of life of children with cancer and their families by providing support, services and financial assistance. We are specifically focused on helping the families stay connected and better manage their day-to-day household responsibilities so that they can improve the quality of their family lives. It is our vision that these families be able to:· Spend more quality time together, including time for parent-to-parent and parent-to-sibling interactions, as well as time with the cancer patient;B· Better focus their time and energy on the treatment of the cancer patient; andC· Stay better connected with their immediate and extended family when they are not able to actually be together.D. Between 2005 and 2008 Teardrops to Rainbows has made a significant investment in the hospital and outpatient living environment of our families. We have created a beautiful parent lounge/respite, several child treatment rooms to preserve the "safe-haven" of the childs private room, and we created removable wall murals in the outpatient clinic and in at CNMC. We will continue this effort through 2009 and beyond. This year we installed flat screen TVs in every patient room at Inova Fairfax Hospital as well as a private Wii system for each bed. We provided games, Rock Band, Wii Fit etc. for the patients to use while in the hospital. We also donated several Wii's and a Wii Fit to the outpatient clinic which serves children from Inova as well as CNMC.
Programs: Family support including car payments, cell phone bills, day care, mortgage payments, house cleaning, etc. During the treatment phase. These payments help families cope with small and large challenges that may otherwise serve as "the straw that breaks the camel's back". During the fiscal year, the program made payments on behalf of families in the greater washington d. C. Area.
inova-life with cancer, fairfax, va. This multi-year grant will support the construction and outfitting of the teen lounge at the new life with cancer facility in fairfax, va. The grant covers space, decor, program support and volunteer opportunities.
each year t2r sponsors a holiday party for families and patients impacted by pediatric cancer. This is a celebration of life and recognition of the support community. Annual attendance generally includes over 100 families and nearly 350 participants. This year t2r also sponsored a hospital party and tea which were attended by the families and patients
provides support services and financial assistance to area children with cancer and their families. T2r plays an active role in helping famiilies through the many stages of treatment for pediatric cancer. We provide direct grants to families to cover small items such as car repair, child care, cell phones and other services during the treatment phase. We also make grants to area hospitals and organizations to enhance the comfort of families in treatment.
Donor & Volunteer Advisory
This organization's nonprofit status may have been revoked or it may have merged with another
organization or ceased operations.
Since I first learned of the work of this organization, I have been amazed by its level of contribution given its size. Virtually every penny contributed goes directly to the mission. They vitality and energy of its founder, Lois Lyons, radiates throughout every activity. In speaking with their clients it immediately comes through what a lasting difference T2R made in their lives.
Precipated by the saddest of sad events, the death of a little girl, Rachel, from cancer, Teardrops to Rainbows has grown over the years to serve hundreds of families dealing with the frightening diagnosis of childhood cancer. Lois Lyons, its founder, is a dynamo. She's untiring in her devotion to Teardrops, which has no paid staff. The work Teardrops does may not even be known, except to those families who benefit. But, to them, it is priceless love and help at a very trying time.
Teardrops is an organization dedicated to helping families who have a child diagnosed with cancer. The financial support that T2R provides is invaluable when a family is struggling to make ends meet. There are so many pitfalls for a family when one parent no longer works and T2R has helped with car repairs, phone bills, computer problems. T2R has helped homeless families find places to live because of joint efforts with other non-profits. T2R has supported the efforts of DC Metro Candlelighters in the direct services of families with educational support.
mary23
Professional with expertise in this field
05/21/2010
Rating: 5
05/21/2010
Teardrops to rainbows is a great organization dedicated to making the path these families must travel a little easier. Over the years I have been involved with T2R they have put murals on the walls of the inpatient hospital unit and made the parent lounge a place of refuge with internet access, comfortable furniture, fountainsm, good lighting and a 2 way miroor wher the chilren were playing and did not know the parents could see them. They have also hosted Holiday parties and provided gifts not only for the patients but for the siblings. In my outpatient area, they provided a Tv with DVD's for the children who are there for hours getting chemotherapy. They also gave a WII so the kids could have other choices. All in all it is an organization dedicated to helping the children and their families cope with this devastating illness. There are many volunteer opportunities and ways to give.
