Tracy's Kids, Inc.

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Nonprofit Overview

Causes: Cancer

Mission: Tracy’s Kids is an art therapy program dedicated to helping young cancer patients and their families cope with the emotional stress and trauma arising from cancer and its treatment. All of our services are provided free of charge with the goal of ensuring that the children and families we serve are emotionally equipped to fight cancer as actively as possible -- and prepared for the time when they are cancer free.

Community Stories

13 Stories from Volunteers, Donors & Supporters

amc217 Professional with expertise in this field

Rating: 5

05/20/2015

As the Child Life Specialist in our clinic, I can say from the bottom of my heart how grateful I am for Tracy's Kids and our Art Therapist. This program does wonders for the social and emotional health of our patients and families, giving them not only a creative outlet for expression, but also a friendly, familiar, and supportive face during tough times. We would be totally lost without our Art Therapist, who wouldn't be here if it weren't for Tracy's Kids. So, thank you Tracy's Kids for the great work that you do and for letting us keep such a fabulous person around to brighten the days of our patients and families who need it most.

BethanyMetzroth Client Served

Rating: 5

05/07/2015

As a Development Officer within the Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders at Children's National I have the pleasure of witnessing Tracy's Kids art therapists in action on a regular basis. They nurture and heal children every day and they connect with them as if they are their own. The space and program at our hospital is such a gift to our children and the art therapists are such a blessing. Big thanks to Tracy's Kids for making such a difference in our world.

Janko123 Client Served

Rating: 5

05/07/2015

I am always amazed by how the art therapists remember each and every child's name. When a child walks through the door, they are greeted with enthusiasm and a feeling of belonging. No matter what my daughter may have looked like or felt like, it was of no importance, once there it was all but forgotten. As a child walking into a room after a major change, you feel like people will only ever notice you by your insecurities. In the art room, a child's insecurities (hair loss, tubes, IV poles, bandages, scars, tears) simply disappear. There is an open invitation to the art room, and these children understand and look forward to it. My daughter will ask about the art room as soon as we make it into an exam room, even while we are still in the car if I'm being honest! She could paint for hours. I have seen her make many adjustments over the last year and a half, but one constant is knowing that the art room will be there for her once she finishes the not so fun portion of our visit!

For us as parents, the art room has been an invaluable source of joy on this long journey. Between the numerous inpatient and outpatient trips to Children's National, the art room has given our daughter a reason to smile and laugh. Each child in the room has already had their vitals checked, so we know that the room is a safe environment for her. As a parent watching your child go through the unthinkable, seeing them smile is a precious gift that we are really able to stop and appreciate. So many things have been taken from these children, they truly are warriors. The art room lets us forget about what is happening outside of that door!

Sarah238 Professional with expertise in this field

Rating: 5

05/06/2015

As a nurse in the clinic, my job would be so much harder without the help and generous support from Tracy's Kids. Our Art Therapist helps the patients and their families deal with the everyday issues that arise in the clinic, from dealing with procedures and infusions to how to deal with things emotionally and then just being there for the parents when they need someone to talk to. She uses art in so many creative ways that we continue to be in awe of all the projects the kids do. Without the help from Tracy's Kids, our clinic would not function as well as it does and the patients would be disserviced. Thank you, Tracy's Kids for making a difference in the lives of patients and their families at the clinic!

William64 Client Served

Rating: 5

05/06/2015

I have first hand seen the impact that the Tracy's Kids sponsored art therapy program at Children’s National Medical Center in the Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders has not only on the patients but the staff as well. As Pediatric Nurse Practitioner in the clinic, I see how it brightens each and everyone of my patient's day. In fact it is the highlight of most of my patients' day and allows them to have a moment to just be a kid and not a cancer patient. The staff also enjoy the time set aside to get together to talk, reflect, and remember patient that have passed. During these times the chance to do some art therapy helps to put into perspective what we do and why we do it.

AmandaThompson Client Served

Rating: 5

05/01/2015

As the Director of Patient Support Services at Children's National Medical Center, I see firsthand the impact that Tracy's Kids art therapy program has on patients and families throughout the treatment journey. Tracy's Kids allows us to focus on our patients as children first and to provide them with crucial support for their social and emotional needs during inpatient and outpatient visits. The Tracy's Kids art room is the heart and soul of our unit, always bustling with energy, smiles, and laughter. Tracy's Kids makes a difference in the lives of our patients, family, and staff everyday, and I consider myself lucky to have the opportunity to work with this incredible organization!

MarthaQuinn Professional with expertise in this field

Rating: 5

04/30/2015

As the dedicated fundraiser for the Center for Cancer & Blood Disorders at Children's National, I have a unique perspective on the value of Tracy's Kids. I'm not a direct care provider, yet I witness frequent interactions between our patients and the Tracy's Kids Art Therapists that clearly indicate how positive this form of care is for our children. Even as children are connected to IV poles, they are sitting around a table with other children just like them, talking, drawing, playing, and receiving amazing support from the therapists. Parents often gather in our dedicated Tracy's Kids Art Therapy Room and share stories, learning from each other's experiences, and bolstering faith that tomorrow will be better. We couldn't deliver this care without external philanthropy, and that is why I am grateful that Tracy's Kids is our faithful partner in making life better for children fighting cancer in DC, around the nation and across the globe.

Jeff Dome Client Served

Rating: 5

05/29/2013

As Chief of Hematology and Oncology at Children's National Medical Center, I give Tracy's Kids my most enthusiastic endorsement. We have learned over the years that successful treatment of childhood cancer involves not just the medical treatment, but also strong patient and family support services. Cancer treatment take a major toll on the psychological well being of the patient and family. It is crucial to have support systems in place to make the overall experience as tolerable as possible. Tracy's Kids provides outstanding art therapists who occupy the children during treatment and provide an outlet for their feelings and anxieties. The children absolutely adore the art therapists and often don't want to go home if it means leaving the art therapy room! The Tracy's Kids program has become a key component of our overall care; I don't know what we'd do without them! The organization is most highly worthy of support.

laura.loumeaumay Professional with expertise in this field

Rating: 5

03/04/2013

As an art therapist, I have always been impressed and inspired by Tracy's Kids. The music video put together by the some of the children they serve moved me to tears of joy because it so beautifully conveys the resiliency they cultivate in the children they work with. Being active in the art therapy community, I always was aware of Tracy's Kids does, but the video on youtube -- http://youtu.be/I91AVXNsb1c -- brings the message home even more clearly. This program deserves our recognition and gratitude for what they bring to the children and families they work with and for what they bring to the field. Art therapist Tracy Councill, who founded this program, was also recently interviewed for the BBC News Magazine online series, "The Power of Art" (dated Februray 27, 2013). In this interview she talks about the program and also about research into the benefits af art therapy with children. (More can be found about research on the website of the American Art Therapy Association.) So, a big Kudos to Tracy Councill and Tracy's Kids, not only for the high quality work they do in helping medically ill children and supprting their families, but also for bringing to the eyes of the public this much needed programming. We need many more programs like Tracy's Kids everywhere. There are some other good ones out there, but not nearly enough.

review by Laura Loumeau-May, MPS, ATR-BC, LPC

Dr. Sanders Professional with expertise in this field

Rating: 5

02/27/2013

As a bone marrow transplant physician at Methodist Children's Hospital in San Antonio, I see the value of Tracy's Kids every day. This program provides funding for a full time art therapist, Kathleen, who supports our pediatric hematology, oncology and bone marrow transplant programs. The services Kathleen provides make a tremendous difference in the lives of our patients, who face the most serious diseases, and are often hospitalized or in the clinic for long periods. Art therapy offers a chance for our kids to focus on something other than being sick, and to create something beautiful. For many of my patients, working with Kathleen is the highlight of their day. I believe the art therapy program is one of our greatest assets, and am extremely grateful to Tracy's Kids for make it possible.

Review from Guidestar

Dermot T Client Served

Rating: 5

02/26/2013

Our son, Devan, was first diagnosed with leukemia at the age of 20 months, he relapsed at the age of four and had to undergo a bone marrow transplant. He is now seven and in remission.

He's spent years in and out of Georgetown hospital. This autumn we were talking about his birthday party and he said that instead of presents, he wanted to give to the Georgetown (pediatric oncology) clinic and the Tracy's Kids art therapy program that they run there.

I asked him why, and he replied..."when I had cancer, I knew it was a deadly disease and I was sad", wiping away badly stifled tears. "Then I did art at the clinic, and you know, it made me happy again".

It may seem like a simple little comment, but it carries so much weight in this young kid's life. He had never spoken like that to me before, and I was surprised to hear him talk so bluntly of his fear of cancer. That is when the value of this fantastic art program, really sunk home to me, and how lucky Devan has been to have been able to participated in it throughout these hardship years.

For him, the fear of the next bone marrow biopsy, surgery, needle poke, or transfusion was quietly being pushed aside by the fun of painting , doing a collage, making pottery, inventing a mobile or decorating a dreamcatcher, all the while, chatting away those fears with the engaging art therapists!!

TimB Donor

Rating: 5

02/25/2013

We will forever be grateful to Tracy's Kids on so many levels, and we are proud to continue to support them in any way we can. One of our daughters experienced firsthand the care and nurturing approach provided by the nurses and doctors and other professionals at Tracy's Kids at the clinic at Georgetown Hospital's Lombardi Center. She and our family found comfort and support through the artistic and creative stimulation provided by the staff as our child endured chemotherapy. Indeed, we all found the care so inspiring that another one of our daughters volunteered there as an intern for 3 consecutive summers.

mahinojosa Volunteer

Rating: 5

08/28/2012

Our daughter was an intern/volunteer at Tracy’s Kids this summer, what she came away with was a valuable life lesson that few teenagers witness…it’s the simple things in life that are the most extraordinary. Karen witnessed firsthand the incredible work and selfless dedication that Tracy Councill and her enthusiastic team accomplish every day in making the lives of cancer patients and their families better through art therapy! Through the arts, they help patients and their families cope with the stress and trauma of living with cancer as they are free to express themselves using drawing, painting, sculpture, etc. to deal with illness. This was a life changing experience for Karen as she realized what a difference their work makes in the lives of these families. Thank you to Tracy, all the passionate people who work with her and the patients and their families who accepted Karen with open arms.

Review from Guidestar

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