Kraftlove Already Making a Big Difference

What a difference a few months make for Kraftlove Inc., a nonprofit that provides creative crafting kits to hospitalized children facing a variety of illnesses and challenges. When Kraftlove was launched earlier this year, PRMS was proud to help provide funding and volunteer support for the unique crafting-for-a-cause program. Since then, it has really taken off.

We are delighted to report some of the exciting initiatives happening at Kraftlove – particularly since it’s a program that is so special to our company.

First, a drumroll for some numbers. By the end of the year, Kraftlove will have donated 350 Kraftlove art kits!

And that is not all that’s happening!  The group has since partnered with five hospitals and medical facilities in the D.C. area including Inova Children’s Hospital in Falls Church, Inova Loudoun Hospital in Leesburg, MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, Children’s Center for Cancer & Blood Disorders of Northern Virginia and Kaiser Permanente Capitol Hill Medical Center Pediatric Subspecialities. This summer, Kraftlove also donated craft kits to the Memphis, Tennessee-based St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

“I thought the hardest part would be getting my foot in the door at hospitals but that’s actually been one of the easier things because many of these facilities are so excited to get these kits because they make such a huge difference for the children who receive them,” said Anhvinh Wright, President of Kraftlove. “The feedback we get from the parents is that these boxes make such a difference.  And it is just really so satisfying to hear that.”

In September, Wright also attended the National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month Briefing at the White House to learn more about what the Obama administration is doing to address childhood cancer.  Two days later, Kraftlove took part in the D.C. CureFest for Childhood Cancer, joining nearly 40 other foundations and nonprofits working to support families fighting childhood cancer.

Kraftlove recently began working with a community-minded teacher, as well as Family, Career and Community Leaders of America students from Briar Woods High School in Ashburn, Va., who are helping to assemble the kits.  This fall’s kit features a Thanksgiving-themed art project allowing the young patients to make a turkey and a colorful autumn tree using a Styrofoam ball and feathers, crepe paper and glue.

Kraftlove has also partnered with Pile of Smile, a group it connected with at CureFest that supports wishes for children with cancer by selling donated art.  In an effort to produce more art created by kids for kids, 100 Pile of Smile activity books were generously donated by the organization to supplement Kraftlove art kits this fall.

In August, Kraftlove received some recognition from across the country when Coast Magazine, a popular Orange County, California-based lifestyle magazine featured the organization on a page about crafting for causes.

Kraftlove will also be joining forces with Candlelighters NYC, an organization dedicated to helping families get through difficult times when a child is diagnosed with cancer and throughout their treatment. Kraftlove will begin donating art boxes to Candlelighters NYC this fall.

“It has been really nice connecting with more people and partnering with other organizations for this project,” Wright said. “It’s beginning to feel more like a community and that was always one of my goals – getting the community more involved in this process and sending just a little bit of love with every box.”

PRMS has supported Kraftlove since its inception, so in recognition of National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day in May, PRMS staff helped package kits. PRMS also recently made an additional contribution to Kraftlove.

“PRMS applauds the work that Kraftlove is doing to use art to promote a healing environment and to help transform an often scary experience for pediatric patients to one of joy and healing,” said Stephen Sills, PRMS Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. “We all know how important it is to help heal not only the body, but also the mind.”

As Kraftlove continues to expand their program, donations are continuously appreciated and always helpful.  In fact, Kraftlove will be participating in Giving Tuesday, which is a global day of giving, on December 1, 2015.  For more information, or to contribute to Kraftlove, please contact Anhvinh Wright, President of Kraftlove Inc., at info@kraftlove.com or visit www.kraftlove.com.