Summers Way Foundation

Patient and family support: the summer's way foundation has a "wigs for kids and teens" program which funds custom wigs for children and teens receiving cancer treatment at regional children's hospitals. The foundation covers these expenses as the insurance companies do not provide coverage. The program helps reduce the family's financial strain while supporting young patient's self-esteem during treatment. The foundation sponsors special events for young cancer patients, such as an all-expenses-paid trip to concerts for a teen in treatment. The foundation has organized memorable experiences for a family with a terminally ill child and her siblings, who were not eligible through make a wish.

Healing through the arts: this provides individualized art therapy sessions to pediatric cancer patients at a regional children's hospital. Led by a registered art therapist, these sessions use multiple art mediums to help children cope with the isolation and physical challenges that accompanies long hospital stays with aggressive treatment. The program encourages self-expression and social interaction. Feedback from parents and medical staff has been extremely positive with a demonstrable reduction in anxiety, depression, and pain medication requirements among participants.