In recent years, we have expanded our reach to include the funding of select pediatric oncology initiatives, music therapy programs, and international projects.
Music Therapy
Music played an important part during Gabrielle’s treatments and hospital stays. Because of this special connection, the Foundation has provided support to music therapy programs at the following institutions: New York’s Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Children’s National Medical Center in Washington, D.C., Cleveland’s Seidman Cancer Center, the University of Maryland’s Greenebaum Cancer Center and Boston Children’s Hospital. In 2017, we proudly added the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia to this list.
Music For Pain Relief
Music therapy programs provide one-on-one patient and family care with bedside visits as well as in the pre-surgical and post-operative suites. A solace to both patients and their families, trained therapists work closely as part of the interdisciplinary hospital teams that include physicians, nurses, social workers and chaplains. Often music therapy patients are referred for relief of symptoms such as pain, anxiety, social isolation and end-stage disease.
Art Therapy
In 2013, Gabrielle’s Angel Foundation visited Children’s National Medical Center in Washington D.C. with Board Member, celebrity jeweler Lorraine Schwartz, for an inspirational day of jewelry making with five very special children. This art therapy session gave patients and their siblings the opportunity to create one-of-a-kind pieces with real gems courtesy of Lorraine. The children’s designs were then manufactured by her team of professionals and featured on the red carpet at the 2013 GRAMMY® Awards by the night’s biggest stars: Miley Cyrus, Pharrell, Taylor Swift, and Katy Perry. Reigning pop diva Beyoncé even sported the jewels in her feature for SHAPE Magazine.
Shulamit’s Hope Foundation
Lorraine and her siblings Ilan and Ofira Sandberg felt a special connection with this project which they also did with their mother when she was in treatment for lung cancer. They created the Shulamit’s Hope Foundation in her memory. Special thanks to Lorraine, Ilan, Ofira, Justin, Mario and the entire Children’s National team for bringing this healing initiative to these deserving young angels.
In the summer of 2015, Gabrielle’s Angel Foundation visited Cohen Children’s Medical Center with Lorraine and her team for another inspirational day of art initiatives for patients and their loved ones. The Foundation provided support for an art therapist at the hospital in January of 2016.