Grant Recipients
Through the generosity of a giving community, The Rypien Foundation has provided grants to the following community-based programs and organizations that directly serve children with cancer, and their families.
American Childhood Cancer Organization
(Formally known as Inland Northwest Candlelighters)
The American Childhood Cancer Organization, a direct service organization, is dedicated to serving children with cancer and their immediate and extended family members, survivors, health care professionals, and bereaved families. ACCO is a great partner of ours, and together we work to meet the needs of cancer patients in the Inland Northwest. The Rypien Foundation provides funding to support a number of ACCO programs including: the annual Family Christmas Party, gas and phone cards, general operational support and family comfort kits. These kits are given to families at diagnosis and are filled with information, practical items, toys, and miscellaneous items to help families begin the journey through childhood cancer.
"Our work is very much in the trenches. We provide an oasis in a drought - sorrow, pain, and despair are met with experience, love and hope. The high profile of the Rypien Foundation aligning with our mission provides crucial funding so that we can be present to provide much needed support." Mary Anne Ruddis, Executive Driector
American Cancer Society—Camp Goodtimes-East
From 2004 until 2012 (when ACS stopped sponsoring the camp), the Rypien Foundation provided assistance to make sure kids had the best experience possible at camp. The Foundation provided airfare for out-of-town kids, hotel rooms for families, riverboat cruise on the Spokane River, and provided the campers with "camper packs" filled with supplies for fun activities!
This camp was a wonderful retreat for boys and girls diagnosed with cancer, or who had a history of cancer, have the opportunity to spend a week away from their routine of treatments and hospital visits, and have the chance to be a kid. Camp Goodtimes-East is medically supervised and features virtually every activity enjoyed by today's youngsters, including canoeing, swimming, archery, fishing, bicycling, outdoor games, arts and crafts, campfires, and singing.
Providence Sacred Heart Children's Hospital
Scholarships
In addition to the number of programs and projects funded at Sacred Heart, the Rypien Foundation provided a grant for 10 healthcare professionals to attend the Heart of Pediatric Palliative Care Conference. These professionals gained important insights in their care of children facing serious illness as a result of attending.
Arts in Healing
The Arts in Healing program at Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center was established in 2010 to give patients an outlet for communication and expression while focusing on wellness and well-being - physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. We help patients and their families journey toward healing through the use of visual art, music, dance/movement, poetry/journaling and drama. Research shows that the benefits of Arts in Healing include the promotion of healing; lowering of stress and anxiety; reduction in pain medication; increase in overall feelings of well-being; increase of insight, self-awareness, and self-discovery; and building positive coping skills.
"Our families come to us at perhaps the darkest time in their lives. They come seeking clinical excellence. But Providence strives to go further and 'ease their way'. This program provides emotional support to the kids and their families, giving them activities to lift their spirits and experience a portion of life outside the clinical environment. This would not be possible without the generous support of the Rypien Foundation." Larry Soehren, Board President, Providence Health Care Foundation
Child Life Specialist
Patient volume continues to increase in the Rypien Foundation Children’s Emergency Center and to ensure patients are receiving the best possible care, the Rypien Foundation provided a grant to fund a full time child life specialist. The child life specialist will focus on the true meaning of child life with medical play, distraction measures and will work to provide patients and families with the education and emotional support needed to get through their medical journey.
Walla Walla Hospitals
In appreciation of the support the Rypien Foundation has received from the Walla Walla community, the Foundation donated two therapeutic chairs that convert into beds to the pediatric center at Walla Walla General Hospital, and sent St. Mary Medical Center a $2,000 grant to purchase toys, books and activities for children.