2020 fiscal year in review - wonders & worries

2020 Fiscal Year In Review

WONDERS & WORRIESJuly 1, 2019 - June 30, 2020

OUR MISSION

WE WILL, TOGETHER.

SERVICES BY COUNTY■ 47% Travis County ■ 26% Williamson County■ 17% Bexar County■ 4% Hays County■ 6% Other Counties

Wonders & Worries provides free, professional support for children and teenagers through a parent’s serious illness.

WONDERS & WORRIES | 2020 FISCAL YEAR IN REVIEW

COVID-19 RESPONSE AND VIRTUAL SUPPORTIn early March, as the COVID-19 pandemic became a reality, our program team adapted the Wonders & Worries Illness Education Curriculum to a virtual format. They resumed providing support virtually to families by the end of the month. Recognizing we were among the first child life specialists to make this pivot, WonderChat webinars sharing our expertise were initiated within the Association of Child Life Professionals (ACLP) community in April. Attendance was and continues to be in the hundreds, elevating our leadership amongst our peers. Monthly WonderChats are an ongoing monthly part of our programming and can be found in the “For Professionals” section of our website.

REGISTERED WONDERS & WORRIES PROVIDER PROGRAM (RWWP)Recognizing our expertise in providing support for children of adult patients, Wonders & Worries now offers a way for individual child life specialists and licensed mental health professionals and organizations to be trained in our validated illness education curriculum and receive the same programmatic resources and guidance as our child life staff. Our pilot training group consisted of 8 child life specialists from across the country and three mental health professionals. This training will be offered in person and on demand beginning in November 2020. It both adds to our reach across the USA and provides access to earned income to fund operations.

VR TREATMENT CENTER TOURWonders & Worries was able to script, cast and complete our first project of the envisioned suite of WonderVR solutions. The goal of this project was to make the in-person treatment tours our program team holds at Texas Oncology locations accessible in a virtual format. With the WonderVR Treatment Center Tour, children and teens will be able to experience where their parent goes on clinic days from CT and radiation to the infusion and waiting rooms. Made possible through the generosity of Texas Oncology, this virtual reality experience will take the mystery out of their parent’s treatment in a way that will alleviate anxiety and support coping. We are thrilled to have this new tool to be able to support families more fully!

2020 FISCAL YEAR PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS

PARENTING RESOURCESResources on our website now include parent education videos and a parenting podcast. Texas Oncology provided funding to develop seven parent education videos that coach parents on how to navigate difficult conversations with their children and teens more fluidly. Additionally, we launched a podcast that features Wonders & Worries professionals as they discuss common parenting issues that arise when a parent within the household is enduring an illness. Parenting Resources are available in the “For Parents” section of our website.

HOUSTON OFFICEWonders & Worries is proud and grateful to announce the opening of our first Houston office this September. Through the generous support of many funders, the first milestone of our Houston Capital Campaign has been achieved. Our Houston child life team has been hired and is undergoing training in August. We will officially launch virtual support services for Houston in September 2020 and open our first office as soon as health conditions permit. The $750,000 campaign continues as we seek to fund full coverage of the greater Houston area.

1,079 children and their families received support from Wonders & Worries,a 10% increase from last year.

21% more therapeutic sessions were conducted with parents and children.

WE WILL, TOGETHER.

Sneak Peek of Wonders & Worries in the Coming Year...

LIVESTRONGAfter rigorous review, Wonders & Worries was one of only eight non-profits nationwide selected for a $100,000 Livestrong grant. The grant will provide funds over a two-year period to pursue ongoing development of our WonderTech products, including new WonderVR solutions as well as several mobile applications targeted toward providers and parents.

ADVANCED CANCER STUDYIn collaboration with the University of Texas at Austin Steve Hicks School of Social Work and Dell Medical Center, Wonders & Worries is set to complete a qualitative study looking at communication within families where the cancer diagnosis is later-staged. The study’s focus is on adapting existing programmatic support to formulate best practices for this category of families.

ACTIVITY BOOKThe Wonders & Worries team is known for its creativity in the playroom and now in virtual settings! Our favorite activities have been compiled into an activity book that will be available for sale this Fall.

“I WONDER …” BOOK SERIESWonders & Worries has begun work on a new children’s book series – “I Wonder…” – with the goal of filling gaps in the existing literature. We hope to release our first title this year with a father who is sick as the main character.


A HISTORY OF

Wonders & Worries

WONDERS & WORRIES | 2020 FISCAL YEAR IN REVIEW WE WILL, TOGETHER.

Wonders & Worries was opened in 2001 in Austin, Texas by two Certified Child Life Specialists, Meredith Cooper and Melissa Hicks. Both women had experience working with pediatric patients in children’s hospitals. Meredith was the first pediatric oncology child life specialist in Austin at Children’s Hospital of Austin and Melissa relocated to Austin after working with children who had cancer at the Johns Hopkins Children’s Center in Baltimore and the Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta at Egleston – Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center.

Through their work, Meredith and Melissa became aware of the incredible need to offer developmental and coping support to children and families struggling with parental illness. Children were often left alone wondering, “Why is mom losing her hair?” or worrying, “Did I cause mom to get cancer?”

Often parents, out of misguided concern for their child, hesitated to tell their child about their diagnosis and treatment. They lacked the words to offer age appropriate information and support for their child’s developmental wonders and worries.

Initially Meredith and Missi offered child life services in borrowed medical and community spaces, carrying therapeutic play supplies and activities in the trunk of their cars. An initial grant from Livestrong and the Hogg Foundation allowed the opening of the first Wonders & Worries office in the spring of 2002. This generous grant provided the funding for families to receive free, individual and group services by a certified child life specialist. The initial curriculum, our Six Session Illness Education Curriculum, remains a cornerstone of Wonders & Worries programming and has been validated by a randomized control study.

Meredith and Missi shared the vision that community based, child life services for children and families with parental illness were needed not only in Austin but throughout the nation and world. While Missi relocated to Atlanta in 2003 and ultimately Raleigh, she remained an ex officio board member with Meredith continuing as executive director. Many board members, donors, and volunteers worked tirelessly to ensure that Wonders & Worries was able to grow and expand to meet the ever-growing need of new families. A second East Austin office was added in 2006, allowing for a greater outreach to underserved and bilingual families. An additional north Austin location was added in 2011, with a Williamson county office opening in the Fall of 2016.

In 2017, Alex Gabbi, a past client, was hired by the board to create a 3-year strategic plan to support this vision. He joined Wonders & Worries in 2018 as Executive Director. Meredith Cooper stepped into the role of a Founder and oversees the geographic expansion efforts, lends programmatic expertise to new initiatives, and works to build national awareness within the child life community. The expansion into San Antonio came with the opening of an office in the START medical complex in spring of 2017 in collaboration with the Children’s Bereavement Center of South Texas and our Houston office will open in early Fall of 2020.

Alex helped position the organization to expand virtually and in the past few years, Wonders & Worries has created an online CEU for professionals, a podcast and online educational video series for parents, and a VR Treatment Center Tour. At the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Wonders & Worries quickly transitioned all their services so that families could receive support virtually. At the beginning of FY21, Wonders & Worries will embark on a new strategic plan with the ongoing goal of providing free, professional support to any family in the United States struggling with parental illness.

WE WILL, TOGETHER.

We are grateful for the many contributions from individuals, families, businesses and foundations during the 2020 fiscal year. Your support and generosity allows us to provide professional support for children through a parent’s illness – at no charge, in both English and Spanish.

REVENUEThese numbers are unaudited

$50,000+Austin Community FoundationTexas Oncology, P.A.

$25,000 to $49,999.99Alice Kleberg Reynolds FoundationAlpha Painting & Decorating/Bonnie

SellsElkins FoundationAlex Gabbi & Laura Brockway Kronkosky Charitable FoundationLivestrongThe Najim Charitable FoundationSusan Vaughan Foundation

$10,000-$24,999.99 Randy & Demie AngelocciThomas & Savanna BogardusChris & Lisa Cashion*Punit & Anu Chadha Kevin CookeDuane & Meredith Cooper*Trek & Kristen DoyleTerry & Kari FrenchFringe Benefit GroupSteve Goldsmith & Kristen PattonPaul & April HenryHorizon BankLola Wright FoundationTrey & Shannon OwenManish & Ina PatelBrian & Nhi PrewittRenewal by AndersenRoger Beasley Mazda*Ruth and Paul Connor FoundationSt. David’s FoundationShield-Ayres FoundationTexas Best Chevy Dealers- Apple Sport

ChevroletThe Fondren FoundationThe Jack Webster Grigsby Foundation James Starr & Monique ThreadgillLaurence & Pamela TokazBarry & Melinda Twomey*William Stamps Farish FundMike & Jessica Wyatt

$5,000-$9,999.99 Ascension Seton Community

Investment GroupAtlassianVolney Campbell ConserviceJerry & Denise Conway Robert & Eileen Currie Donald D. Hammill FoundationScott and Ava Drysch ECG FoundationTravis FowlerGreystar Real Estate Partners Steve & Amy Harren Hat Creek Burger Co.H-E-BBrannon & Kelly Hyde InsperityRobert & Sheila Johnson Patton Jones Brian & Nicole Julian Mike Kadyan Michael & Kathryn Leins Maegan Macias Tina Mallach Roger McOmberThe MenagerieRobin Jackson PhotographyStrake FoundationReuben & Renu SwartzThe Langford Family FoundationSel & Beth UniteUnited PF Partners Waterproof Foundation, IncPeter & Courntey Yau

$2,500-$4,999.99 ABC BankAlexan Garza RanchAllison Family TrustAstraZenecaAustin Regional ClinicBaylor Scott and WhiteAndy BellBenchmark BankTom Bentley & Carol Rylander*

Taylor & William BowlesBriggs Equipment/Dane & Shoni PowerCary Brzezinski Business Bank of TexasCabo Bob’sCamp Construction/Century ACHarrison ComptonDuane Cooper - Wells Fargo AdvisorsStephen & Diane Dewan Doyle & SeelbachClement & Debbie EbboHarish & Sunena GagnejaGino & Pamela GiannottiGreater Round Rock Community

Foundation, Inc.Laurens Fish III HPI PropertiesTom & Karen HaleHeritage Title Company of Austin, Inc.David Hodge William Ivers & Beth Cowan-IversJackson Walker LLPLabor Finders - Cedar Park, TXBob & Kim MacInnesMcGinnis LochridgeMeritage Cares FoundationTom & Mary Elizabeth MooneyMyriad GeneticsNARI AustinDaniel Price Ankur & Nehal Rana Robert & Sharon RoosaRound Rock Woman’s ClubMichael Sabra SoftServeStone, Laughlin and SwansonRichard & Melissa SykesTarver Hill SalonTexas Mamma Jamma Ride, Inc.The James & Edith Spain FoundationTina VanderlindeTopfer Family FoundationTreehouse PediatricsJim WeinsteinWells Fargo Financial AdvisorsJames Wilson

Wilson and Goldrick Realtors/Gordon Bowman & Cindy Goldrick

$1,000 to $2,499.99Daniel & Jennifer Ahearn Kay Allison Amy Ashton Jim & Meredith Bagan David & Shelly Bain Lakshmi Bala Laura Banda Crosby Banks Randy Barr Brent Bellm Matt & Michelle Berry Padraic Boyle Maria Brown-Spence Ken & Tina Bunch Robert & Donna Burgess Carol A. Buch Family FoundationLuis & Kristen Casaubon Alania Cater Valerie Chadha Chaparral Women’s ClubChristine Collins Bruce & Lori Cooke*Aspen CrowlMatthew Day Jonathan & Kelly Davison*Justin Deming John Duczak Lindsay Duran Donald & Jerrie EarthmanElan East Apartments Christophe & Candiss Escobar Daniel & Lyn Estabrook Chris & Anna Fretel Frost BankChristopher & Melinda Garvey Glenda Goehrs Amy Goldsmith Christopher Johnson Michael & Nana Haney Brian & Tara Hardy Henry & Melissa Hicks*Alissa Horrigan

WONDERS & WORRIES

Donors and Supporters


SPECIAL EVENTS$773,216

CONTRIBUTIONS$318,295

OTHER$48,120

GRANTS$543,746

TOTAL REVENUE$1,683,377

OUR IN KIND SPONSORSAli & Noemi HoushmandDoug & Wendy Howell James R. Dougherty, Jr. FoundationTricia Jennings Kendra ScottRichard & Laura Key Jeff & Angela Kudrick Sonny & Judith LoredoCraig Luthy & Suzanne Soares* Tom & Karen Lye Hillary & Brad MacDougall Adam & Cherie Mathews Mathias Family FoundationJohn & Amy McGeady*Shaun & Kristi Mckenzie Andrew & Sarah Moore Russel Moore Anna MurrayNFL Alumni - Austin Chapter Pavan Narra National Christian Foundation Tampa BayMike & Donna Nell*Lara Norris Randy & Genie Norris Northwest Austin Rotary ClubOden Hughes, LLC.Mahan & Mona Ostadian Pape-Dawson Engineers, Inc.RBC FoundationRanch 616Regions BankRetailMeNotBrian & Teresa Robertson Chris & Angie Rockwood Kathryn Ross Rothell Charitable Foundation of Central

TexasClive RunnelsKarl & Adrienne Seelbach Sandeep Shah Sanjay & Ritu Sharma Andrew Shaw Matthew, Susan & Valerie Shupp John & Terri Smart Wallace & Lanette Smith Jim & Debbie SmolikSouthside Bank Jim & Kay Stueve Stephen & Marissa Tarleton Joe & Andrea Svoboda Tarrytown Pharmacy, Inc.Texas Instruments FoundationTexas Trial Lawyers AssociationRyan Tierney

WE WILL, TOGETHER.

Steven Tipton TimberTownJoel & Jolene Tornabeni Jeff & Sujatha Venkatesh Kevin & Pamela White Fred & Deborah Wilder William J. & Dorothy K. O’Neill

FoundationJohn Willingham Clarence & Janis Wolfshohl and Robert

& Janis Mignacca Mike & Kelley Worden

*Members of the Millennium Society


AbAstris WineryAnn Webb Skin ClinicArbor Car WashArista VinerydAustin Bubble SoccerAustin MotelBass Pro Shop/Cabella’sBeautyCounterBeer Shield GearBrian & Nhi PrewittC3Cabo Bob’sCamp ConstrucitonCapital City ClaysCapra & CavelliCentral StandardChaparral IceChewy.comDrs. Punit & Anu ChadhaDuck CampEar PeaceEpoch CoffeeGorjana JewelryGrayton Seafood CoGreystar ManagementHat Creek Burger CoHoffpaiur Auto GroupHornadyIdeal ProductionsIron CactusJack DanielsJami RookJillian BrownJim & Meredith BaganJuicelandJW MarriottK&M ManagementKellie’s Baking CoKendra ScottKevin HinesKim MacInnesKLRU-TV, Austin PBSLani EvansLegends on the Lake LBJLonesome Charlie’sLost Draw WineryLucy’s Fried ChickenMagpulMama Fu’s Asian HouseMcBride’s GunsMcGuire Mooreman HospitalityMirival Resort and SpaMission Family Chiropractic

Monique ThreadgillNada Moo Ice CreamNoah’s Ark White Water RaftingNordstromNothing Bundt CakesOdd DuckOliva MansionOliva ShoppePelicanPerissos WineryPromaticRedneck BlindsRevolver BrewingRobin Jackson PhotographySavanna BogardusSignor VineyardsSlate Mill Wine CollectiveSoul CycleSoul Em BodySouth Congress HotelSquare PetStark AdvantageStudio SatraSuerteTarver Hill SalonTequila 512Texas Disposal Systems Exotic Game RanchThe Flower ChildThe Flower GirlThe Honor RollThe Legends Golf ClubThe MenagerieTiff’s TreatsTom HaleTop GolfTrader Joe’sTravis FowlerTreaty Oak DistilleryUtah, Teddy Bear DoodlesVerde’s Mexican ParrillaVia 313WalgreensWarrior YogaWaterloo RestaurantWaterloo Sparkling WaterWAYA Wendy GloverWest Bank Flower MarketWest Lynn VetWoof Gang BakeryWunderkeksYeti Custom Shop

THANK YOU TO THESE COMPANIES FOR GENEROUSLY SPONSORING WONDERS & WORRIES EVENTS.

WE WILL, TOGETHER.

$2,500-$9,999

$10,000+

$2,499 & UNDER


$25,000+

WE WILL, TOGETHER.

WONDERS & WORRIES

Committee Members

URBAN SCAVENGER HUNTTom BogardusNicole BrennerNicole JulianSuzanne SoaresMegan MooneySarah Moore NO WORRIES CLASSICRay BaconNicole BrennerRoss BuchholtzRodney FanninCharlie MarrsMark MilsteadDan PriceJim Shanley UNMASKEDMeredith BaganSavanna BogardusMarwa GelilSteve GoldsmithNicole JulianMisty KrantKari LevassarSam LevassarKristen PattonNhi Prewitt Monique ThreadgillMartha Watanabe

DEVELOPMENTChielsey M BarberJonathan DavisonSteve GoldsmithKevin HinesKristen Jaros Brent MetschanMeaghan MooneyRose Smith


STAFFAlex Gabbi, Executive DirectorMeredith Cooper, Co-founder, Child Life SpecialistCorinne Barnickel, Child Life SpecialistDonna Bueche, Grant WriterPaula Ferreira, Marketing SpecialistCindy Fitchpatrick, Bilingual Child Life SpecialistKim Fryar, Director of Programming - Clinical, Child Life SpecialistFrancine Gamez, Child Life SpecialistReagan Gavin, Marketing SpecialistAleida Guerra, Bilingual Child Life SpecialistNicole Halder, Director of Development and OutreachAli Houshmand, Child Life StaffMichele Martin, Child Life SpecialistJulie May, Child Life SpecialistAndrew McOmber, Data & Operations SpecialistLori Novitski, Child Life SpecialistAdrianna Ortega, Child Life SpecialistMaria Patiño, Resource Navigator, Bilingual Child Life AssistantRhiannon Pytlak, Marketing SpecialistJacquelyn Rebecek, Child Life SpecialistLeslie Schulze, Event ManagerJaina Shah, Marketing SpecialistDeanna Smith, Child Life SpecialistLara Strickland, Child Life SpecialistKay Stueve, Data SpecialistBeth Unite, Operations DirectorCrystal Wilkins, Director of Programming - Operations

BOARD OF DIRECTORSBrent Metschan, Board PresidentMeredith BaganTom BogardusLindsey BoydRoss Buchholtz, CPAAnu Chadha, MDMeredith Cooper, CCLS*Kristen Doyle, JDJohn Gillis, PhDSteve GoldsmithMorgan Grigsby, JDMelissa Hicks, CCLS*Kelly HydeNicole JulianJohn Lebowitz, MBAMeaghan Mooney, RN, BSN, OCNSarah DeRocher MooreSuzanne SoaresMelissa S. Sykes, JDJim WeinsteinCourtney Yau, MD

*Ex officio member

The Wonders & Worries Team

9101 Burnet Road, Suite 205, Austin, TX 78758 tel 512-329-5757 or 210-307-4853 fax 512-298-3607

[email protected]

STAY CONNECTEDfacebook.com/wondersnworriesinstagram.com/WondersnWorriestwitter.com/wondersnworrieswww.wondersandworries.org

We have tried to ensure that these important contributions are reported accurately. If you notice an error, please notify Nicole Halder, Director- Development and Outreach, Wonders & Worries, Tel 512-329-5757, Ext. 120 or [email protected]

2020 fiscal year in review - wonders & worries

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