​Around this time a year ago, I was a first-year student trying to find my way around UNC and all it had to offer. I was eager to get involved in student organizations, so I decided to try out Carolina for the Kids. In just one year, I’ve gotten to experience so many amazing moments with CFTK including Banner Poster Painting, Kilometers for the Kids, Parents Night Out, and so much more. With Committee Recruitment Week wrapping up, I wanted to say: WELCOME! To all the new and returning members, I am confident this will be a great year! 

These times will definitely go down in CFTK history with the unusual circumstances we are facing. Even though we can’t be on campus together, committee members will still have numerous ways to stay involved. For one, committees will still have weekly virtual meetings and have the chance to bond with their teams. Also, members will get the chance to participate in many virtual events throughout the semester – no matter where they are in the world. For example, Kilometers for the Kids is still happening in October and open for members, friends, families, and anyone who wants to run! We are also offering a pen pal program for hospital volunteers to stay involved with patients while hospital visiting is restricted. CFTK will continue offering benefit nights and many more virtual events to benefit the patients and families of UNC Children’s and stick with our mission. CFTK has become like a home to so many of us, and we love adding even more to our family.
 
Especially this semester, your engagement and support are so important. Connect with us on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook to keep up with what we’re doing this semester and don’t hesitate to reach out to any members of the Executive Board for questions. I’m so excited to take on this new year and I hope you all are too! 

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'Since our founding in 1999, Carolina for the Kids has hit, and even surpassed, many milestones. The first dance marathon took place with 75 dancers and raised $40,000 FTK, and we have seen immense growth over the last twenty years. 

Only one year after the founding of the Dance Marathon, the For the Kids Fund was established and the first annual silent auction took place, which would later transform into the benefit reception. 

Following these developments, we continued to see big sponsors and endorsements, even from the Chapel Hill mayor in 2001. As we continued to grow, we saw appearances from Roy Williams and Will Ferrell, who showed their love FTK through the Marathon. 

In 2010 we established our Kid Co-Captain program, where children who have benefited from our work are invited to interact with our dancers and serve as a representation of all that we can achieve for the patients at UNC Children's. 

In the following years, the annual Kilometers FTK and For(mal) the Kids began. In the early years of the our organization, we were solely the Dance Marathon. However, with more team members and more support, we have broadened our horizons to host events throughout the year and partner with a variety of other organizations, creating Carolina for the Kids as we know it today. 

Our organization is now so much more than simply the dance marathon, although the marathon is still our largest event. Each year our fundraising efforts have increased and we have been able to do more and more for each family that we are able to assist. Although we have faced many obstacles in and outside of our organization, we have always stood strong and come through it together.

We have created our own history and supported the kids in the best ways that we could through both trying and exciting times. Right now is no different. 

With the issues and disruptions of COVID-19 in the forefront of everyone’s minds, it is easy to panic and lose sight of our mission. However, I encourage each and every one of you to take this time of reduced activity and unprecedented circumstances to remember why we do what we do. 

While the Coronavirus has led to increased hospitalization and medical expenses for many patients around the world, the families that we support have been learning to deal with these types of things for months or years now. 

Our funds continue to support UNC Children’s and the patients that benefit from the research grants, meals provided, and Ronald McDonald House stays. As our the Dance Marathon takes a virtual format for the first time in our history, we continue to be grateful for all that we can accomplish FTK and for all the support of so many dedicated people.

From the bottom of our hearts, we thank you for helping us make history once again.

The Hospital & Family Relations Committee is one of 11 Carolina For The Kids committees. This committee’s primary goal is expanding and solidifying the relationships with UNC Children's, the patients and families of the hospital, and the organization. Specifically, the committee is involved in building relations with families, doctors, nurses and hospital administration, as well as planning ways for committee members to engage with patients and families through the Pediatric Playroom, Parents’ Night Out and other events. 

​The 2019-20 Hospital & Family Relations Committee is comprised of committee members, subchairs and a committee chair, Lauren Harrell. As a member of the Executive Board, Harrell is in charge of both coordinating committee tasks and organizing committee members. 
 
Throughout the academic year, the committee is in charge of organizing volunteers for PNO- a weekly dinner served to the parents of children who are staying on inpatient floors of N.C. Children’s Hospital, coordinating dinners for the Ronald McDonald House of Chapel Hill, fostering community relations and getting potential donors to come to CFTK events such as the annual Benefit Reception and UNC Dance Marathon. A large part of this committee is engaging with the hospital, whether that be communicating with the doctors and families or volunteering.  

Aimee Comanici was recognized by her committee chair is an outstanding committee member. Comanici joined Carolina For The Kids in 2018 and has been on the Hospital & Family Relations Committee for two years. As a freshman, she was diagnosed with cancer and was treated at UNC Hospitals Pediatric Hematology-Oncology Clinic. During this experience, she was able to see how CFTK directly benefited patients and families of the hospital. 

While she did not directly receive funding from CFTK, she indirectly benefited from the parent sleeper sofas, funded by CFTK, which allows parents to sleep comfortably in their children’s rooms so they do not have to leave their children’s bedside. Ultimately, she joined CFTK because she was inspired to help others that went through a similar experience as her own. 
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As a committee member, Comanici volunteers with canning, sports events, PNO and the Ronald McDonald House. Her favorite experience as a part of CFTK is serving brunch at the Ronald McDonald House. At RMH, she enjoys hanging out with committee members, being involved with cooking and meeting the family members that she serves. 

For the upcoming 2020 UNC Dance Marathon, she is in charge of organizing a photo booth that will be featured at the event. Comanici is a prime example of how the Hospital & Family Relations Committee impacts lives, both inside and outside of the committee.

Kristin Van Epps is a member of the 2020 Public Relations Committee

I stepped out of my car and was greeted with a downpour of rain- umbrella in one hand and the end of my dress in the other, I scrambled to enter The Franklin Hotel. Pushing my way through the circle sliding door, my eyes arrived at the elegant elements of the lobby. The walls were adorned with beautiful paintings and lime green couches providing a welcoming feel. As my friends and I entered the venue, we were greeted by polite executive members eager for us to enter the event. As the music filled my ears, I smiled at the people I saw in front of me. We were all here together - for the kids!

On Jan. 24 at 8 p.m. Carolina For The Kids hosted its annual For(mal) the Kids. A black-tie event that was hosted at The Franklin Hotel.  The event featured a cash bar, finger food, a coat check and even a photo booth! All ticket purchases went towards benefiting the patients and families of UNC Children’s.  

This event provided college students of all grade levels the opportunity to participate in a formal experience while also benefiting CFTK. For the first time in the organization’s history, this year tickets sold out days before the day of the event - filling The Franklin to capacity.  Women showed up in long dresses, short dresses and rompers while men showed up in tuxedos. The night was filled with laughter, dancing and happy memories. 

Some highlights of the night:

• A dancing circle led by some of UNC’s finest dancers (we are known for Dance Marathon, after all)
  
  
• Line dancing that allowed us to meet new people 
• Cute pics from the photo booth to capture the memories 
• A reminder of why we’re here: the patients and families of UNC Children’s

The formal alone raised over $3,000 for the kids - an overall successful event for both college students and patients and families of UNC Children’s. It was an opportunity for organizational members to spend time with each other outside of meetings, celebrate one another, dress up and acknowledge each committee members’ hard work for CFTK. Executive members, committee members, dancers and their guests congregated into the beautifully decorated Franklin Hotel. As the night went on, couples danced together, friend groups took pictures at the photo booth, people enjoyed snacks and drinks and supporting a good cause. 

This event was largely successful because of the amount of people willing to participate. For(mal) the Kids goes to show that support for CFTK comes in many forms - including formal! Thank you to those that attended the formal, The Franklin Hotel, and the entertainment committee that helped organize the event. We couldn’t have done it without you!