The CHOP Cares Community Grant provides funding to CHOP employees to fill a specific health need identified in the Regional Community Health Needs Assessment, in communities served by CHOP and the CHOP Care Network across Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

In the first ten years of the program, the Office of Community Impact, with the assistance of the CHOP Cares Community Advisory Board, has awarded over 200 grants and more than $1 million to CHOP employees.

Below is the list of FY26 CHOP Cares Community Grant projects.

Contact the Office of Community Impact at CHOPcaresgrants@chop.edu with any questions.

FY26 CHOP Cares Community Grants

Youth Empowerment and Autism Inclusion Initiative

Project Lead: Ava Reeves, Office Coordinator II

Location: South Philadelphia

Priority Health Need: Mental Health Conditions
In partnership with the Resident Action Committee II, this project supports underserved children in South Philadelphia through three types of engagements: 

1. Youth Summer Trip

2. Autism Empowerment Program (five workshops offering strategies and support) and 

3. Community Garden Project (transforming five lots of vacant land into a community garden)

EMS Cares Kits: Supporting Sensory Needs in Pediatric Patients

Project Team: Erika Sheaffer, MS, CCLS, Child Life Clinical Expert

Jalyne Herren, MS, CCLS, Advanced Child Life Specialist

Kyle Rice, NRP, CCEMT-P, Life Support Educator

Theresa Walls, MD, MPH, Attending Physician

Shannon Wolf, MSN, RN, CPEN, NREMT, NPD-BC Nursing Professional Development Specialist

John Erbayri, MS, NRP, CHSE Manager Center for Life Support Education and Outreach

Location: Abington Specialty Care

Priority Health Need: Mental Health Conditions
This initiative trains EMS personnel in Philadelphia and surrounding counties on child development, common stressors in emergencies, and strategies for supporting neurotypical and neurodiverse patients, particularly children with autism who may experience heightened sensory sensitivity. The grant will provide comfort kits to be stored in EMS vehicles for neurodiverse patients. 

Walk with CHOP: Prescribe Outside

Project Team: Megan Hood, MBA, MSPAS, PA-C / APP Manager

Dr. Barbara Rolnick, MD / CHOP Roxborough Primary Care Pediatrician

Dr. Natalie Minto, MD / CHOP Cobbs Creek Primary Care Pediatrician

Location: West Philadelphia and Upper Darby

Priority Health Need: Mental Health Conditions
CHOP employees and families alike fill their nature prescriptions through group walks based in West Philadelphia and (new this year!) Upper Darby green spaces. 

Bereavement Resources Inspiration (BRITE) Box 

Project Team: Kelly Goldin, MS, CCLS, Bereavement Coordinator

Jennifer Lemisch, MA, ATR-BC,  LPC, Advanced Creative Arts Therapist 

Rachel Johnson, MEd, CCLS, Advanced Child Life Specialist

Elizabeth Spellman, Social Worker, MSW, LCSW

Location: Philadelphia

Priority Health Need: Mental Health Conditions
Project supports children and teens coping with the loss of a loved one by providing three age-specific grief support boxes (3–6 years, 7–11 years, and adolescents). Each box contains therapeutic activities, guidance for use, and tools to help children process grief, honor loved ones, and support caregiver understanding. These resources will be expanded to be accessible to community providers.  

The HALO Project at CHOP

Project Team: Anne-Ashley Field, OTR/L- Senior Occupational Therapist, TBRI Practitioner, Clinical Program Coordinator of the International Adoption Health Program

Amy Wallwork, LFMT, a licensed marriage and family therapist and TBRI practitioner & caregiver trainer with the International Adoption Health Program

Susan Friedman, MD, Attending Physician, Director of the International Adoption Health Program 

Rachel Hacken, MD, MPH, Medical Director of the Neurofibromatosis Program, Attending Physician, International Adoption Health Program

Location: Philadelphia

Priority Health Need: Mental Health Conditions
This project will provide therapeutic support for children and families affected by complex trauma. Led by trained therapists, the program fosters healing, resilience, and emotional well-being through structured workshops. The program will work with families served through the International Adoption Health Program and the Fostering Health Program at CHOP. 

Keto Kickstart Program

Project Team: Sue Groveman. MS RD LDN, Lead Clinical Dietician, 

Sarah Brooks MS RD LDN, Lead Clinical Dietitian, 

Cagla Fenton RD LDN CSP, Lead Dietitian

Location: Division of Neurology - CHOP Patients

Priority Health Need: Chronic Disease and Prevention
Keto-Kickstart, founded three years ago by a patient’s mother, supports families starting the ketogenic diet (KD) for refractory epilepsy and metabolic disorders. The program will provide "Kickstart bags" with essential tools and ingredients to help caregivers successfully create a keto-friendly kitchen at home after their child’s hospitalization for keto induction. This grant will supplement funding for the completion of Kickstart bags for the next 2 years. 

Thrive Together: Mental Wellness, Nutrition, and Neurodiversity Support

Project Lead: Saliyah Johnson, Social Worker

Location: Philadelphia

Priority Health Need: Mental Health Conditions
In partnership with the Hope Institute of Science, this project improves nutritional access and expands mental health support for neurodivergent students. The project will fund a meal program in preschools, sensory support items and offer family workshops and take-home resources on affordable, healthy meal preparation.  

Sunrise Day Camp Greater Philadelphia

Project Lead: Susan Pultman, LCSW, M.Ed, Oncology Social Worker

Location: Philadelphia and South Jersey/CHOP Oncology

Priority Health Need: Socioeconomic Disadvantage 
The Sunrise Day Camp offers a free camp experience for children with cancer and their siblings. The grant will fund meals for children experiencing food insecurity, bathing suits, towels, and other camp supplies that families cannot afford. 

Building Resilience and Well-Being for Underserved Youth Through Mentorship

Project Lead: Olivia Quartey, Clinical Research Coordinator  

Location: Philadelphia

Priority Health Need: Socioeconomic Disadvantage 
This project partners with the DREAM program which offers mentorship and enrichment programs for youth in Philadelphia’s low-income housing communities, providing safe, structured support beyond the classroom. Project funds will cover programming fees and food for 120 youth. 

Unity in the Community: Carpentry and Automotive Academy

Project Lead: Tiffany Wallace, DTS Trainer

Location: South Philadelphia

Priority Health Need: Community Violence
This project partners with Unity in the Community Carpentry and Automotive Academy to provide at-risk youth in South Philadelphia with skills in carpentry and automotive repairs. The program offers mentorship, career readiness skills, home-cooked meals, and mental health support. Grant funding will be used to provide meals, trips, and weekly stipends to participating students. 

Safe Sitters: Training Tweens in Childcare Safety

Project Lead: Lauren Greaves, Senior Writer/Editor, Development Communications

Location: Abington, PA

Priority Health Need: Access to Care
In partnership with the Abington Township Public Library, the Safe Sitter project will train tweens and teens in babysitting, CPR, and first aid, enhancing childcare safety and emergency response.   

Helping Families Face Crisis

Project Lead: Cheryl Brenneman, MSN, CRNP, Critical Care Nurse Practitioner

Location: Philadelphia, Delaware, Chester, Montgomery and Bucks counties  

Priority Health Need: Access to Care
This project supports Safe Families for Children (SFFC), an evidence-based program that connects vetted volunteers with families in crisis to provide respite care and tailored support, promoting child safety, family stability, and preventing foster care placement. 

Fresh Produce Box Distribution

Project Lead: Rachael White, Community Health Worker 

Location: Care Network-Lancaster Specialty Care 

Priority Health Need: Food Access 
The CHOP Lancaster Diabetes Specialty Clinic program provides fresh produce to families managing diabetes. The grant will support a 16-week fresh produce subscription for 23 families in partnership with a local farm's winter community-supported agriculture program. Targeting patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes and an A1C of 8.5 or higher, the program aims to improve access to healthy food amid rising grocery prices and decreasing food assistance funding. 

CHOP Functional Vision in Schools Outreach Project

Project Team: Jordan Wentz, OTD, MSOTR/L, Outpatient Occupational Therapy Supervisor

Anne Borema, CScD, MS, OTR/L, Acute Care Occupational Therapy Supervisor 

Melissa Crawford, OTD, OTR/L, Senior Occupational Therapist 

Regina Antoni, MS, OTR/L, Occupational Therapist 

Tricia Kinslow, MS, OTR/L, Occupational Therapist

Location: Philadelphia, Montgomery, Chester, and Delaware County 

Priority Health Need: Access to Care
This project educates school professionals and parents on the impact of functional vision on a child's learning and academic performance. It will provide resources for comprehensive vision screenings and engaging activities to improve visual skills. In collaboration with occupational therapists across Philadelphia, Montgomery, Chester, and Delaware counties, the project will fund 100 vision kits for elementary students receiving school-based occupational therapy. Each kit will include a family education document and four activities to enhance functional visual skills. 

Community Infant Massage Classes and Resources for BIPOC and LGBTQIA Families

Project Team: Tiffany Silliman Cohen, LMT, CPMT II, CIMT, Advanced Pediatric Massage Therapist, Advanced Certified Infant Massage Teacher, Integrative Health Program Robin Miccio, Integrative Health Program Manager

Location: Philadelphia, Integrative Health Program

Priority Health Need: Access to Care
This proposal expands Infant Massage classes in underrepresented and diverse communities in Philadelphia, focusing on BIPOC and LGBTQIA families. The program will offer one class every 2-4 weeks at community locations, reaching 60-100 new participants through 12-28 classes. Funding will cover supplies, toolkits, snacks, and materials necessary for high-quality services.