Hermanowski Family Foundation Initial Request Form

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Organization Name: The Gabby Krause Foundation, dba Bags of Fun
Legal Name (if Different):
Also Known As: Bags of Fun
Mailing Address: 7200 South Alton Way
City: Centennial
State: CO
Postal Code: 80112
Main Phone: 7204763022
Main Fax:
Organization Website: www.bagsoffun.org
Employer ID Number: 470946567
Organization Tax Status: 501c3

Proposal Information

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Today’s Date: 11/3/2023
Requested Amount: 5,000

Project Title: Bags of Fun
Project Description:

Bags of Fun bring unique play to children in Colorado, Kansas, and Nebraska whose health and happiness is both compromised and threatened due to long term and life-threatening condition. Every Bag of Fun delivered results in a distraction from their medical condition, hope during a time of distress and happiness in a time of darkness.  Play based therapy has proven to be effective in improving pain, anxiety, and fatigue levels in hospitalized children.  Each Bag of Fun is valued at $475 and is customized to each child’s age, gender and diagnosis. Our Bags of Fun provide a way out of negative feelings and disappointments, create a continuity of everyday life, help children maintain their self-esteem, confidence, and sense of control. The medical professionals that we collaborate with have found that children who participate in playful, behavioral distraction are calmer and more receptive to treatment. Our specially crafted Bags of Fun for these patients help stabilize and provide them with a sense of relief during their immediate crisis. We will continue to work closely with hospitals to help them make a child’s darkest time a bit brighter. The power of play makes a real difference in recovery for the recipient and gives hope to their families. Since inception, we have delivered over 13,500 Bags of Fun. Just last year, we delivered joy, laughter, and relief to 1,700 families. 

We are proud to work closely with the medical professionals at participating hospitals. We receive weekly requests from each hospital’s Child Life Specialist for children who qualify for a Bag of Fun, which is any patient being treated for a long term or life limiting disease, including mental illness. We pride ourselves on providing Bags of Fun to all seriously ill children in need of distraction from the constant stress of spending time in treatment at the hospital. The reach of our program is expansive and continues to grow each year.  We serve pediatric patients with cancer, organ transplants, kidney dialysis, bone marrow transplants, severe GI, severe epilepsy, severe trauma, palliative care, neurology, burn victims, Batten’s Disease, EB skin disease, cardiac ailments and mental health disorders. Time after time, the emotional stability of a Bag recipient directly correlates to their physical stability.  

Total Project Budget: $1,434,690

Other Funding
Sources For The Project (Committed & Potential): Salah Foundation, Aegon Transamerica Foundation, Cancer League, Charles E. Lakin Foundation, American Century Investments, Aetna, AV Hunter Trust, Dixon Family Foundation, Crown Family Foundation, Daniel Keating Foundation, Andrew Olson Foundation, Cox Community, Malashok Family Foundation, Starbucks Neighborhood Grants, Mariner Foundation and 6 annual events

Project Duration: Ongoing
Geographical Area Served: Colorado, Nebraska, Kansas and Missouri
Age Group To Be Served: 0-18 year old

Contact Information

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Contact Prefix (Mr,Mrs etc.):
Contact First Name: Kirklyn
Contact Last Name: Simonton
Contact Title: Director of Development
Contact Phone: 7204763022
Contact Email: kirklyn@bagsoffun.org