Hermanowski Family Foundation Initial Request Form

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Organization Name: Fluffy Friends for Children with Chronic Conditions
Legal Name (if Different):
Also Known As:
Mailing Address: 2131 River Sound Dr.
City: Knoxville
State: TN
Postal Code: 37922
Main Phone: 8656228713
Main Fax:
Organization Website: https://www.fluffyfriends3c.org
Employer ID Number: 84-2275589
Organization Tax Status: 501(c)(3)

Proposal Information

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Today’s Date: 26 March 2024
Requested Amount: $10,000

Project Title: Fluffy Friends for Children with Chronic Conditions Launch
Project Description:

The major problems we are tackling are medically-induced post traumatic stress disorder, physician burnout, and physician-patient trust. We are building our first initiative: a trauma-informed program that is intended to prevent and ameliorate adverse psychosocial effect of chronic illness, specifically medically induced PTSD, and enhance trusting physician-patient relationships, which also helps with work-life fulfillment.
The trauma-informed program is facilitated with personalized, patent-pending teddy bears that match the patients’ diagnoses for physicians to implement gentle health communications. Fluffy Friends have matching diagnoses, but rather than outward (often alienating) augmentations, the symbolic attachments of Fluffy Friends are uniquely meaningful & relatable. The design is also concealable as an ordinary teddy bear to give patients full autonomy over the stigma surrounding disclosure as the attachments are hidden inside a secret pocket. Each one comes with a storybook guide that physicians use to introduce Fluffy Friends to patients. A physician will introduce the Fluffy Friend to patients by read the storybook guide to them, and explain to patients that they are safe in their care and no matter what patients can trust being safe in the care of their doctors.
The program partners directly with physicians to provide a simple systematized method to earn patients’ trust and extend support beyond hospital walls. Our program aims to strengthen physician patient trust by building awareness for medical PTSD amongst physicians and providing them with a resource to connect to their patients with compassion—which is also thought to counter burnout by increasing work-life fulfillment.
The product provides patients with their very own special friend who understand what life in their circumstance is like in every way. Our product demonstrates and reminds patients at home that their physician has a special bond with them and cares for their health and well-being. Fluffy Friends mirrors experiences that their young, immature peers are unable to provide empathy for and fills the void of support. Feeling understood is crucial for anyone, but especially in a child’s development.

Total Project Budget: $105,000

Other Funding
Sources For The Project (Committed & Potential): Pitch Competitions ($20,000) Incubator & Accelerator Programs ($15,000), Community donations ($10,000), Various Foundation Grants ($55,000)

Project Duration: 1 year
Geographical Area Served: US & Canada
Age Group To Be Served: 3-17

Contact Information

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Contact Prefix (Mr,Mrs etc.): Miss
Contact First Name: Allison
Contact Last Name: Campbell
Contact Title: President
Contact Phone: 8656228713
Contact Email: acampbell@fluffyfriends3c.org