Friends of Karen 40th Birthday Party

Bring your family to Westchester's famous Rye Playland and join the celebration of Friends of Karen's 40th Birthday Party on Saturday evening, June 9, at 5:30pm. The fun and festivities include a BBQ dinner overlooking beautiful Long Island Sound, unlimited rides at "America's Premier Playground," fantastic entertainment, a gigantic birthday cake and lots of surprises.

It's a fun way of celebrating the 40th Birthday of Friends of Karen, a lifeline to families caring for children battling cancer or another life-threatening illness. Tickets include dinner, unlimited rides all evening on the Playland attractions, a strolling magician, face-painting, performance by the Lawless Band and much more. Log on to www.friendsofkaren.org or contact Gwen Salmo at (914) 617-4051 to purchase tickets directly.

Proceeds from the 40th Birthday Party will help relieve families of the financial hardship of huge medical bulls, enormous travel costs for daily hospitals, mounting expenses for housing, childcare, sibling support, and other necessities when facing a health crisis.

Friends of Karen is the only non-profit organization in the New York Tri-State area that provides comprehensive support, at no cost, to over 300 families a month who are caring for a child battling cancer or another life-threatening illness. Its team of social workers, child life specialists and creative arts therapists ensures that each family - and each family member - receives an individualized program of emotional, financial and advocacy assistance throughout their child's illness. The organization helps relieve the family's everyday needs and concerns to imporve their ability to cope with their child's illness from diagnosis through treatment, which can last many months or even years.

Friends of Karen serves all qualified families without regard to race, religion, national origin or cultural background. For more information, visit www.friendsofkaren.org or call (914) 617-4040.