MD Council for Special Equestrians

Working with the Office of Therapeutic Recreation Services, the Maryland Council for Special Equestrians (MCSE) offer therapeutic horseback riding for children and adults with disabilities. Horses help with fitness, balance, socialization and communication. Autistic participants, in particular, seem to connect with animals such as horses in a way they are not able to do with other people. The council offers a variety of classes and lessons for kids and adults. The therapeutic horseback riding program is run at The Catonsville Horse Farm in Catonsville, MD. Program director and riding therapist is Tina Wehland.

MD Council for Special Equestrians

Make-A-Wish®

Wishes make life better for kids with life-threatening medical conditions. This simple, but powerful belief inspired the founding of Make-A-Wish® and drives everything we do.

Tens of thousands of volunteers, donors and supporters advance the Make-A-Wish® vision to grant the wish of every child diagnosed with a life-threatening medical condition. In the United States and its territories, on average, a wish is granted every 34 minutes. We believe a wish experience can be a game-changer. This one belief guides us and inspires us to grant wishes that change the lives of the kids we serve.

Make-A-Wish®

Casey Cares Foundation

We provide uplifting programs for families with critically ill children giving many opportunities to create positive family memories – whether it’s a simple movie night and a fresh pair of pajamas or attending a major sporting event. Casey Cares makes life a lot better by adding a personal touch throughout the year and making lasting memories for families throughout the Mid-Atlantic region and portions of the Midwest.

Casey Cares Foundation

Saint Jude Children's Hospital

The mission of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital is to advance cures, and means of prevention, for pediatric catastrophic diseases through research and treatment. Consistent with the vision of our founder Danny Thomas, no child is denied treatment based on race, religion or a family's ability to pay.

Our vision is to be the world leader in advancing the treatment and prevention of catastrophic diseases in children. This vision will be pursued by providing outstanding patient care; by conducting basic, translational and clinical research designed to elucidate biological mechanisms, understand disease pathogenesis, improve diagnosis, enhance treatment outcome, prevent diseases and minimize adverse consequences of treatment; and by educating health care and scientific research professionals. Through these efforts we seek to cure and enhance the quality of life for an increasing proportion of children who come to us for treatment, and by expanding and sharing knowledge, to advance treatment of children with catastrophic diseases worldwide, while developing strategies to prevent catastrophic diseases in children.

Saint Jude Children's Hospital

Believe in Tomorrow

Believe In Tomorrow Children's Foundation provides exceptional hospital and respite housing services to critically ill children and their families. Our unique programs bring comfort, hope, and joy to children and their families, enabling them to renew their spirits mentally and physically.

We believe in keeping families together during a child’s medical crisis, and that the gentle cadence of normal family life has a powerful influence on the healing process. We believe the highest standards of service and unparalleled hospitality help create a unique healing environment, where families find hope and comfort.

Believe in Tomorrow

Arbutus Little League Challenger Program

Challenger Baseball is an adaptive baseball program for boys and girls with physical and developmental challenges

Arbutus Little League Challenger Program

On January 6th 2007, I was sitting in the corner of a small office at Johns Hopkins Hospital, looking into the eyes of a young couple with their 2 year old son. There was a mysterious look of concern on their faces, or maybe it was confusion, As I watched the little boy struggle to return to a standing position after picking up a ball that had been thrown to him by Dr. Crawford, I realized, the information they were about to be given, was not what they had hoped to hear. Dr. Crawford had just spent the better part of several hours playing with the little boy, analyzing his every move and performing some necessary tests. They knew there were some mobility issues, but continued to hope they were correctable.

There was a sense of relief when Dr. Crawford re-entered the room and said, "Don't get rid of your college fund", followed by, "If he finds the right girl, he may be able to walk down the aisle". The little boy had just been diagnosed with a form of muscular dystrophy known as Spinal Muscular Atrophy. The sense of relief was quickly replaced with a feeling of concern when they were told that their son would lead a life filled with challenges. He would struggle to go up and down stairs, he would not be able to run and activities that we consider normal for children would not be a part of his future, unless, through research, a cure is found.

What made the situation so unreal was that the couple I had been watching was my own son and his wife. The little boy was my grandson, Julian. I know we all had the same questions running through our minds. How could this be real? What can be done? Is their a treatment? For me, there was one more question. What could I do?

For the following two years, I volunteered to be a captain of the annual Stride and Ride Fundraiser. During that period, our team raised $60,000. This was designated to be applied to research. But, I felt a need to do more. I wanted to help other programs and could only do this by starting my own charity.

On July 16th 2008, "Our Little Jewels, Inc." was started. We will help fund programs that give physically and mentally challenged children a chance to live a better life, through swimming, therapeutic horseback riding and track and field programs.

This will be a tremendous organization if you help support us. Please, Help Us, Help Them!

Sincerely,
Jim Lewis – President "Our Little Jewels, Inc."