What they reported doing
- #1 primary $105KSUMMER CAMP FOR TEENAGERS - LARGER THAN LIFE USA SUPPORTS SUMMER CAMP FOR CHILDREN WITH CANCER IN ISRAEL EVERY SUMMER. A WEEK AWAY FROM THE HARSH ROUTINE OF THE HOSPITALS AND TREATMENTS. THE COUNSELORS ARE VOLUNTEERS WHOSE CANCER IS IN REMISSION AND ARE A VITAL SOURCE OF SUPPORT.
- #2 $91KMEDICAL SUPPLIES AND TREATMENT FUND- LARGER THAN LIFE PROVIDES FUNDING FOR LIFE-SAVING MEDICATIONS AND TREATMENTS THAT ARE NOT COVERED BY THE STANDARD HEALTH INSURANCE BENEFITS.
What they call their work
What they do
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Recreational and Emotional Support Programs for Children with Serious Illnesses 6 activities
- Establishes and equips hospital play rooms and patient support programsBuilds and maintains play rooms in hospitals across Israel for children with cancer and supports patient coordinator programs in all Israeli hospitals to assist children and organize hospital-based activities.
- Funds and operates kindergartens and recovery centers for children affected by cancerSupports two kindergartens in central Israel and Beer-Sheva, built the first preschool for children with cancer in central Israel, and is finalizing plans for a third recovery and learning center in Jerusalem to provide medically safe, educational, and socially enriching environments.
- Hosts summer camps for children and teenagers affected by cancerOrganizes annual tuition-free summer camps in Israel for over 300 children and teenagers affected by cancer, providing recreational activities and respite from medical treatments. Events include five-day camps in Nahsholim with 250 participants.
- Offers psychological and emotional support servicesProvides free psychological support for children experiencing illness-related anxiety and for parents managing family challenges, along with daily meetings and emotional continuity for families of children with cancer.
- Organizes recreational and wish-fulfillment experiences for children with cancerHosts fun days, dream trips to Orlando (35–40 children annually), and visits to Disney World and Disneyland for children with cancer, along with special events such as professional sports games to provide emotional relief and joy.
- Provides access to medical expertise and care coordinationMaintains a database of U.S. pediatric oncologists to support second opinions and specialist consultations, and assists families in completing medical forms, accessing care, connecting with providers, and securing medical rights.
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Healthcare Policy Advocacy 1 activity
- Conducts advocacy to improve children's access to medical careEngages in public advocacy and community organizing to increase awareness, promote policy changes, and improve legislation related to children's access to optimal medical care, hospital conditions, and support for families.
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Holiday and Seasonal Essentials Distribution 1 activity
- Distributes comfort items, technology, and medical equipment to children in treatmentProvides Emergency Comfort Kits, personalized gift packages, toys, tablets, gaming systems, books, protective supplies, mobility aids (e.g., scooters, wheelchairs), and essential living items (e.g., diapers, baby food) to support emotional well-being and physical recovery.
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Cancer Research Funding 1 activity
- Funds cancer research infrastructureFunds the establishment and ongoing operational costs of a cancer research lab at Sheba Medical Center in Israel for over a decade.
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Jewish Community Poverty Relief 1 activity
- Provides financial and logistical aid to families of sick children in IsraelSupports financially challenged families in Israel with food, transportation to hospitals, medical equipment, surgeries, and other basic needs not covered by national health insurance, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Support for Israeli Military and Veterans 1 activity
- Supports Israeli families seeking medical treatment in the United StatesProvides comprehensive support to Israeli families traveling to the U.S. for extended or short-term treatment, including transportation, accommodation, meals, clothing, translation services, emotional support, and car rentals.
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Uncategorized 1 activity
- Funds life-saving medications and treatments not covered by insuranceProvides funding for life-saving drugs, treatments, and medical procedures in Israel not included in standard health insurance, including experimental therapies, fertility preservation, dental procedures, and non-covered tests, and secures government approval for new drugs while funding them until public coverage begins.
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Who runs it
- AVI COHEN — DIRECTOR
- CHAIM BEN SIMON — DIRECTOR
- EVRONA LIBA KATZMAN — DIRECTOR
Who they work with
- Israeli Ministry of Health Government — Collaborates to secure approval for new life-saving drugs and transitions funding responsibility to public health insurance.
- Israeli families fighting childhood cancer Partner — Families served by the Emergency Comfort Kit program
- Israeli hospitals Partner — Collaborates with pediatric oncology departments in Israeli hospitals to improve medical care and infrastructure.
- Larger than Life (Gdolim Me-Hachaim) Network — Larger Than Life USA supports the activities of Larger than Life (Gdolim Me-Hachaim), the parent organization based in Israel.
- Netta Nathaniel Partner — Staff member providing direct emotional and logistical support to families
- Not specified Partner — Collaborates with local communities to host events for sick children.
- Recovered Larger Than Life children Partner — Recovered participants serve as consolers and volunteers on the dream trips, providing peer support and mentorship.
- Rinat Alatin Partner — Coordinates Larger Than Life USA's activities in Houston.
- Sheba Medical Center Partner — Funds the pediatric ward's cancer research lab and supports its ongoing operations.
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Addressing Financial Gaps in Pediatric Cancer Caremethodology: insurance_gap_fundingBy funding medical treatments, equipment, and services not covered by public insurance, the organization ensures access to optimal care because financial barriers are a primary constraint to timely and effective pediatric oncology treatment.
- Advocacy through Community Organizingmethodology: advocacy-through-community-organizingBy mobilizing communities to advocate for children’s access to optimal medical care, the organization drives systemic change because collective action increases public awareness and influences health policy.
- Integrated Psychosocial and Family-Centered Caremethodology: family-centered_careBy providing psychosocial support to both children and their families, the organization improves emotional well-being and treatment engagement because addressing the psychological and social dimensions of illness strengthens resilience and normalcy during medical care.
- Peer Support from Survivors in Remissionmethodology: peer_supportBy engaging cancer survivors in remission as peer counselors, children undergoing treatment gain psychological resilience and emotional inspiration because lived-experience mentorship fosters hope and reduces isolation.
- Personalized and Experience-Based Therapeutic Interventionsmethodology: therapeutic_engagementBy using personalized gifts, recreational engagement, and transformative experiences as therapeutic tools, children are more emotionally invested in treatment because these interventions restore agency, joy, and motivation during difficult medical processes.