named programs · 3 · from sources
What they call their work
Laugh Create Heal Workshops
Therapeutic workshops combining laughter yoga and art-making, where participants create artwork that is transformed into custom headbands and wristbands as symbols of healing and joy
Sponsor a Family
Program enabling donors to sponsor a Laugh Create Heal workshop for families with children facing terminal illnesses, removing financial barriers to participation
Spread Joy Wristbands
Initiative distributing pairs of wristbands—one for the recipient and one to share—featuring art from workshops to create a ripple effect of positivity
activities · 2 groups
What they do
-
Therapeutic Comfort Kits and Room Makeovers 3 activities
- Host special events to deliver healing programs and positive experiencesHosts events at children's hospitals and partners with businesses and Girl Scout groups to deliver laughter- and art-based healing experiences, including customized headband creation, fostering emotional expression and creating lasting positive memories for pediatric patients and their families.
- Organize Laugh Create Heal workshops using laughter and art for healingRuns workshops that combine laughter and creative activities, particularly painting, to support healing for children and families, especially those facing terminal illness. These workshops are conducted in hospitals, schools, and organizations across the Northeast and result in participants creating personalized headbands from their artwork.
- Produce and distribute healing headbands and wristbands as wearable artCreates and distributes headbands and wristbands made from artwork produced in workshops or by collaborating artists, serving as symbols of hope, healing, and emotional regulation. Each wristband set includes one for the recipient and one to share, and the items are distributed to pediatric patients, workshop participants, and participants in sporting events.
-
-
Fundraising for Community and Charitable Initiatives 1 activity
- Conduct fundraising to sustain laughter- and art-based healing programsRuns fundraising initiatives to support and expand access to its core Laugh Create Heal workshops, directing 100% of donations toward program delivery for children in hospitals and other healing environments.
-
financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$72K
Contributions & grants$39K54%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$38K54%
Other revenue$-5K
expenses
Total expenses$89K
Program expenses100%
Admin / overhead0%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$0
Grants paid out$2K
Largest expense lineFacilities
balance sheet
Total assets$1.03M
Cash$47K
Investments$983K
Liabilities$0
Net assets$1.03M
Liquid reserves138.9 mo
5 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +29.6%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
board members · 3
- BARBARA GRAPSTEIN — PRESIDENT
- CHARLOTTE DE LEON — SECRETARY/TREASURER
- STEVE GRAPSTEIN — VICE PRESIDENT
relationships · 10
Who they work with
- AnneMarie DiFrancesca Partner — CCLS professional who reported that Healing Headbands' events provide positive memories for patients and families.
- Association of Applied Therapeutic Humor Partner — Barbara Grapstein is actively involved with the organization.
- Comedy Cures Partner — Barbara Grapstein is actively involved with the organization.
- Gilda's Club NYC Partner — Provided headbands to individuals in psychosocial support programs for emotional benefit.
- Girl Scouts Partner — Collaborates with Girl Scouts to deliver art therapy-inspired workshops and healing headband creation activities.
- Locust Valley Intermediate School Partner — Collaborated with students and teachers to create artwork for healing headbands.
- New York-Presbyterian, Phyllis and David Domansky Center for Children's Health Partner — Implemented Healing Headbands activities with pediatric patients.
- North Shore LIJ, Cohen's Children's Hospital Partner — Hosted Healing Headbands Project events for pediatric patients and families.
- Stony Brook Children's Hospital Partner — Facilitated art-based headband creation activities with pediatric patients.
- World Laughter Tour Partner — Barbara Grapstein is actively involved with Steve Wilson's World Laughter Tour.
strategies · 4
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.
- Art-as-Healing Through Wearable Expressionmethodology: art_as_healingBy transforming artwork into wearable items, we amplify emotional healing because tangible, shareable expressions of creativity extend therapeutic impact beyond the moment of creation and serve as lasting reminders of joy and resilience.
- Contagious Positivity via Wearable Ripple Effectmethodology: contagious_positivityBy distributing wearable wristbands that prompt sharing with others, we generate cascading emotional impact because the act of giving and receiving symbols of happiness leverages the belief that positivity is socially contagious.
- Four Elements of Play Frameworkmethodology: four_elements_of_playBy structuring therapeutic art activities around the “Four Elements of Play,” we support children’s emotional well-being because a play-based framework lowers psychological barriers and fosters safe, joyful engagement.
- Laugh, Create, Heal Workshop Modelmethodology: Laugh Create Heal modelBy guiding participants through sequential engagement with laughter, creative expression, and healing, we produce emotional well-being because this progression activates joy, enables personal meaning-making, and reinforces psychological resilience.