named programs · 1 · from sources
What they call their work
Live Theater Performances
Professional actors perform interactive, original theater shows for children in hospitals, care facilities, and supportive housing in New York City and Washington, D.C.
activities · 3 groups
What they do
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Sensory-Inclusive Programming and Support 1 activity
- Deliver interactive theatre programs to children in hospitals, care facilities, and special education settingsProvides live, in-person and virtual interactive theatre performances for children in hospitals, care facilities, and schools serving children with disabilities, using professional actors and adaptable, sensory-friendly formats. Programs engage children through character creation, music, and imaginative participation, offering emotional respite and social interaction. Since 1999, these performances have reached over 115,000 children.
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Volunteer Engagement and Capacity Support 1 activity
- Organize volunteer engagement and corporate volunteer programsCoordinates volunteer events in New York City and Washington, DC, including corporate volunteer initiatives that contributed over 2,316 service hours last year to support programming delivery.
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Youth Theater Arts Education 1 activity
- Support theatre programming through fundraising and third-party initiativesRaises funds to support the creation and delivery of interactive theatre programs for children in healthcare and educational settings through fundraising events and facilitates third-party fundraising efforts.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$1.80M
Contributions & grants$1.04M58%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$52K3%
Other revenue$708K
expenses
Total expenses$1.86M
Program expenses78%
Admin / overhead16%
Fundraising6%
Salaries & benefits$1.35M
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$2.28M
Cash$226K
Investments$1.07M
Liabilities$538K
Net assets$1.74M
Liquid reserves8.4 mo
5 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +26.3%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 3
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| TAMELA ALDRIDGE | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 40 | $208K |
| CHRISTOPHER WILSON | DIRECTOR OF PROGRAMMING & COMMUNICATIONS | 40 | $153K |
| JAIME QUILES | OPERATIONS DIRECTOR | 40 | $121K |
board members · 16
- ACHILLES PERRY — BOARD MEMBER
- BRAD OSCAR — BOARD MEMBER
- BRADLEY J BUTWIN — BOARD MEMBER
- DAVID TRAVIN — BOARD MEMBER
- HOLLY FEDORCIK — BOARD MEMBER
- JENNIFER HAMMERSTEIN — CO-PRESIDENT
- JOE DIPIETRO — BOARD MEMBER
- JOHN HARDIMAN — BOARD MEMBER
- KEN HALLER MD — BOARD MEMBER
- LARA FLATH — BOARD MEMBER
- LAURA ANGEL-LALANNE — CO - SECRETARY
- MIRZA KAFEDZIC — TREASURER
- MONICA SPRUILL — BOARD MEMBER
- SALLY WHEELER MAIER — CO-PRESIDENT
- SARAH ROSAND — BOARD MEMBER
- WASEEM NOOR — CO - SECRETARY
relationships · 18
Who they work with
- Best Buddies Partner — Engaged in a partnership with Best Buddies involving young teens.
- Boston Children's Hospital Partner — Partner hospital receiving professionally produced virtual theater shows with minimal staff burden for implementation.
- Brookdale University Hospital Partner — Hosts Only Make Believe performances for pediatric patients in the playroom.
- Children’s Health Partner — Partner hospital in Dallas receiving virtual theater programming for pediatric patients.
- Children’s Hospital at Montefiore Partner — Partners with Only Make Believe to deliver performances that allow pediatric patients to relax and interact outside of medical procedures.
- Corporate Partners Partner — Collaborates with corporate partners to support volunteer opportunities.
- Creative Speech Therapy NYC Partner — Collaborates with Only Make Believe actors on therapeutic programming involving music and performance.
- Disney Voluntears Team Partner — Corporate volunteer partner that hosted a costume creation event with 54 participants.
- Hassenfeld Children's Hospital Partner — Partner hospital receiving virtual theater performances for young patients.
- Jill's House Partner — Hosts Only Make Believe programs where children engage in interactive performances.
- Lincoln Hospital Partner — Receives Only Make Believe programs that provide positive emotional experiences for children and families.
- NYU Langone Medical Center Partner — Hosted the debut of Only Make Believe at Rusk Institute's Pediatric Unit in 1999.
- New Alternatives for Children Partner — Collaborates with Only Make Believe to offer creative workshops that help children escape from stress and explore their creativity.
- Only Make Believe Junior Board Partner — Junior Board organizes and presents fundraising events such as Trivia Night to support Only Make Believe's programs.
- Shadow Box Theatre Partner — Collaborates with Only Make Believe actors on musical puppet shows for children.
- Tamela Aldridge Partner — Contact person for Mitzvah Project collaborations.
- The International Theater Project Partner — Partner organization in Rwanda where an Only Make Believe company member serves as program director.
- YAI Partner — Collaborated with YAI for the Central Park Challenge benefiting individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
strategies · 2
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.
- Imagination-Based Therapeutic Engagementmethodology: imagination_based_therapeutic_engagementBy using interactive theatre and imaginative play, the organization supports children's social, emotional, and cognitive development because engaging the imagination enables mental escape from medical and social stressors and fosters emotional resilience.
- Participatory and Sensory-Inclusive Theatre Modelmethodology: participatory_theatreBy designing interactive, sensory-friendly, and adaptable theatre experiences that invite child participation in storytelling and character creation, the organization increases engagement and accessibility for children with developmental or medical challenges because inclusive co-creation supports dignity, agency, and developmental growth.