irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2024
What they reported doing
- #1 primary $78KHoliday Cheer Bus Elf Ride - Roughly 1,000 volunteers dressed as elves Santa and other holiday attire collect gifts throughout the season and then sort & organize them at The North Pole aka our office in Amityville each weekend until the Sunday before Christmas when we deliver to over 1,500 children throughout Long Island, NYC, NJ, CT on busses filled with elf teams and gifts and we go right to the homes of children coping with life-threatening illnesses & trauma and their siblings and bring them huge sacks of toys and participate with them in silly challenges and acts of kindness as each elf team competes to win the prestigious Holiday Cup of Cheer. The parents, guardians, & caregivers have to pay nothing for the holidays. All of our services are provided free of charge and include the siblings giving respite to the caregivers.
- #2 $60KSaddle Rock Ranch Day Camp - Our day camp serves children and their siblings coping with life-threatening illnesses & trauma. We serve over 100 kids each day with free door to door transportation included. Besides our daily offerings of STEM, sign language classes, cabin culture, creative arts & crafts, sports, drama, music, & dance, we have special events each day including Carnival with bounce houses & slippy slides, Family PicNic with food trucks, games, a concert on a parade float, a shaving cream fight and foam party. We also have a Mister Softee Truck every day and bottomless sno cones. We also have a Dart Zone days with fun Nerf guns and a talent show. Our MoRE Memories ceremony where we release hundreds of butterlies in memory of our loved ones
named programs · 7 · from sources
What they call their work
Camp Adventure
Sleep-away camp held every August for children coping with cancer and life-threatening illnesses, offering therapeutic and recreational activities.
Community Drive-In Movie Series
Monthly family-friendly drive-in movies in Copiague, NY, providing safe, affordable entertainment during the pandemic for families coping with trauma and illness.
Holiday Cheer Bus Elf Ride
Annual holiday program where volunteers dressed as elves deliver gifts to over 1,500 children and their siblings across multiple states, including festive activities and respite for caregivers.
Hope for Johnathon
Year-round visitation program providing emotional and practical support to children and families in hospitals, homes, or other locations.
More University
Volunteer training and mentoring program focused on leadership development, resume-building, and hands-on experience.
Saddle Rock Ranch Day Camp
Free day camp in July offering transportation, STEAM activities, arts, sports, and special events for children coping with life-threatening illnesses and their siblings.
Virtual Camp
Free online camp launched in 2020 for children and families coping with life-threatening illness, featuring daily therapeutic and educational activities led by professionals.
activities · 4 groups
What they do
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Recreational and Emotional Support Programs for Children with Serious Illnesses 3 activities
- Operate day camp program for children affected by cancerOperates Saddle Rock Ranch Day Camp, a 12-day program serving over 100 children per day with therapeutic and recreational activities including STEM, arts, sports, drama, music, and memorial events, including free door-to-door transportation.
- Operate sleepaway camp for children with cancer and their siblingsRuns an annual week-long sleepaway camp in August for children diagnosed with cancer and their siblings, providing therapeutic and recreational activities in a supportive environment.
- Provide year-round direct support visits to children and familiesConducts ongoing visits to hospitals, homes, and other locations for children coping with cancer and their families who are unable to attend camp, offering emotional and psychosocial support.
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Holiday and Seasonal Essentials Distribution 1 activity
- Deliver holiday gift program for families affected by childhood cancerRuns the Holiday Cheer Bus Elf Ride program, delivering holiday gifts directly to over 1,500 children and their siblings across Long Island, NYC, New Jersey, and Connecticut, supported by 1,000 volunteers and costumed teams making home visits.
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Inclusive Social & Recreational Events 1 activity
- Operate virtual camp and engagement programs for children and familiesProvides free, ongoing virtual camp programs featuring daily therapeutic, educational, and recreational activities led by trained professionals, along with virtual events such as bingo and trivia nights to foster connection and fun from home.
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Behavioral Health and Human Services Training 1 activity
- Provide internship and practicum opportunities for studentsOffers internships and practicum placements to support student learning and professional development in fields related to child and family support services.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$764K
Contributions & grants$474K62%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$2150%
Other revenue$290K
expenses
Total expenses$675K
Program expenses76%
Admin / overhead4%
Fundraising20%
Salaries & benefits$111K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineFacilities
balance sheet
Total assets$341K
Cash$161K
Investments$0
Liabilities$73K
Net assets$267K
Liquid reserves2.9 mo
5 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +21.3%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 1
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| John Ray | Treasurer | 40 | $66K |
board members · 6
- Anthony Goss — Board Member
- Eddie Orihuela — Board Member
- Jackie Lorenz — Secretary
- Melissa Firmes — President
- Robert Newell — Board Member
- Roberta Karant — Vice President
relationships · 5
Who they work with
- Camp Adventure Partner — Program operated by Motivational Recovery Environments, Inc. for children with cancer and their siblings
- Care Camps Foundation Partner — Partnership to create magical outdoor experiences for children with cancer
- Costellos Ace Hardware Partner — Hosts the Community Drive-In Movie Series in Copiague, NY.
- Johnny Ray Partner — Host of the virtual bingo and trivia event
- Songs of Love Foundation Partner — Partnership to create personalized songs that bring joy and comfort to children facing medical challenges
strategies · 3
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.
- Camp-Based Healing Environmentmethodology: camp_based_supportBy immersing children coping with cancer in a joyful, camp-based environment, we improve emotional well-being and support healing because positive experiences and peer connections reduce psychological distress and foster resilience.
- Peer-Powered Engagement Through Virtual Playmethodology: virtual-engagementBy using virtual game-based events and peer interaction, we sustain connection and emotional support because playful, communal experiences maintain engagement and mitigate isolation, especially when in-person participation is limited.
- Volunteer Development as Mutual Supportmethodology: volunteer_training_and_mentorshipBy training volunteers through mentorship and hands-on experience, we strengthen program capacity and participant support because volunteer growth in leadership and personal skills enhances service quality and relational depth.