Since 2005, the Josh Cares organization has forged a unique purpose with the passion of its founders and donors, partnering with the inspired vision of board members and hospital leadership to provide vital companionship and comfort to hospitalized children.

November 2013 marked a major milestone, as Cincinnati Children’s and Josh Cares celebrated eight years of providing support to some of the hospital’s most critically ill children. At a special gathering held at the CCHMC campus, Josh Cares supporters and senior hospital staff members announced Josh Cares’ commitment to raise an additional $1 million to further this important mission.

CCHMC Board Chairman Tom Cody shared the hospital’s profound gratitude for the support of the community which has enabled them to provide such a highly specialized level of emotional care for an extremely vulnerable population of the hospital’s patients.

In anticipation of the event, CCHMC President Michael Fischer commented, “Innovation and research are often celebrated for their abilities to change our patients’ outcomes, but it’s the welcoming smiles, relaxed

playtime and individual attention patients and families receive from our Child Life Specialists that truly makes their stay more enjoyable, comfortable and more healing. Josh Cares plays a significant role in bringing that joyful experience to our patients at Cincinnati Children’s. We are so grateful to have partners like you helping to ensure our patients receive the best care possible. I look forward to celebrating your $1 million milestone with you and uniting more strongly in this new commitment to the program.”

Josh Cares Board President Jim Barney shared our vision for the future, stating, “We continue to evaluate ways to better meet the needs of our patients, with our most important goal being to provide more one-on-time for each patient in need. Quieter weekend, evening and holiday hours at the hospital are among the loneliest for patients who are separated from their families. Josh Cares will place a new emphasis on meeting this need with a long term goal of providing full coverage all day and evening, 7 days a week, 365 a year. To accomplish this, our continued dedication to the Josh Cares vision

will embrace an additional $1 million of support over the next four years. We hope that our community of supporters will join us in this renewed commitment to ensure that no seriously ill children ever feel alone and afraid due to a family’s inability to be at the hospital as often as they wish they could.”

Josh Cares gratefully acknowledges the generous support of its family of volunteers and benefactors whose dedication and support have made reaching the $1 million mark of raising funds a reality.

Josh Cares, Inc. PO Box 43295

Cincinnati, OH 45243 (513) 459-1911 • joshcares.org

Contact@joshcares.org

JOSH CARES BEAT

Words of Joy

Page 2

Opening Our Hearts

Page 3

Expert Leadership

Page 4

Making Deeper Connections

Page 5

“Event-Full” Moments

Pages 6-7

Chain Heads to Newport

Page 8

FALL 2013

Celebrating $1M in Givingby Moira Grainger

Tom Cody, Cincinnati Children’s Chairman of the

Board, presents Joy Blang and Jim Barney with a gift in honor

of $1M of all-time support.

RECENT GRANTS RECEIVED The John and Shirley Davies Foundation

The Carol Ann and Ralph V. Haile, Jr./US Bank Foundation

Heritage Hill Foundation

The Andrew Jergens Foundation

The Johnson Foundation

The Linnemann Family Foundation

Ronald McDonald House Charities of Greater Cincinnati/RMHC Global

Jack J. Smith, Jr. Charitable Trust, PNC Bank and Karen Wachs, Co-Trustees

The Wohlgemuth Herschede Foundation

And our ongoing thanks to the Charles H. Dater Foundation for their continued leadership support of our efforts in the Newborn Intensive Care Unit.

Board of Directors

Jim Barney Laura Bohn Mike Collette Mike Cox Ann Helfrich Pete McConney

Dan Pierce Lynn Pierce Kathy Peterson Saba Chris Shepard Mike Youkilis

Executive Director

Joy Rowe Blang

P. O. Box 43295 • Cincinnati, OH 45243 • Phone & Fax: 513-459-1911 • www.joshcares.org • administration@joshcares.org

November 2013

Dear Friends of Josh Cares,

Cincinnati Children’s is doing amazing things in changing the outcomes for their

patients! In this issue you will read about Tiernee, the first female patient to receive

a Total Artificial Heart implant at a pediatric hospital. Cincinnati Children’s has

experienced profound growth within the Heart Institute. In a recent feature segment

aired on WCPO news, Co-Executive Director of the Heart Institute and Chief of

Cardiovascular Surgery, Dr. David Morales, explained that the mechanical heart worn

constantly as a backpack by Tiernee literally restarts the clock for patients awaiting

heart transplantation.

“To wait for a year in the hospital for transplant… you can only imagine you get a little

cabin fever. From a psychological, physical, even a nutritional standpoint, the ability

to be at home and be with your friends and family is a huge advantage as you wait for

a transplant,” said Dr. Morales. Unfortunately, complications with her condition have

recently required another prolonged stay at the hospital, which was an emotional set-

back for Tiernee.

As a 20-year-old patient who has endured a lifetime of medical challenges, her mother

has faced issues which have prevented her from being by her side as often as she would

like. While the majority of Josh Cares patients are quite young, Tiernee’s needs for

companionship and support are equally important and she has developed some very

special relationships with the Josh Cares team.

Tiernee has graciously agreed to share her story with you in this issue and as part of our

Gift of Time holiday annual fund campaign. I hope you will be as moved as I have been

in hearing about her struggles and how Cincinnati Children’s and Josh Cares have been

there to provide the care and support she needs to hopefully fulfill her dreams of one

day going to college and becoming a lawyer.

Best wishes for a wonderful holiday season,

Joy Rowe Blang

Joy Rowe Blang, Executive Director

JOSH CARES MISSIONJosh Cares provides companionship and comfort to

children hospitalized in critical care units in children’s hospitals. Josh Cares Child Life Specialists serve as surrogates for, and links to, the families who

would be with their children in the hospital if they could.

JOSH CARES VISIONJosh Cares ensures that no critically ill child feels

alone and afraid while hospitalized.

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Tiernee is a young adult who has battled grave medical issues nearly her entire life. Kidney cancer at the age of four led to congestive heart failure requiring a heart transplant at the age of 12 which her body rejected several years later. As her condition rapidly deteriorated, she needed a radical life saving procedure: the implantation of a Total Artificial Heart which she wears as an attached backpack at all times to buy her time until her body is ready for a second donor transplant.

While the device enables her to spend more time out of the hospital, an infection has forced her to be readmitted for several months. She misses her family greatly. Her loving single mother must work to support the family and maintain insurance along with caring for two younger children. She does the best she can, visiting on weekends and Facetiming each evening during dinner. With this limited interaction, Tiernee’s daily care team became concerned with how she was coping with the stress, loneliness and isolation- spending much of the day sleeping and watching TV.

In response to this concern, Josh Cares Child Life Specialists began visiting Tiernee daily. According

to Aimee Gardner, Chronic Care Professional, “The Josh Cares team did a great job of slowly introducing themselves and being present but not overbearing. Slowly but surely, Tiernee came around. I would walk by the room and see her smiling and laughing with Josh Cares– not just participating – she was having fun!” Tiernee confides that it is “nice to have someone consistent come see me daily so I don’t get lonely.”

To read more about Tiernee’s journey, including information about the Total Artificial Heart, visit http://www.joshcares.org/patient-stories

Student Leadership Corps named “Outstanding Youth in Philanthropy”

AWARD WINNING

Josh Cares is in its third year of its annual student service leadership development program, the Student Advisory Council (SAC), at the helm of which is the Leadership Corps, recently honored by the Association of Fundraising Professionals as the “Outstanding Youth

in Philanthropy” at their annual National Philanthropy Day luncheon on November 14th.

This year’s Leadership Corps members are: Liza David of Indian Hill HS, Ashley Dundon and David Waterman of McNick HS, Madeline

and Catherine Martini of Villa Madonna Academy, Grace Pettengill of Cincinnati Country Day School, and Josh Rivers of Anderson HS.

Adult volunteer advisor Susan Wright reflects, “The Josh Cares Student Advisory Group is one of the most dedicated groups of students that I have worked with in the non-profit sector. Our students take on challenges with such enthusiasm and dedication that it makes my involvement so enjoyable. It is so rewarding to see these students care so passionately about Cincinnati Children’s Hospital and helping our Josh Cares patients.”

GIVE THE GIFT OF TIME THIS HOLIDAY SEASONMany children will not be home with their families this holiday season. But with your help, they don’t have to feel alone at this joyous time of year. By giving the Gift of Time, your contribution will permit them to experience the pleasures of this special time of year, too, despite their challenging life circumstances.

At a time of year when many of us are donating food, toys and clothing to be distributed to families in need, we appreciate your keeping in mind that what the patients of Josh Cares need more than anything is the comfort, support and companionship of an individual with whom they share a special bond.

In a few weeks, you will receive a request to participate in our annual Gift of Time campaign. Please consider making a year-end gift to Josh Cares to join us in providing the special care these children so desperately need from their trusted Josh Cares Child Life Specialists during the holidays and throughout the rest of the year.

MEET THE JOSH CARES PATIENT

Giving our Hearts to Tiernee

Watch the video which was created for the luncheon at http://www.joshcares.org/our-student-advisory-council

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Purpose + Passion + Vision = Resultsby Moira Grainger

VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT

You Can Volunteer, Too!Do you have a fun group of friends or colleagues that you would like to introduce to Josh Cares? How about hosting a small gathering and inviting Josh Cares to attend and share information about what we do and how to help? What a great excuse to have a party!

Corporate CollaborationSpecial thanks to all of our friends at Systems Evolution, Inc., our leading corporate supporter who partners with us in so many ways. As a company, SEI sponsors multiple events a year and matches their generous employees’ annual giving to Josh Cares. Individually, SEI employees and consultants volunteer countless hours in areas ranging from board leadership and project management to administrative support and manpower at special events.

Josh Cares maintains very low overhead thanks, in great part, to the many pro-bono services of those in the SEI family.

While most successful business executives look to retirement as the chance to pursue a “bucket list” of deferred leisure activities, Josh Cares volunteer Jim Barney chose a different path, thanks to the inspiration and passion of Josh Cares founders Dan and Lynn Pierce.

As Board President, Jim has drawn on his professional experience from an impressive career at General Cable, generously applying them to furthering the Josh Cares mission. Jim’s expert leadership, passion for the cause, professional guidance and easy-going manner have made him a quiet powerhouse when it comes to building rapport among fellow board members, major donors and a highly committed corps of Josh Cares volunteers. Jim describes Josh Cares as “a phenomenal cause that no one really knows about. Josh Cares exists to provide the funding to hire professionally trained

and degreed Child Life Specialists to provide care for children who are critically ill and who are alone during their stay in the hospital. Its goals are to partner with the hospital to provide funding and to identify opportunities for financial support and to continually improve the quality of care it delivers through its Child Life Specialists. Our role as board members and volunteers is to get that word out to the community.”

What motivates a guy like Jim to give up well-deserved retirement for a second career leading a non-profit like Josh Cares? Says Jim, “The key ingredient that attracted me to Josh Cares was an intense personal passion among the

board members. I saw a deep commitment and a strong core value with a good chemistry of how we could work together as people and as a team. It is so critical to have similar values and respect. What had transpired before my arrival was tremendous, similar to starting a new business and building a foundation for success. There were great basic ingredients —the next step was to move forward with new challenges, to identify the core values and objectives that would allow us to improve program quality and expand both vertically and horizontally.”

In the past three years, much has been accomplished with the Josh Cares program, with 2013 marking the $1 million mark in funding five full-time Child Life Specialists and a full-time Senior CLS. Comments Executive Director Joy Blang, “We would quite simply not be where we are today without Jim’s tremendous leadership. He has dedicated countless hours of time to all facets of Josh Cares operations for which we are truly grateful.”

Jim relaxes after a successful golf outing with wife Wendy and Drew Pierce, son of Josh Cares

co-founders Dan and Lynn Pierce.

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Nikki Gosnell is the newest addition to the Josh Cares Child Life team. She also holds the distinct honor of being the first internal Cincinnati Children’s hire. With five years experience as a Child Life Specialist in the Same Day Surgery and Vascular Access Team, the position opening with Josh Cares intrigued her for the opportunity to develop deeper relationships with patients and families. Nikki works alongside Mindy Roux in the Newborn Intensive Care Unit where it is especially important for newborns and babies to receive regular physical and emotional comfort and attention from a consistent and compassionate caregiver. A native of Cleveland, OH, Nikki completed her undergraduate degree at Ohio University with majoring in Child & Family Studies with a concentration in Child Life. Prior to coming to Cincinnati Children’s, she completed her Child Life internship at Children’s Medical Center Dallas. We recently interviewed her about her career path and perspectives on Josh Cares.

Q: Why did you want to become a Child Life Specialist?

A: To be a Child Life Specialist is a mix of all my passions; to work in healthcare, to work individually with children, and to make a difference. I first heard about child life my sophomore year in college. I met with a professor who influenced me to change my degree path, and all my classes so that I could become a Child Life Specialist.

Q: What was the scope of your work in your previous outpatient placements?

A: I would help reduce children’s anxiety by preparing them for a surgery or procedure ahead of time. I would teach them about anesthesia and let them see and touch some of the equipment that they would encounter later when the actual procedure was taking place. I would also support children throughout a stressful procedure by comforting and distracting them, sometimes by simply talking to them and other times distracting them with toys or a DVD or IPad.

Q: How is your role as a Josh Cares CLS different from your past positions?

A: In my previous roles, I would usually be seeing 10-20 patients a day and most of my interactions were fairly quick. It was amazing to see the difference in their anxiety once they had more understanding of what was happening to them and had help in developing ways to handle their

stress. But now I am able to spend more quality time with each patient. I have more time to get to know what each child likes and what soothes them. It is nice to have an input with nurses about how the patients are progressing in their development.

Q: Why did you want to move into the Josh Cares program?

A: I wanted to broaden my skill set and switch gears from working with outpatients to inpatients, from short interactions to longer ones. I love the impact that Josh Cares has on patients. Josh Cares allows them to have something that is positive and constant in their ever changing environment. I love being able to fill a need when families are unable to be close.

Q: How important do you feel the role of a JC CLS is in the lives of the children and families we serve?

A: I think the impact is pretty far reaching. We are not only there for the patient to help create some normalization and offer companionship, but we also provide a contact for the family. We email, send photos, and Skype with families on a regular basis. We update them on milestones such as a first smile or bath or bottle... or celebrating a 100 days of life. Families want to know how their children are doing past the medical part of things.

Q: Please share any personal reflections you would like to add about your involvement with Josh Cares.

A: The Josh Cares team is remarkable—from everyone involved in starting this organization, to the people who support it and help it grow, to my colleagues I work alongside. It has been amazing to come to this team. Everyday we’re making a difference and it is a pleasure to be a part it!

Meet Nikki GosnellHOSPITAL PERSPECTIVES

Special thanks to Debbie McQuade of T&D Graphics in producing this newsletter.

Child Life Specialists are highly educated and trained members of the hospital’s interdisciplinary Family-Centered Care team. Their role is to focus on the psychosocial and developmental needs of patients and to support families through the stresses associated with a child’s hospitalization. For more information about the role and credentials of a Child Life Specialist, and to read the bios of our team, visit the “What We Do” tab on our new website, www.joshcares.org

Amy McGrory

Mindy Roux

Beth Alex

Annie Krause

Mari Kate Stone

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The home of Dan and Lynn Pierce was once again transformed into a distant land for Josh Cares’ annual signature fundraising event, Fire and Ice. This year, Japan was the destination of choice. Guests entered the home through the impressive pagoda to a flock of origami cranes dangling overhead and the melodic voices of the Sakura Ladies Chorus of the Japan America Society of Greater Cincinnati. Sushi and Lobster Ramaki were among the favorite authentic cuisine items sampled early in the evening, leading into oodles of noodles, flame grilled meats, fish, seafood and vegetables, teppanyaki, and flavorful Asian greens. As guests migrated throughout the home and poolside areas, traditional Japanese culture was found at every turn including origami demonstrations, instructional Japanese drum performances, a tranquil tea room or lively karaoke bar. At Fire and Ice, there is truly something for everyone to enjoy. Special thanks to lead sponsors Systems Evolution, Inc., Brower Insurance and the Heritage Club. Save the Date: Saturday, April 26th, 2014 for Fire and Ice: A Gourmet Affair Latin Style. You won’t want to miss the next memorable Josh Cares excursion.

JOSH CARES EVENTS

Over $100,000 raised at this year’s signature event!

Downtown Cincinnati came out in droves for the first annual Food Truckin’ for Josh Cares. Presented by Definity Partners, this was also the first mass collection of food trucks to be held on Fountain Square. Organized by the Josh Cares Young Professional Council, the event proved to be a tremendous stage to introduce thousands of locals to the mission of Josh Cares through mass social media efforts, repeated coverage on Fox19, and signage posted throughout the city. Fox 19’s Frank Marzullo kept the energy of the crowd up while Celebrity Judges Ilene Ross, Steve Wanamaker, and Leah Zipperstein interacted with food truck owners while sampling dishes, ultimately awarding Golden Spatula honors to C’est Cheese for Best Entrée and Sugar Snap for Best Dessert. Destined to become a signature event for both Josh Cares and Downtown Cincinnati, sponsorships allowed for mass marketing exposure for area businesses as

well as the opportunity to impact the lives of children served by Cincinnati Children’s. The YP Council is already truckin’ on their plans for next year’s event which will take place on Wednesday, June 18th. Interested in joining the YP Council? Send an email to contact@joshcares.org to join this energetic and passionate team. We are generous with our definition of “young!”

YP Council keeps on truckin’

Plenty of birdies were scored at the 4th Annual Josh Cares Golf Outing held on September 19th at Terrace Park Country Club. This year’s event was the most successful yet-raising $42,000 to fund an entire Child Life Specialist position for the upcoming year. Participants enjoyed a barbecue lunch prior to the 18-hole scramble event which included 6 on-course contests. The lively crowd enjoyed the after-party which culminated in a live auction including golf rounds at some of Cincinnati’s most prestigious clubs, a helicopter ride, wine tastings, and unique experience packages. Special thanks to our lead sponsors: Brower Insurance, Gold and Diamonds, OHC, Marvin and Peggy Lewis, Premier Mail and Fulfillment, and Joe and Carla Stein. For results and photos from the event check out the golf event page on our website.

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Josh Cares... and Look Who Else Does, Too!ON THE TOWN

For more information and to view additional photos from these spectacular events, visit www.joshcares.org.

The fabulous Fire and Ice committee managed to outdo themselves once again!

Laura and Gary Bohn’s busload of Mason area friends were the life of the

party.

Indian Hill residents enjoy a night to remember in their very own

backyard.

Fox 19’s Frank Marzullo presents the “Golden Spatula” award to C’est Cheese

for their famous Bee Sting sandwich.

The New Orleans to Go truck, sponsored by Regency Centers, brought a taste of

Bourbon Street to Fountain Square.

Meet the Josh Cares Young Professionals Council which was responsible for

putting on the first food truck festival to be held on Fountain Square.

Hazard Sponsor, Bobby Miles of My Basement Dr. , with board member Chris

Shepard, and teammates.

Greg Schweppe drives event chair Pete McConney to the first tee in the Brower

Insurance Sponsored Beverage Cart.

The outing went off without a hitch, thanks to our volunteers behind the

scenes.

Grace and Jane Digennaro lead a volunteer group from Give Back

Cincinnati and the Boys and Girls Clubs in making Halloween gifts for families of

patients.

Members of the Leadership Corps bonded over dinner at Izzy’s following an AFP

reception in their honor.

The Attiyah girls kept neighbors cool with a “Leminad” sale to benefit Josh Cares.

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STUDENTS ENGAGING THE COMMUNITY

Josh Cares, Inc.P. O. Box 43295

Cincinnati, OH 45243

NON-PROFITUS POSTAGE PAID

Cincinnati OHPermit No 7312

UPCOMING EVENTS:

CHAIN OF LOVE Saturday, December 14th, 201311am-2:00pmNewport on the Levee Gallery

FIRE AND ICEA Gourmet Affair Latin StyleSaturday, April 26th, 20147pm-Midnight

FOOD TRUCKIN’ FOR JOSH CARESWednesday, June 18th, 201411-2pmFountain Square

JOSH CARES GOLF OUTINGThursday, September 18th, 2014Terrace Park Country Club

Visit our brand new website!

joshcares.org

BOARD OF DIRECTORSJim Barney Pete McConneyLaura Bohn Dan PierceMike Cox Lynn PierceMike Collette Mike YoukilisAnn Helfrich Chris Shepard

Kathy Peterson Saba

EXECUTIVE DIRECTORJoy Rowe Blang

“Like” us! http://www.facebook.com/joshcaresforchildren

The Chain of Love is crossing the river to a more central location to increase awareness and visibility for Josh Cares. Each link on the massive paper holiday chain symbolically represents $1 raised through a student led project within local communities. Every 20 links, or $20 raised, will fund an entire hour of time spent between a child and a Josh Cares Child Life Specialist. The Chain of Love, the signature service project of the Student Advisory Council, raises up to $15,000 annually. This year, the chain can be viewed at multiple locations throughout Newport on the Levee during the month of December, including a holiday window storefront display inside the Gallery as well as in several tenant entrances including: Barnes and Noble, Brother’s Bar and Grille, Dewey’s Pizza, Star Lanes, and Sweet Dreams Candy Company. Newport visitors can participate in a scavenger hunt around the levee, with clues directing them to chain locations. Forms will be available in the management office inside the Gallery building. In celebration of the success of the Chain of Love, a special event (open to the public) will be held inside the Gallery on Saturday, December 14th between 11-2pm. All participants will be recognized for their projects during the event which will include refreshments, children’s activities, and featured performances by musical groups representing the Chain of Love participating schools.

On the Move to Newport on the Levee

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