St. John’s ICARE Foundation Helps Nearly 90 Families for the Holidays

Ceallaigh Watts, Manager of Foundation Programs and Events and Gwynn Campbell, Development Coordinator of the St. John’s ICARE Foundation accepted Adopt-A-Family donations from dedicated Adopt-A-Family volunteers.
The holiday season can be tough for families who are struggling financially. In 2024, the St. John’s ICARE Foundation helped ease this burden for nearly 90 families through its annual Adopt-A-Family program.

by the generosity of its Adopt-A-Family donors.
“The holidays can be extremely stressful, especially when you’re wondering how you will purchase your gifts for your family,” said Nancy Leghart, Executive Director of the St. John’s ICARE Foundation. “Thanks to the generous support of our donors, more than 300 people from 90 families received gifts and enjoyed the holiday season.”
Each year, the St. John’s ICARE Foundation collaborates with social workers from the outpatient behavioral health clinics at St. John’s Episcopal Hospital to identify patients in need. The patient referrals are then reviewed by the foundation’s Adopt-a-Family subcommittee and matched with donors.
Donors included churches affiliated with the Episcopal Diocese of Long Island, Episcopal Health Services team members, corporations such as Local Media Solutions and The Port Authority of NY and NJ, and local philanthropic groups like the Kiwanis of The Rockaways.
Each donor receives a wish list and strives to fulfill it, providing clothes and toys for children and basic household necessities and clothing for parents. Many donors go above and beyond to ensure the families experience joy during the holiday season.
Photos courtesy of St. John’s ICARE Foundation.