Kenzie Kares Foundation

Kenzie Kares FoundationKenzie Kares FoundationKenzie Kares Foundation

Kenzie Kares Foundation

Kenzie Kares FoundationKenzie Kares FoundationKenzie Kares Foundation
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Who We Are

    The Hebrard Family

      Mackenzie Rose was born on 11/11/2018 at 24 weeks and 5 days, weighing only 15 ounces at birth. With only a 2% chance of survival, Mackenzie chose to defy the odds. After 11 difficult months in the hospital, 4 surgeries/procedures, 6 PICC lines, over 215 blood draws/shots, 16 days paralyzed, 7 blood transfusions, Mackenzie finally came home happy and healthy for the first time after 310 days. 

    Through her journey, we (her parents) have inherited a new sense of hope, and our eyes have been opened to the struggles endured and miracles witnessed in the NICU. Through the inspiration of Mackenzie, Kenzie Kares Foundation was formed as an an opportunity to commemorate and celebrate her miraculous story through providing necessities for parents in the hospital parent lounges, establishing the Journey Beads program, assisting with training and teaching for families coming home with special needs children, and supporting families in crisis through a family relief fund.

    Our Programs

    Journey Beads

    Teaching and Training

    Family Relief Fund

    Journey Beads is a program we started along with the team at Banner Thunderbird Medical Center NICU in Phoenix. It's a program offered to families that encourages them (with the help of a program guide and staff) to build a string of beads to signify each child's journey through the NICU. Each bead signifies a different part of their journey, such as blood draws (red bead), or a new bead for each day they spend in the NICU (yellow bead). 

    Family Relief Fund

    Teaching and Training

    Family Relief Fund

    We formed our Family Relief Fund in order to monetarily assist families who may need a little help. Whether that's through providing gas or food gift cards, babysitting assistance so parents can spend time with their child in the NICU, or assisting with paying for hotel stays near the hospital for those families who live far away (among other ways).  

    Teaching and Training

    Teaching and Training

    Teaching and Training

    Through our experience with a special needs child, we have learned that there is a clear disconnect between the training the hospital provides and the experience of caring for a special needs child in a home environment. Our goal is to bridge the gap between the critical training of how to care for the needs of a medically fragile child that you learn inpatient, and the home life experience of caring for these needs.

    Parent Lounge

    Non-Profit Partnership

    Teaching and Training

    We've committed to renovating the parent lounge at Banner Thunderbird Medical Center NICU. It's important to harbor a welcoming environment for parents and families as they spend countless hours, days, and nights in the NICU with their little ones. Efforts we seek to provide are snacks, toiletries, fresh coffee, magazines and reading materials, comfortable furniture, and a clean environment.

    Family Support Packs

    Non-Profit Partnership

    Non-Profit Partnership

    We've committed to providing family care packs for both parents and siblings to help ease the burden of the NICU journey. Each care pack is presented to families upon admission and includes basic necessities such as snacks and toiletries so you can stay by your child's bedside. The sibling packs include items to help provide entertainment and learning books to help fill their time as they often spend long hours in waiting rooms. 

    Non-Profit Partnership

    Non-Profit Partnership

    Non-Profit Partnership

    We love partnering with other non-profits who share similar visions as ours of helping families with young children who need a little extra support. If you have a non-profit you'd like for us to consider partnering with, please fill out our contact form and we'd love to see what we can do!

    Help Our Cause

    Thank you for considering support us, and ultimately, NICU families in their time of need. 

    Pay with PayPal or a debit/credit card

    Kenzie Kares Foundation 501(c)(3) Status

     Kenzie Kares Foundation is a registered 501(c)(3) tax exempt non-profit charitable organization that seeks to support the community with every dollar accumulated. Donations are tax deductible as allowed by law.  

    Copyright © 2022 Kenzie Kares - All Rights Reserved.