Michele Hall Duncan and Son Wesley
Photo: Special to the NY Beacon
By Andrew Rosario
Covid 19 and the Pandemic has taken a profound toll on the world. Sadly, last week the United States reached a milestone that saw that more than 1 million people had succumbed to the disease that started in March 2020. Every industry has been affected especially groups that rely on fundraising to support their organizations. For the first time in 2 years, the enCourage Kids Foundation were able to hold their 37th Gala at the famous Cipriani’s South Street location. President and CEO Michele Hall Duncan was beaming at the turnout. “It’s special to be back. We really miss being in person and having the opportunity to engage our donors face to face.” In 2020, the organization was set to kick off the event but had to cancel the day before as the Pandemic was at its peak. There was no Gala last year. Duncan was quick to point out the dedication of her group in order for the foundation to remain successful. “It’s been the work of our board. The people really love the mission and they are struck by it. They are struck by what we did for children and how and how we transformed and coped in our flexibility during the Pandemic. We always had a strong group of supporters and they came back.” Since the inception of the foundation more than 1 million kids have benefitted without families having to worry about financial issues. The group has had to make adjustments but it has not stopped them from getting the services the kids need. “We’re still working in close proximity to the hospitals and to the child life people asking them what do you need,” she concluded.
The evening was hosted by WABC Sports Anchor Ryan Field who was thrilled when asked to be part of the evening. “It means a lot to especially after the last couple of years. We get to see so many smiling faces in person. It’s kind of a celebration for the foundation 37 years. The city coming back to life, so much to be thankful for. I’m Just honored to be part of it tonight.” Field recognized the importance of the organization. “We’re raising money for these kids that need a chance. The fact that we’re able to provide this with a night of music and dancing and entertainment. I’m just playing a small part in this. It’s so important what we’re doing here tonight. Hopefully, we’ll raise a lot of money for the kids who could really use it.” Field helped do that as he enticed the attendees to donate more than $1 million dollars.
It’s family affair for the foundation as Duncan’s son Wesley Hall is the Chairman of the Young Professionals Board. They are 27 active members under him. “We work very closely with enCourage Kids,” he began. We always want to stay very, very close to what the goals of the actual organization are. The organization is always in alignment with child life specialist and what child life specialist do.” One of his and his team’s mission is to educate others about the child life profession. They do that by going to health care facilities and also talk to the kids that are in the program. “One of the things that is unique about enCourage Kids is that in hospital’s now luckily we have staff members called child life specialist whose job it is to know the specific details of a child, their disease and the constellation of social and economic factors that impact how that disease interacts with their reality inside and outside of the hospital.”
It was a very successful and bittersweet evening as the enCourage Kids Foundation mourned the loss Jay Anderson who served on the Board of Directors for more than 20 years. Anderson was represented by his 3 sons Jason, Rob and Stephen who accepted the Jeffrey Gerald Leadership Award. In addition, the organization renamed his favorite program The Jay Anderson Pediatric Hospital Support fund in his memory.
For more information and to make donations, go to the enCourage Kids Foundation website enCourage-Kids.org.
