(TIGARD, Ore.) — Alison Hicks created the Chelsea Hicks Foundation in 2009 after losing her vibrant, dress-up loving five year old daughter.
Chelsea was known around Doernbecher Children’s Hospital for sharing her costume selection with other kids in treatment and brightening hospital halls with parades. Today, the 501(c)(3) non-profit Chelsea’s Closet carries on on her favorite activity, bringing play therapy and costume dress-up to not only Doernbecher, but to Randall Children’s Hospital, Asante Children’s Hospital, Shriner’s, occasionally Seattle Children’s, as well as shipping care packages to 27 states and counting.
Annually, Hicks said CHF distributes around 2,500 costumes. All garments are new due to infection control purposes, and get to go home forever with the seriously ill kids who select them. Siblings are also included in the programming to uplift their spirits in a time when they may feel forgotten.
Serving preemie babies to young adults, the size range is inclusive of body diversity. CHF also makes accessible changes for those needing a wheelchair-friendly costume, or whatever modification a child may need that they can provide.
To learn more about Alison and her mission, visit chelseahicksfoundation.org.
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