The Sweet Julia Grace Foundation (SJGF) has been awarded a $15,000 grant from the Dunkinâ Joy in Childhood Foundation. The grant will fund an expanded iPad and technology program designed to comfort, connect, and entertain children with complex medical conditions.
The grant will provide iPads, gaming systems, TVs, computers, and adaptive technology to hospitalized children who are homebound or frequently travel for medical care.
A Program That Grows with the Need
The foundation’s technology initiative originally focused on providing iPads to help children stay connected with family, friends, and school. However, as the program evolved, it became clear that many children needed additional forms of technology to enhance their daily lives.
âWeâve always had the iPad program, but this grant is helping us expand it into a full iPad and technology program,â said Sarah Knight, founder of the Sweet Julia Grace Foundation. âWeâve had children inspire this growthâlike one young boy recently diagnosed with cancer. Because of his diagnosis, he was in a neck brace and could no longer use his phone. His one wish was a gaming laptop so he could still play with his friends.â
The foundation is now prepared to grant wishes beyond just iPadsâoffering gaming computers, adaptive equipment for children with severe disabilities, and even custom gaming setups for children facing mobility challenges.
How the Grant Will Be Used
Knight explained that the grant will help support 10 to 15 children, depending on their specific needs.
- iPad packages, which include headphones and backpacks, cost about $400 to $500 per child.
- Gaming systems and computers cost approximately $1,000 per child.
Adaptive technology, like special switches that allow children with motor disabilities to control devices with a single touch, cost about $100 each.
âOur goal is to be ready when families come to usâwhether they need a wish fulfilled, adaptive equipment, or just something to brighten a difficult time,â Knight said.
More Than Just GiftsâBuilding a Community
The Sweet Julia Grace Foundation has been serving families since 2014, providing customized support for children with complex medical conditions, disabilities, and life-threatening illnesses.
Families helped by the foundation are known as âRain Dancers,â once they are welcomed into the foundationâs circle, they remain a part of the SJGF community for life.
âWe help families with everything from granting a wish to providing medically necessary equipment, like special bath chairs, strollers, and custom-built beds,â Knight said. âWe also host community gatherings so families can meet others who truly understand what theyâre going through. Itâs about making sure they donât feel alone.â
Currently, 50 to 70 new families are referred to the foundation each year, with over 400 families served since its founding.
This yearâs $15,000 grant from the Dunkinâ Joy in Childhood Foundation is the largest the Sweet Julia Grace Foundation has received. It follows previous grants of $10,000, which helped launch an aquatic therapy program for children with mobility challenges.
âThis kind of funding is seed moneyâit helps us grow our programs and make a bigger impact,â Knight said.
The Workhouse Arts Center in Lorton, Virginia, is hosting its Annual Toy Drive in partnership with OAR NOVA to support local families affected by the criminal justice system. Running through December 8, the community is encouraged to donate new, unwrapped toys at drop-off locations across the Workhouse campus. The drive aims to bring holiday joy while emphasizing the centerâs commitment to creativity, compassion, and community engagement. For more information, visit the Workhouse Arts Centerâs website.
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Mary Washington Hospice hosted its seventh annual Light Up a Life Illumination event on Thursday, November 14. This special event allowed community members to purchase luminaries in their loved onesâ memory. Over 320 individuals were honored, and their names were read aloud by the hospice team during an intimate program at Mary Washington Hospital.
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Heather Haney, a participant in the Leadership Prince William Signature Program Class of 2025, shared her journey with the organization, reflecting on how it began with the Emerging Leaders Program. Haneyâs involvement in Leadership Prince William started in 2018 after a friend encouraged her to apply.
"I was in a tough headspace at the time, working on launching my own business," Haney said. "My friend, who was already involved with Leadership Prince William, suggested I give it a try."
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Yesterday, at the warehouse operated by Northern Virginia food pantry Food For Others, employees and associates of I-66 Express Mobility Partners (I-66 EMP), the builder and operator of the 66 Express Outside the Beltway, packed a grand total of 660 Power Packs for the areaâs school-aged children.
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Virginia Credit Union (VACU) and the Fredericksburg Nationals have donated $11,710 to combat hunger and food insecurity in the Central Rappahannock River area. Through a partnership with the FredNats, the Fredericksburg-based minor league baseball team, VACU makes a $5 donation to the Fredericksburg Regional Food Bank for every strikeout recorded by the Nationalsâ pitchers during the course of the season. The FredNats matched VACUâs $5,855 donation.
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On Friday, August 30, 2024, the parking lot of Winners Church at 17877 Old Triangle Road transformed into a bustling center of health and wellness. Community members gathered for a comprehensive health fair aimed at providing crucial medical screenings and education to the uninsured and underinsured.
The event, from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., was a partnership between Winners Church and Sentara Healthcare, marking a new collaborative effort to enhance community health services. This yearâs fair featured a vital additionâa mobile mammogram van from Sentara Northern Virginia Medical Center offering free cancer screenings.
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House of Mercy, a longstanding food pantry and thrift store near Manassas, announced significant operational changes in response to a sharp increase in demand for its services. The organization will temporarily halt new client registrations and shift from offering free to discounted clothing.
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Habitat for Humanity in Prince William County, under the interim leadership of Steve Liga, is recalibrating its mission to tackle the unique challenges of expensive real estate and a community need for home repairs rather than new builds.
Liga, who stepped in as the interim director, detailed how his experience with other nonprofits led him to this role. He explained his immediate focus on stabilizing the organization's financial footing and reconnecting with the community after a slow period exacerbated by the coronavirus pandemic.
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In 2022, Liga left ACTS in Dumfries after serving as its CEO for seven years.
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