On October 28, Eric and Jill Becker presented two Excellence in Nursing Awards to deserving individuals.

This year’s recipients were Sharon Thompson, RN, BSN, OCN and Cynae Alonia Johnson, CRNP, PhD nursing candidate. Both are nurses for the Kelly Gynecologic Oncology Service at Johns Hopkins.

Sharon has worked as an oncology nurse at Hopkins for more than 25 years, with most of that time as the head chemotherapy nurse in the Kelly Gynecologic Oncology Service. She is loved by her patients and peers alike….

Last month, two wonderful women, Liz Dannenberg and Lucy Hess, hosted a fundraiser for Karma for Cara at Chicago’s Athleta on Oak Street. Liz, a leukemia survivor, wanted to raise money to give back to those also affected by cancer. All of the proceeds from that event have been directed to our cancer patient care and comfort programs.

Last week we received the news that Liz’s cancer has returned. She now needs a bone marrow transplant and is looking for a match….

Karma for Cara Microgrants help fund exceptional service projects led by youth 18 and under working to better their communities. Read about our microgrant recipient, Cameron, an 8-year-old who created an anti-bullying group.

1. What inspired you to start Cameron’s Anti-Bully Campaign?

It started when I got in trouble for bullying a boy at school. He had a doll and I thought it was funny, so I teased him. Afterward, I felt really bad and decided that I could help make him fell better by starting an Anti-Bully Club at school….

Last fall, the Beckers had an idea. Thanksgiving was fast approaching, and the Beckers already planned on having many family members and friends over to celebrate the holiday.

As a family with a long history of volunteering, they decided they wanted to add something new to their Thanksgiving celebration—something to really capture the spirit of the day and make the holiday more meaningful. They decided to add an element of giving back to the festivities.

Before dinner, the group gathered around long tables full of supplies and packed bags of toiletries and other goods for people at a shelter….

The Karma for Cara Club at Baltimore’s Bryn Mawr School recently raised money during the school’s harvest festival.

The girls got creative, making Cara-Mels and Cara-Mel apples to sell at the festival, along with hair accessories.

The items were a hit, and the club raised $200. The money will be donated to the Kimmel Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins Hospital.

Way to go, girls!

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Karma for Cara Microgrants help fund exceptional service projects led by youth 18 and under working to better their communities. Read about our microgrant recipient, Nadya, a 17-year-old who organizes the distribution of monthly care packages of feminine products to women in need.

1. What inspired you to start Camions of Care?

I was inspired to found Camions of Care after my own experience with a degree of homelessness. My mother lost her job two years ago, and for several months we had to couch-surf with our closest friends….

Are you looking for a way to bring volunteering into your child’s school? Consider introducing “Cara Cookie Volunteers” to your child’s teacher.

If your child in is elementary school, introduce the idea of volunteering to the students by reading “Cara Cookie Volunteers” to the classroom.

“Cara Cookie Volunteers” tells the true story of the first time the Beckers volunteered together as a family. It chronicles the joys and importance of giving back, as well as overcoming the uncertainty and fears that may arise in young children in new situations….

Karma for Cara Microgrants help fund exceptional service projects led by youth 18 and under working to better their communities. Read about our microgrant recipient, Sabina, a 17-year-old who hosts a STEM summer camp for elementary and middle school aged girls in her community. 

1. How did you become involved with Girl Science?

I always loved science and math. When I entered high school, I noticed there were very few girls in my advanced science and math classes….

Karma for Cara Microgrants help fund exceptional service projects led by youth 18 and under working to better their communities. Read about our microgrant recipient, Sophie, a 15-year-old inspired to fight childhood hunger and educate low-income preschool kids on the benefits of healthy eating.

1. What inspired you to start this project?…

When touring some of our local food banks, I discovered there were limited healthy and fresh produce options available. Seeing the benefits and the impact of one garden in my backyard, I reached out to area low-income pre-schools and offered to build raised garden beds, plant, maintain, and donate gardening tools and seedlings to the schools.

Karma for Cara Microgrants help fund exceptional service projects led by youth 18 and under working to better their communities. Read about Marguerite, 13, who started Bag Up the Love, which provides a duffle bag full of toiletries and supplies to kids entering foster care.

1. How did you become involved with Bag Up the Love?

What really inspired me to start Bag Up The Love was a family trip to Roaton, Honduras. The schools there were asking for backpacks full of supplies, which gave me the idea to start something similar closer to home….