Special Love

Holiday Party
2024-12-08 12:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York) | Pearl Street Warehouse, 33 Pearl street SW, Washington, DC, DC, 20024
Special Love’s annual Holiday Party is a kick-off for our families to what we hope will be a great holiday season. It’s also a chance thank our wonderful donors and volunteers who make everything Special Love does possible.
Held at Pearl Street Warehouse in Washington, DC, the party provides fun activities for the whole family. Whether young or old, attendees enjoy a fantastic lunch, amazing face painters, balloon artists, arts and crafts, and a chance to sit on Santa’s lap.
REGISTER HERE

Young Survivors Forum - Moving Forward 2024
2024-11-02 10:00 - 17:00 | Hilton Hotel McLean Tysons Corner, 7920 Jones Branch Drive, McLean, VA, 22102, United States
The Young Survivors and Patients Forum is a dynamic event designed for young adult cancer survivors and current patients, offering a unique opportunity to connect, learn, and grow. Participants will hear from inspiring speakers, engage in meaningful discussions, and access valuable resources that address the challenges faced by those navigating life after cancer. Whether you’re looking for emotional support, practical advice, or simply the chance to connect with others who understand your journey, the forum provides a supportive space to help you thrive beyond your diagnosis. Join us to empower your future and take the next step forward. Cancer patients and survivors, ages 18-40, are invited to attend with a support person of their choosing to this one-day informative and interactive forum on:
Saturday, November 2, 2024
from 10AM-5PM
at the Hilton Hotel, Tysons Corner
Lunch will be provided
After the Forum, we’re all heading to Bowlero for an evening of bowling and laughter until 8 PM. It’s the perfect chance to unwind, connect with new friends, and show off your skills on the lanes. Dinner is on us, so bring your energy, your support person, and get ready to strike up some fun! Dinner and bowling will be provided until 8PM.
Click here to register!

Tentative Event Agenda:

Moving Forward:

10:00am – Welcome
Jan Bresch, Executive Director, Special Love, Inc.
Aziza T. Shad, M.D.
Ellen W.P. Wasserman Chair of Pediatrics
Chief, Pediatric Hematology/Oncology
The Herman & Walter Samuelson Children’s Hospital at Sinai
Director, Kara Amey Cancer Survivorship Program

10:15am – 11:25am Keynote – Getting Your Groove Back and Sexual Health
Sage Bolte, PhD, MSW, LSCW, President Inova Health Foundation
Tamika Felder, Founder, Cervivor, Inc.

11:25 am – 5-minute Break

11:30 am – The Importance of Coming to Clinic
Aziza T. Shad, M.D.
Ellen W.P. Wasserman Chair of Pediatrics
Chief, Pediatric Hematology/Oncology
The Herman & Walter Samuelson Children’s Hospital at Sinai
Director, Kara Amey Cancer Survivorship Program

12:15pm – 1:15pm Lunch

1:15pm – 2:30pm Art Therapy Project
Danielle Eichner, MA, ATR-BC, LCPC, The Herman Walter Samuelson Children’s Hospital, Sinai

2:30pm – 5-minute Break

Breakout Sessions – 2:35pm-3:35pm

Legal Resources for School & Career – Melanie Grant, Staff Attorney, Triage Cancer
Adulting 101 for Survivorship – Shweta Bansil, MD, Pediatric Specialists of Virginia

3:35pm – 5-minute Break

Breakout sessions – 3:40pm – 4:40pm

Managing Medical Bills – Melanie Grant, Staff Attorney, Triage Cancer
Courageous Conversations – Lori Wiener, PhD, DCSW, LSWC-C, National Institutes of Health

Devon Ciampa, Clinical Therapist

4:40pm – 5-minute Break

4:45pm – Closing

Squishy Circuits Virtual Program with SVDM
2024-10-23 16:30 - 17:00 | Virtual
Join us and our friends at Shenandoah Valley Discovery Museum on October 23rd at 4:30 p.m!

In the virtual program, you will have the opportunity to explore circuits and electricity, while also using your creativity to make light-up creations using conductive modeling dough. We’ll start the session creating a basic paper circuit using conductive tape and LED’s. Then we’ll move on to playing with squishy circuits, where you can make your sculptures come to life using the magic (science!) of electricity.

Here’s the squishy circuit website if you want more of a visual idea: https://squishycircuits.com/

The program is most appropriate for 7-12-year-olds, but younger or older siblings may follow along. Supplies will be provided on a space available basis.

Registration is open here!

Octoberfest Family Weekend 2024
2024-10-11 - 2024-10-13 | Northern Virginia 4-H Educational and Conference Center, 600 4h Center Dr, Front Royal, VA, 22630, United States
Hold onto your haunted hats, we’re going back to the Northern Virginia 4-H Center, home of the very first family weekend, for more fun at Octoberfest Family Weekend on October 11-13!
We’ll have jack-o-lanterns, canoeing, haunted hikes, and spooky campfires + food, stargazing, and more! It’s all open to families of patients, survivors, and sibs ages 17 and under who are within 7 years of treatment or bereaved.
Registration is now open! Click here

Special Love's Annual Gala 2024
2024-09-20 18:00 - 23:00 | Hilton Mclean Tysons Corner, 7920 Jones Branch Dr, Mclean, 22102
Join us and experience the excitement of Carnivale!
Special Love’s Annual Gala will be held on Friday, September 20, 2024 at the Hilton-Tyson’s Corner, in support of children with cancer and their families.
The evening will feature festive pieces of Carnivale along with cocktails, dinner, a silent auction, and the opportunity to learn from families about the important role Special Love has played in their cancer journey.
For more information about this event and how you can be involved click here

Family Day at Williamsburg Campground 2024
2024-09-14 10:00 - 15:00 | Williamsburg Campground, 4000 Newman Road, Williamsburg, VA, 23188, United States
Join us for Family Day at the Williamsburg Campground. Arts and crafts, games, food, and fun for the whole family, and its all free! The day runs from 10am-3pm (but you can stick around and swim if you would like). We cannot wait to spend the day with our families from this area.
Register for this fun day here!

Camp Fantastic 2024
2024-08-04 - 2024-08-10 | Northern Virginia 4-H Educational and Conference Center, 600 4h Center Dr, Front Royal, VA, 22630, United States
Camp Fantastic (for patients/survivors)
Our hallmark program is a week-long adventure for 7-17 patients and survivors who are within 5 years of treatment (or within 7 years of a bone marrow transplant). Medical care is provided on-site so campers can focus on fun – a ropes course, canoeing, swimming, cooking, sports, and more! Teens have exclusive lodging and programming and 16 and 17-year-olds can participate in our LIT (leaders in training) group.
While the details for camp and our precautionary COVID measures are still evolving, we’re proceeding under the belief that camp in some form will definitely happen.
All cancer patients ages 7-17 within 5 years of treatment (or within 7 years of a bone marrow transplant) are eligible.
Special Love’s COVID-19 Policy applies to all in-person programs.
Download Registration Packet here!

BRASS Camp 2024
2024-07-21 - 2024-07-27 | Camp Maria Retreat Center, 41290 Camp Maria Road, Leonardtown, MD, 20650, United States
BRASS Camp (BRothers And SiSters Camp)
Our annual salute to siblings is back! We’ll convene on July 21-27 at Camp Maria in Leonardtown, MD, for a week of fun, friendship, and adventure. The venue sits on the edge of Breton Bay (part of the Chesapeake Bay) so fishing, crabbing, and canoeing are part of the fun. There’s also a pool for swimming, campfires, and loads of sports and crafts. It’s all open to campers 7-17 who have a brother or sister within 5 years of treatment (or 7 years of a bone marrow transplant), as well as bereaved sibs. Older teens are eligible to be CITs (counselors-in-training).
BRASS Camp 2024
Cancer siblings, you don’t want to miss BRASS camp. A week where you can come and just be yourself.
We are so excited to be back at camp this year.
Open to brothers and sisters ages 7-17 who have a sibling with cancer within 5 years of their off treatment date as well as bereaved siblings.
Special Love’s COVID-19 Policy Applies for all in-person programs.
Download Registration Packet here!

Special Love Golf Tournament 2024
2024-06-28 | Rock Harbor Golf Course, 365 Rock Harbor Drive, Winchester, VA, 22602, United States
Join us on June 28, 2024 for a spectacular golf outing at Rock Harbor Golf Club in Winchester, VA. You have a choice of an 8 am or 1:30 pm tee time (or both!) with a separate awards reception for each.
We promise a great fun-filled day with friends while supporting children with cancer. Your donation will have a direct and lasting impact on the life of a pediatric cancer patient and support Camp Fantastic 2024!
Register online here or please remit payment and form to Special Love, Inc. 158 Front Royal Pike, Suite 311, Winchester, VA 22602. For more information or sponsorship opportunities, contact Aaron Andrews or call 888-930-2707.
For volunteer opportunities, please contact Luke Child.

Thank you to our generous sponsors:

Title Sponsors

Platinum Sponsors

Diamond Sponsors

Gold Sponsors
Eric & Monica Hanson

Beverage Cart Sponsors

The Wonders of Weather Virtual Program
2024-06-20 16:30 - 17:30 | Virtual
Join us and our friends at the Shenandoah Valley Discovery Museum, as we discover the wonder of weather through hands-on weather activities and experiments!
We’ll make instant snow, tornados in a bottle, and a rain cloud in a jar! It’s all courtesy of our friends at the Shenandoah Valley Discovery Museum.
Supplies included!
Register here!

Virtual Chain Making with RAAM Team One Life
2024-05-19 16:00 - 17:00 | Virtual
Do you like riding a bike? How would you like to ride it 3000 miles?! Fortunately, you don’t have to – our friends at Team One Life are going to do it for you!
Join us on May 19th at 4 pm on Zoom to learn about the Race Across America and Team One Life. They will be riding their bikes across the country to raise money and awareness for Special Love.
We’ll also be sending paper chain links that you can decorate during the Zoom session. Then you’ll send them back to us at the Special Love office so we can join them into a long chain that Team One Life will carry on their ride across the country, posing for photos along the way! We’ll even send you a link you can use to track their progress.
Open to all cancer patients, siblings, AND friends – sign up today here!

Summer Family Day
2024-05-18 | Smokey Glen Farm, 16407 Riffle Ford Rd, Gaithersburg, MD, 20878, United States
Summer Family Day is a fun-filled gathering for all present (and future) Special Love families. We’ll have everything from face painters, balloon artists, zip-lining, crafts, and outdoor games.. Food and friendship are of course on the menu. It’s a can’t-miss time for families who’ve together weathered one of the most grueling events a family can face – a child battling cancer – to come together and heal.
Event Location: Smokey Glen Farm, 16407 Riffle Ford Road, Gaithersburg, MD 20878
Register today!

Parents Day
2024-05-11 12:00 - 16:00 | Barrel Oaks Winery, 3623 Grove Ln, Delaplane, VA, 20144, United States
Parents, a day just for you – to sip, snack, and socialize! Get away for the day at Barrel Oak Winery.
Register for this day just for you here!

Under 7 Family Day 2024
2024-04-20 | Frying Pan Park, 2739 West Ox Rd, Herndon, VA, 20171, United States
Join us for this fun-filled day of outside fun and arts and crafts on the farm! And parents, join us for a separate time JUST FOR YOU!
Open to patients and survivors under 7 and their families!
More information to come!

BRASS Weekend 2024
2024-03-01 - 2024-03-03 | Northern Virginia 4-H Educational and Conference Center, 600 4h Center Dr, Front Royal, VA, 22630, United States
BRASS Weekend, March 1-3, 2024, is back at the 4H Center!

Join us for a weekend full of fun!
Open to brothers and sisters ages 7-17 who have a sibling with cancer within 5 years of their off treatment date as well as bereaved siblings.

Register now!

Valentine's Cookie Decorating
2024-02-10 11:00 - 12:00 | Virtual
Join us and our friend Gina Parcells as we freshen up on our decorating skills with Valentine’s Cookies!
Saturday Feb. 10th, at 11am via Zoom!
Register here!

Family Winter Weekend
2024-01-12 - 2024-01-15 | Canaan Valley Resort and Conference Center, 230 Main Lodge Road, Davis, VA, 26260, United States
Special Love Winter Weekend is open to patients (and immediate family) who are 17 years of age and younger and who are on treatment or within 3 years of their off-treatment date, as well as bereaved families with “BRASS-aged” sibilngs (7-16 years old).
We’re combining our traditional Family Ski Weekend and our teen/young adult weekend again this year. So young adult patients/survivors (ages 18-25) are able to attend by themselves (their families are not eligible to attend with them).

Register Here
COVID Policy: Only fully vaccinated individuals are allowed to participate and must show proof of vaccination and 2 negative at-home antigen tests 24 hours and 12 hours before arrival. For our full COVID-19 policy please click here.

Holiday Party
2023-12-03 12:00 - 15:00 | Pearl Street Warehouse, 33 Pearl street SW, Washington, DC, DC, 20024
Kick-off the Holiday Season with Special Love.
Join us for a visit from Santa, fun gifts, face painters, balloon artists, good food, and a great time with great people!
Register here!
All Special Love Program Participants are required to adhere to our COVID-19 Policy

Parents Getaway Weekend
2023-11-18 - 2023-11-19 | Hyatt Regency, 7901 Tysons One Pl, Tysons, VA, 22102, United States
Parents Getaway Weekend is a weekend solely for the parents of patients and survivors who are 25 years old or younger and still live at home, as well as bereaved parents. The weekend is planned for parents, by parents, to provide a safe place to share and support one another in a small group setting; and as an outlet to deal with the facts of cancer individually, and ultimately regain a sense of control.
Parents Weekend also provides the parents with spa-caliber treatment options such as massages, yoga, and make-up makeovers, local activities and shopping, along with a themed Saturday night dinner dance, 2023 theme is Luau! All things parents of pediatric cancer patients don’t often longer have time to enjoy.
Speakers for the weekend include:
Danielle Eichner, Art Therapist
Amanda L. Thompson, Ph.D., Chief Pediatric Psychologist, Life with Cancer
Joanna Morales, Esq., CEO, Triage Cancer
All participants must adhere to Special Love’s COVID-19 Policy
Register for this fun and relaxing weekend here!

Octoberfest Family Weekend
2023-10-13 - 2023-10-15 | Camp Horizons, 3586 Horizons Way, Harrisonburg, VA, 22802, United States
Hold onto your haunted hats, we’re going back to Camp Horizon for more fun at Octoberfest Family Weekend on October 13-15!
We’ll have jack-o-lanterns, canoeing, haunted hikes, and spooky campfires , plus food, stargazing, and more! It’s all open to families of patients, survivors, and sibs ages 17 and under who are within 7 years of treatment or bereaved.
Sign up today – just click here!
All Special Love Program Participants are required to adhere to our COVID-19 Policy

Fall in Love 5K at Nats Park
2023-10-08 | VA
Special Love’s
Fall in Love 5k Walk/Run
Join us for another great morning at National Park for the 11th Annual Fall in Love 5k walk/run on Sunday, October 8, 2023.
Proceeds will help Special Love continue its 40-year history of providing a community of support for children with cancer and their families through free camps and weekend programs, emergency financial assistance, educational scholarships, and virtual programs.
Centerfield Gates Open at 8AM
Race starts at 9AM
Come walk or run with us and enjoy Nationals Park like you never have before. The 5k starts through the park. Come walk or run at this family-friendly event, meet Nationals Mascot Teddy, and enjoy the Park like you never have before. The 5k starts along the park’s concourse before moving out and around the beautiful riverfront neighborhood before coming back to the park where you can visit the Nationals dugout to snap a few memorable photos and enjoy some fun activities.
The Special Love Fall in Love 5k Walk/Run welcomes participants ranging in ages from toddlers and young adults to the young at heart.
Costs
$35 for 15 and up
$20 for 7 to 14
6 and under free
Register here today!
Parking for the event is free in Garage C of the stadium!

View our sponsorship packet here. For sponsorship opportunities please contact Jan Bresch

Thank you to our sponsors!

Arlington Little League
The Creech Family
Alliant Studios, Inc
Caroline & Greyson Goon
Eric Hansen

Fabulous 5 Senses Virtual Program
2023-10-05 16:30 - 17:30 | Virtual
Join our friends at Shenandoah Valley Discovery Museum experience the five senses through exploration and experimentation!
The session is perfect for patients, survivors, and sibs ages 4-12, but anyone 17 and under is welcome to join the fun.
Register here!

Family Day @ Williamsburg Campground
2023-09-30 | Williamsburg Campground, 4000 Newman Road, Williamsburg, VA, 23188, United States
Join us for Family Day at the Williamsburg Campground. Arts and crafts, games, food, and fun for the whole family!
Register today here

All Special Love Program Participants are required to adhere to our COVID-19 Policy

Special Love Golf Tournament
2023-09-15 | Rock Harbor Golf Course, 365 Rock Harbor Drive, Winchester, VA, 22602, United States
Join us on September 15, 2023 for a spectacular golf outing at Rock Harbor Golf Club in Winchester, VA. You have a choice of an 8 am or 1:30 pm tee time (or both!) with a separate awards reception for each.
We promise a great fun-filled day with friends while supporting children with cancer. Your donation will have a direct and lasting impact on the life of a pediatric cancer patient and support Camp Fantastic 2024!
Register here
For sponsorship opportunities contact Jan Bresch

Thank you to our generous sponsors!

Title Sponsors

Platinum Sponsor

Beverage Cart Sponsors

Diamond Sponsor

Gold Sponsor
Southland Concrete

Hole Sponsors
Guy’s Buick • Kubic Construction • B&M Painting
Dewberry Inc • Tech Team • CBM Mortgage Inc.

Childhood Cancer Awareness Month
2023-09-01 - 2023-09-30 | VA
Go Gold for Childhood Cancer in the month of September!

CAMP FANTASTIC 2023
2023-08-13 - 2023-08-19 | Northern Virginia 4-H Educational and Conference Center, 600 4h Center Dr, Front Royal, VA, 22630, United States
Camp Fantastic (for patients/survivors)
Our hallmark program is a week-long adventure for 7-17 patients and survivors who are within 5 years of treatment (or within 7 years of a bone marrow transplant). Medical care is provided on-site so campers can focus on fun – a ropes course, canoeing, swimming, cooking, sports, and more! Teens have exclusive lodging and programming and 16 and 17-year-olds can participate in our LIT (leaders in training) group.
To find more information about this year’s camp click here.
All cancer patients ages 7-17 within 5 years of treatment (or within 7 years of a bone marrow transplant) are eligible.
For more information or questions, contact Dave Smith

BRASS Camp
2023-07-23 - 2023-07-29 | Camp Maria Retreat Center, 41290 Camp Maria Road, Leonardtown, MD, 20650, United States
BRASS Camp (BRothers And SiSters Camp)
Our annual salute to siblings is back! We’ll convene on July 23-29 at Camp Maria in Leonardtown, MD, for a week of fun, friendship, and adventure. The venue sits on the edge of Breton Bay (part of the Chesapeake Bay) so fishing, crabbing, and canoeing are part of the fun. There’s also a pool for swimming, campfires, and loads of sports and crafts. It’s all open to campers 7-17 who have a brother or sister within 5 years of treatment (or 7 years of a bone marrow transplant), as well as bereaved sibs. Older teens are eligible to be CITs (counselors-in-training).
BRASS Camp 2023
Cancer siblings, you don’t want to miss BRASS camp. A week where you can come and just be yourself.
We are so excited to be back at camp this year.
Open to brothers and sisters ages 7-17 who have a sibling with cancer within 5 years of their off treatment date as well as bereaved siblings.
BRASS Camp Applications are available here
For more information or questions, contact Angela Ashman.
All Special Love Program Participants are required to adhere to our COVID-19 Policy

Special Love Annual Gala
2023-06-23 18:00 - 23:00 | Hilton Mclean Tysons Corner, 7920 Jones Branch Dr, Mclean, 22102
Special Love’s Gala on Friday, June 23rd at the Hilton-Tyson’s Corner will be a special evening supporting children with cancer and their families, and celebrating our 40th Anniversary.
Over the last 40 years, we’ve been fortunate to have individuals and companies on this journey with us and we are honored to present our Love awards to two individual’s in-particular. One, who created the “Love,” and the other who keeps the love flowing through her work as a valued member of the Camp Fantastic leadership team.
Special Love co-founder, Sheila Baker, will be presented with the Circle of Love Award in recognition of her and late husband, Tom Baker, dreaming to create a place where kids could just be kids and not patients, launching Camp Fantastic in 1983.
The Randy Schools Light of Love Award will be presented to Holly Senn, a Child-Life Specialist at INOVA Fairfax Hospital and Camp Fantastic Volunteer, in heartfelt recognition of her dedication to our campers over the last 18 years.
The evening will include wonderful food, great entertainment, exciting silent auction items, and the opportunity to visit with our young Special Love Ambassadors to learn first-hand the impact Special Love has had in their young lives.

Individual Tickets: $250
Get your tickets now!
Sponsorship Opportunities Available

Gala Dinner Committee
Margaret Bessette Melissa Steele
Gala Co-Chairs

Gala Committee
Nicole Blocker
Jan Bresch
William P. Cannon
Anthony Curtis
Maria Gonzales Jackson
For more information, contact Jan Bresch.
Thank You to Our Generous Sponsors!
Jennifer & Ron Christie
Gold Sponsors

Benefactors

Silver Sponsor
Clark Construction
Table Sponsors
Aequalis LLC Nicole Blocker Jan Bresch Shari & Andy Fisher
Offit Kurman Jyothi Raghaven The Tomoff Family Ed White
Friend Sponsor
The Schmidt Family
In-Kind Sponsors
OpenBlooms, Inc Vienna Vintner

Summer Family Day
2023-06-18 | Smokey Glen Farm, 16407 Riffle Ford Rd, Gaithersburg, MD, 20878, United States
Summer Family Day is a fun-filled gathering for all past and present (and future) Special Love families. We are also celebrating Special Love’s 40th year! We’ll have everything from face painters, balloon artists, zip-lining, crafts, and outdoor games.. Food and fellowship are of course on the menu. It’s a can’t-miss time for families who’ve together weathered one of the most grueling events a family can face – a child battling cancer – to come together and heal.
Event Location: Smokey Glen Farm, 16407 Riffle Ford Road, Gaithersburg, MD 20878
Register here
All Special Love Program Participants are required to adhere to our COVID-19 Policy

Flags of Valor Virtual Program
2023-05-25 16:30 - 17:30 | Virtual
Just in time for Memorial Day: a virtual flag-making craft with Flags of Valor!
Join us on Thursday, May 25th, at 4:30 pm to make two flags – one to keep and one to give to someone special. It’s free and we’ll send all the materials you’ll need, as well as the Zoom link, once you’ve registered.
The session is perfect for patients, survivors, and sibs ages 4-12, but anyone 17 and under is welcome to join the fun. Participants 5 and under should have a teen or grown-up to help.
Sign up below TODAY (or no later than May 18th) to ensure that your supplies arrive on time.
Register here
