George Mark Children's House

01/29/2026

Thanks to our Child Life Programming partner, Little Wishes, we celebrated the granting of the 200th Little Wish at the House!

These wishes may be small, but their impact on patients and families is lasting. We are deeply grateful to Little Wishes for their partnership and for the heart they bring to every wish.

Hear why this program matters to our families, learn more about Little Wishes and the story behind this partnership, in our latest House Happenings blog: bit.ly/200thLittleWishes

01/28/2026

Shekinah Eliassen, CEO of George Mark Children’s House, shares why palliative care is not only compassionate care, but high-value care, in our latest House Happenings blog, 𝙋𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙞𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝘾𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙄𝙨 𝙃𝙞𝙜𝙝-𝙑𝙖𝙡𝙪𝙚 𝘾𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙒𝙝𝙮 𝙏𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙈𝙖𝙩𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙨 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝘾𝙝𝙞𝙡𝙙𝙧𝙚𝙣 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙁𝙖𝙢𝙞𝙡𝙞𝙚𝙨.

Drawing on global evidence and what we see every day at George Mark, she reflects on how the right care at the right time can mean fewer crises, more stability, and more time together for families. The post also touches on how we are working with Bay Area partners to help shape more sustainable ways to support this essential care.

Read more: georgemark.org/recognizing-the-true-value-of-pediatric-care/

01/23/2026

Is it still National Hugging Day? At George Mark, yes.
Every single day! 🤗

01/21/2026

Eye for Pretty at Home, a Danville, CA home decor/design firm, partnered with George Mark Children’s House and Molly Smiles Foundation for a holiday “Giving Tree” drive, collecting gifts and supplies via Amazon Wishlist to support our kids with life-limiting conditions and honoring Molly’s memory through community kindness.

This partnership connects local business, design, and charity. Today we received the gifts purchased for the House from the Giving Tree. Thank you so much!

eyeforpretty.com

01/20/2026

We appreciate Children's Respite Homes of America highlighting George Mark and our shared commitment to supporting children and families every day, together with other respite care homes doing this vital work.

Community makes all the difference!

01/17/2026

The energetic working committees behind this year’s MR. AMADOR SHOW toured our campus and learned more about George Mark. They are ramping up for the April show and building momentum for their fundraising efforts in support of the House.

We are so proud of these young kids supporting our kiddos. Their passion and dedication are evident in everything they do!

Find out more about this program and learn how you can support their efforts and the Mr. Amador Show.

mramadorshow.wixsite.com/mramador20

01/16/2026

We are honored to receive continued national recognition from ARCH and to be among peers doing meaningful respite work across the country! 🙏🏽

Washington, D.C., January 16, 2026—The ARCH National Respite Network and Resource Center is pleased to announce that 11 long-standing respite services from across the country were renewed for an additional five years of recognition as Innovative and Exemplary Respite Services.

All of these programs were initially recognized for this highest level of distinction in 2019, and first reviewed and renewed in 2022. Following an in-depth second review in 2025, the following well-established Innovative and Exemplary Respite Services were renewed for recognition through 2030:

☑️Agape Respite Care, Inc in Berne, IN

☑️A Rosie Place for Children - O'Hana Heritage Foundation, South Bend, IN

☑️Caregiver Respite Program at Caregiver Volunteers of Central Jersey, Toms River, NJ

☑️Child Care Aware of America Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP) Respite Care, Arlington, VA (national)

☑️Claude Moore Precious Time, housed in the Institute for Innovation in Health and Human Services at JMU University, Harrisonburg, VA

☑️George Mark Children's House, San Leandro, CA

☑️Gio's Garden, Middleton, WI

☑️Providence House Crisis Nursery, Cleveland, OH

☑️Respite Care, Inc., Fort Collins, CO

☑️St. Louis Arc’s Assistance with Residential Care in the Home (ARCH) Respite Program, St. Louis, MO

☑️Vanessa Behan Respite Services, Spokane, WA

In order to maintain this recognition, respite services must continue to meet the rigorous selection criteria for Innovative and Exemplary Respite Services established by ARCH and its national selection committee. In addition, many of these programs went beyond expectations by enhancing and expanding their services and reach; engaging in new activities to improve and document service quality; and/or shoring up their workforce.

Respite is the most frequently requested support service among the nation’s 63 million family caregivers, yet 87% do not receive respite services, despite the proven benefits to caregivers and care recipients. Respite for these families can help reduce caregiver stress, improve caregiver and family health and well-being, help avoid more costly out-of-home placements, and may even help to reduce the likelihood of abuse or neglect.

By recognizing high quality respite services across the country, ARCH hopes to encourage the study, expansion and replication of such services.

For more detailed information about each program, visit the ARCH website. The link is in the comments.

01/16/2026

The first princess visit of the year came with a fun surprise.

A certain princess from the land of Enchancia stopped by and quickly found herself in a spirited sing off with our respite care patient Kali. The two traded lines of “Anything you can do” as Kali confidently showed off her vocal prowess and held her own.

It was truly a fun and magical moment!

Harmony & Healing

01/16/2026

Children's Respite Homes of America is celebrating its third birthday and kicking off its 2026 fundraising drive, continuing to build a strong national network of community-based respite, palliative, and hospice care homes.

As a proud member organization, George Mark is honored to be part of this work and to see how ideas first rooted in compassionate, home-based care for children and families are now growing and taking shape across the country.

This milestone reflects both shared values and the impact of collaboration within the children’s respite movement.

/PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Children's Respite Homes of America (CRHA) is marking a major milestone. The 501(c)(3) nonprofit—devoted to supporting the development of...

01/12/2026

We’re grateful to It Better Foundation for shining a light on George Mark Children’s House and the families we serve.

In our newest HOUSE HAPPENINGS post, we share more about the article, our 2026 Philanthropy Awards recognition, and why compassionate pediatric palliative care matters now more than ever.

We invite you to read and share: georgemark.org/george-mark-featured-in-better-magazine/

01/09/2026

On this , we are celebrating Oliver, a bereaved sibling in our George Mark community, who was the recent winner of a Labubu bundle from our friends at Smiles Foundation.

Moments and surprises like this bring sweet smiles and remind our families that they are being thought of and cared for. A big thank you to 𝗠𝗼𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗦𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗙𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 for including George Mark patients and siblings in this fun giveaway.

Congratulations, Oliver!

01/07/2026

Thanks to your generosity, 𝘄𝗲 𝗲𝘅𝗰𝗲𝗲𝗱𝗲𝗱 𝗼𝘂𝗿 $𝟭 𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗴𝗼𝗮𝗹, making the 𝙊𝙣𝙚 𝙃𝙤𝙪𝙨𝙚, 𝘾𝙖𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙈𝙖𝙣𝙮 𝙃𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙨 fundraising campaign a beautiful success!

Because of your support, families like Zach’s are able to spend time together as a couple, be present for their other child, and take a much needed pause, knowing Zach is receiving excellent, compassionate care at George Mark.

Thank you for helping us reach one child, one family, one story, one heart at a time. 🙏