Hospital Hugs
Spreading Joy to Kids in Hospitals
Our Mission
Hospital Hugs is an organization that brings joy to kids going through medical experiences. We create care packages for children in the hospital who are going through hard times. We love brightening the moods of those kids who have so much to deal with. At Hospital Hugs, our goal is to make each kid’s journey a little better, even if it's just with a single box of surprises.
Our Team
I’m Olivia Belden, a 12-year-old, and the creator of Hospital Hugs. Hospital Hugs is a non-profit organization partnered with Children for Change where care packages are delivered to kids in the hospital. This whole idea to help kids started because of my own medical experience. I have a condition called FND, or Functional Neurological Disorder, which means I have lots of non-epileptic seizures. When it first started, no one could figure out what was going on. I had to go into the hospital for a lot of different tests. During that hard time, care packages would show up at my doorstep, or people would bring them to the hospital during the course of my relatively short, but very scary days. Whenever they did, they would lighten my mood. Because these boxes of care meant so much to me, I wanted to start Hospital Hugs to help other kids. My FND has gotten a lot better, and part of what got me here is the feeling of knowing that people cared so much. I hope to spread that same feeling to other kids.
My name is Milo, and I'm 10 years old. I am passionate about soccer, music and making the world a better place. Children For Change is an amazing organization that comes to my school, so when my sister Olivia decided to partner with them to create Hospital Hugs, I was super excited to jump in. I hope that Hospital Hugs will bring joy to lots of kids.
I am Mila Neiderkofler, an 12-year-old from California. When I moved out of my house and into a new one, I made a close friend. That friend was Olivia. One day she ended up having to go to the hospital for lots of different tests. That's when I realized just how many children had to go to the hospital all the time. When Olivia started Hospital Hugs, I immediately wanted to support and help her spread joy to kids in hospitals.
I’m Emma Kelley, a 12-year-old who loves dancing, animals, sports, art, and most of all being with my friends. I joined Hospital Hugs because while I had never been in the hospital, I knew how scary the experience was for one of my best friends, Olivia. When Olivia decided to start Hospital Hugs, I wanted to help her and to help kids make the whole hospital thing not seem so scary and make them feel comforted while they are injured or sick.
Annelise Bauer is an attorney and non-profit leader dedicated to empowering young people as active citizens and changemakers. As the founder and board chair of Children for Change, she has built a dynamic platform that inspires children and teens to engage in social issues and develop skills in leadership, advocacy and community engagement. Through this organization, Annelise has cultivated a generation of youth who recognize their power to create positive change in their communities and the world.
In addition to her work with Children for Change, Annelise serves as the Chief Operating Officer at SHE-CAN, an organization dedicated to empowering young women from post-conflict countries through mentorship and education. Her role at SHE-CAN aligns with her belief in education as a critical tool for equity and opportunity, particularly for those facing systemic barriers.
Annelise has also been deeply involved in education governance, having served on the Ross Valley School District public school board for a decade. Her experience on the board has given her firsthand insight into the transformative power of quality public education and the importance of community engagement in schools. Additionally, she held the role of board chair at The Bay School for four years, where she worked to guide the institution’s mission and uphold educational excellence and where she remains active on the board.
Through her diverse leadership roles, Annelise Bauer continues to champion the idea that young people, given the right tools and support, can be powerful advocates for social justice, equality, and environmental stewardship.
How You Can Help
There are many ways to get involved with Hospital Hugs. You can make a monetary donation to help us purchase items. You can also volunteer your time to help us create and deliver care packages to kids in the hospital.
Contact Us
If you want to contact Hospital Hugs