📢 Announcing the 2025 Non-Profit of the Year!
Hello Pasadena! We are so excited to officially announce this years Non-Profit of the Year: Project Joy & Hope
We will be officially celebrating them during our April Monthly Luncheon. If you want to share the celebration with them, please register using the following link:
https://www.pasadenachamber.org/events/details/2025-april-membership-luncheon-meet-the-candidates-celebrate-non-profits-10113011
About Project Joy & Hope:
Project Joy and Hope (PJH) provides stability and support for families caring for a seriously ill child. PJH creates a compassionate environment where every family member—parents, siblings, and the child—feels nurtured, valued, and cared for. The Pediatric Palliative Care Campus offers a comprehensive range of services tailored to meet the emotional, financial, spiritual, and logistical needs of families facing the challenges of pediatric illness. From personalized case management and peer support to financial assistance and sibling programs, PJH empowers families to stay strong and focus on their child’s well-being. The organization strives to foster resilience, instill hope, and provide lasting stability during the difficult journey of caring for a seriously ill child.
In 2018, PJH completed the development of twelve specially designed homes, providing a safe, supportive living environment for families with children undergoing treatment at the Texas Medical Center. This initiative allows families to remain together and close to their child during extended hospital visits, ensuring they have a home away from home while managing the emotional and logistical challenges of their child’s medical journey. The next year, PJH opened its Pediatric Palliative Care Center, which offers comprehensive, compassionate care designed to address the needs of families. This state-of-the-art center provides personalized case management, sibling support, resident activities, and other critical services, supporting families as they navigate complex healthcare journeys.
PJH serves as a model for pediatric palliative care and is proud to be the first Pediatric Palliative Care Campus in the United States—an achievement of which Pasadena takes great pride. PJH collaborates with leading medical institutions, including Texas Children’s Hospital, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Children’s Memorial Hermann Hospital, and the UT Fetal Center, to provide supportive care services for families traveling to the Texas Medical Center from all parts of Texas, across the United States, and even abroad. These partnerships enable PJH to offer world-class care, ensuring that families have access to the resources and support they need throughout their child’s treatment.
PJH’s impact extends beyond the physical care it provides. The organization recognizes the importance of emotional and financial support. Volunteers play a critical role, with over 600 individuals donating their time each year to support PJH’s efforts. From assisting families directly to helping at fundraising events, these volunteers form the heart of the organization, ensuring that PJH continues to serve families in need.
PJH also provides grants to families living in the community referred by Texas Children’s Hospital, Children’s Memorial Hermann, MD Anderson Pediatric Cancer Center, and Houston Hospice. These grants help alleviate the financial burdens families face while their children receive treatment. Additionally, the Parent Support Line is available 24 hours a day for those who may not need housing but require support during their child’s treatment, transplant preparation, or palliative care journey.
For high school seniors who have lost a sibling or parent, PJH offers scholarships that recognize their outstanding community service despite their personal adversity. To date, PJH has awarded over 1.1 million dollars in scholarships to these resilient students, providing them with an opportunity to continue their education while honoring the memory of their loved ones.
Project Joy and Hope was founded in 2000 by Dr. Jan Wheeler, an educator, inspirational speaker, and passionate advocate for pediatric palliative care in Texas. PJH has become a beacon of hope for those in need, transforming the experience of families caring for a seriously ill child.
