OnlyMakeBelieve(OMB)createsinteractivetheatrewithchildreninhospitals,specialeducation schools,andcarefacilities.Inspiringjoyandimagination,ourprofessionalactorsengagechildrenwith medicallyfragileconditionsanddevelopmentaldisabilities,fosteringsocialandemotionalgrowth
OnlyMakeBelievehasbeenawardedthePlatinumSealofTransparencyfromGuideStar consistentlyformorethan5years ThePlatinumSealofTransparencyisthehighestlevelof recognitionofferedbyGuideStar,theworld’slargestsourceofnonprofitinformation.
OnCharityNavigator,OnlyMakeBelievereceivesa4StarRatingwhichmeanstheorganization exceedsbestpracticesandindustrystandardsacrossalmostallareasandisahighly-effective charity.
Since2017,OnlyMakeBelievehasbeenrecognizedas“oneofthebestandmostcritical nonprofits”tosupportintheWashington,DCmetroareabySpurLocal,formerlyCataloguefor Philanthropy.
DearFriend,Wehopethisfindsyouwelland thriving.OnlyMakeBelievecontinuestofocus onourmissiontobringjoyandempowerment toasmanychildrenwithmedicallyfragile conditionsanddisabilitiesaspossible Youare anintegralpartofoursuccessandweare gratefulandproudtopartnerwithyou Wetruly couldnotmeetourgoalswithoutyou Your steadfastsupportallowsustocontinueto provideourinteractivetheatreprogrammingin hospitals,schools,andcarefacilities.OMBis thrilledtohaveweatheredthepandemic throughthoughtful,measuredcareand strategy,whilesupportingourstaffand professionalactors.Wehavecomeoutstronger thanever.Wearethrilledyouchosetostand
2023sawushitamilestoneandsurpass100,000 childrenserved!Eachquarterweseedemand increase,andwearecurrentlyinpersonat38 partnerhospitalsand27partnerschoolsinNew YorkandDC.Lastyear,ourvirtualprogramming sustained260children,keepingthemengaged evenwhentheirmobilityislimited.Our collaborationwithRyanSeacrestStudioshas grownto16pediatrichospitalsacrosstheUS. Investmentinourstaffandactorsisattheheart ofourculture ProgramconsultantsincludeASL training,sensitivitytraining,andaDrama Therapist Ourcomprehensivestrategicplanis neverfarfromoursights,remindingusofthe endlesspotentialweharbor.Lookingtowardsthe future,wearecertainourworkwillgrowandour impactmultiply.Stayingfluidandattentivetothe needsofourpopulationkeepsusallexcitedfor whatistocome.Weaimtobecomeanessential partofchildren’shealthcare.Withteamwork,we cancontinuetofulfillourmission:transforming thelivesofthousandofchildrenstrugglingwith medicallyfragileconditions,sufferingthrough difficulttreatments,andsearchingforjoyand connectionthroughthemagicofmakebelieve. Welookforwardtopartneringwithyoufor twenty-fivemoreyears!
Withgratitude,
JenniferandSally Jennifer Sally +
In 2023, Only Make Believe celebrated its 24th year, which is a wonderful accomplishment for anyorganization.Inour1styear,1999,OnlyMake Believe performed 12 shows for a total of 132 childrenatour1stpartnerfacility,RuskInstitute’s Pediatric Unit at NYU Langone Medical Center. Today, we have performed more than 7,120 shows. We have performed with more than 80 partner facilities, including the expansion to majorchildren’shospitalsin16citiesnationwide in just 2 years. In April 2023, Only Make Believe performed with its 100,000th child! Needless to say, we are proud to have reached this milestone However, in a time where going viral takes only a matter of hours, where lottery jackpots are in the billions, and we are plugged in 24/7 to anything we like – 100,000 isn’t particularlyalargenumber.
So, let me drill down into this just a bit. Only Make Believe performances are not one-sizefits-all. Never have been. From the beginning our founder, Dena Hammerstein, met with facilitystafftolearnaboutthepatientsinorder to tailor the scripts she wrote for their specific needs. Over the years, we have continued these site visits with all of our facility partners, whichprovidedOMBwiththeflexibilitytoadapt our programming to each site’s population; adjusting story length, content, and engagement approaches in order to ensure that each child will achieve optimal engagement and have the most rewarding experience.
OMBiswinning...returningto70%ofour partnerswithin-personprogramming,16 cityexpansionwithvirtualprogramming, bringingbackourvolunteerprograms, premieringtwonewscriptsin2024,and expandingourcommunity.
Only Make Believe has developed virtual programming that enabled us to remain connected at the height of the pandemic. Again, we worked in tandem with our partner facilities and a small group of children called “The Believers,” who helped us shape this new virtual content, making it visually engaging as well as interactive. In 2023, Only Make Believe commissioned 2 new scripts by professional playwrightswhospecializeintheatreforyoung audiences. Not only have we included partner facilities and children in this development process, we have also consulted with a drama therapist to integrate therapeutic dramatic activities and trauma-aware perspectives into each script To ensure our professional acting company is confident in working with all audiences, we conduct workshops with accessibility, inclusion, and American Sign Languageconsultants.
This is why serving 100,000 children in this way, reaching this milestone, during this time period ,is extraordinary! Quality over quantity Empowerment,notjustentertainment Thistype of creative, engaging, and intentional work is notafastprocess.Itnevershouldbe.Slowand steady wins the race. OMB is winning...returning to 70% of our partners with in-person programming, 16 city expansion with virtual programming, bringing back our volunteer programs, premiering two new scripts in 2024, and expanding our community. As a thought leader at the intersection of arts, healthcare, and special education, Only Make Believe strives to ignite self-discovery within the children we meet and create a vision of unlimitedpossibilitiesforusall.
I am passionate about Only Make Believe. But it’s not just me Everyone at Only Make Believeispassionateaboutwhatwedo,how we can do it better, and what it takes to do more OnlyMakeBelievecontinuesitslegacy of unlocking children’s imaginations, enabling them to spread their wings and soar! This legacy also impacts all of us at OMB. As the Executive Director, I am captivated by the forward momentum this organization has established due to the commitment of all its stakeholders: our Board of Directors, Staff, Company of ProfessionalActors,andPartnerFacilities.
I am proud to stand shoulder to shoulder witheachofthemasweaddmorein-person performances annually, as our virtual programming continues to expand nationwide, and as we develop new, inclusive theatrical content striving to serve as many children as possible All of us at OMB have taken wing via our dedication to this organization, and together we are soaring!
Inclosing,Ihaveaspecialmessagetoallour donors, funders, and sponsors You are all a part of the OMB family, our community, and we truly appreciate you. On behalf of our Board of Directors, Staff, Acting Company, and Partner Facilities, I thank you for your support, your encouragement, and your enthusiasm for our mission. But most of all, thankyouforbelievinginmakebelieve!
InSteadfastCommitmentandCollaboration,
Tamela
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OnlyMakeBelievehasreturned toover70%ofpre-pandemic partnersandexpandedtoover 16citiesintheUSthrough virtualprogramming.
OnlyMakeBelievemeasures socialandemotionalbehaviorsto seewhateffectourperformances haveasanintervention.
Weobservedclearpositivechangeinthefollowingareasafterafour(4)weekseries ofOMBperformanceswithacohortofeleven(11)participatingpartnerfacilties.
Howmuchdothechildren inyourfacilitylookforward toOnlyMakeBelieve?
Whichbestdescribeshow yourfacilityviewstheOnly MakeBelieveprogram?
Exposuretotheartsimprovesemotionalintelligence,promotescreativity,andresultsin heightenedself-esteem.Toooften,theseartisticexperiencesarenotofferedtochildren withdisabilitiesandchronicillnessesatthesamerateastheyareforotherchildren.
The National Institutes of Health released a reportinJuneof2023concerningtheimpact ofCOVID-19onchildrenandadolescentswith Special Education Needs and Disabilities. Research has shown that students with disabilities comprise 14% of all children in publicschools.Thesestudentsreceivepoorer educational experiences compared to their peers due to structural barriers around needed services such as individualized interventions, meal plans, and mental health services.
“ThereissubstantialevidenceCOVID-19 hadaparticularlyprofoundeffectonyouth withspecialeducationalneedsand dis/abilitiesincludingyouthwith neurodevelopmentalanddevelopmental disorders,learningdifferences,and intellectualandotherdis/abilities.”
The NIH provides their recommendation for schools to support positive schooling experiences.Theseexperiencesshould“focus on partnering with multiple stakeholders and emphasize promoting mental health, adaptive social relationships” Only Make Believe positions itself then as a crucial partner that leverages play with the building ofsocial-emotionalrelationshipsandskills.
Source:TheNationalInstitutesofHealth(NIH)-“ImpactsofCOVID-19onSchoolExperience”June2023
veryoneforparticipatingintheshowandforhavingfun. ell,Ihopeeveryonehadfun!IsureknowIdid."
ar-oldParticipant,InpatientPsychiatryandBehavioral ervicesCPU,Children'sNationalMedicalCenter
“[OMB]motivatesyoutoimagine.Thiswasatimetobea kidandusemyimagination.”
v
-Participant,TheChildren'sInnatNIH v "Cantheystayfortherestofcamp?Idon'twant themtoleave!"
-Participant,HSCKidsinAction,AdaptiveSportsCamp
"Usingtheimaginationindifferentwaysisalifeskill.Peopleoftenthink imaginarythingsarejustfrivolousorthat'sjustkidstuff,butthat'show weinterpretandinteractwiththeworld.Beinginvolvedinaperformance likeOnlyMakeBelieve,itmakesabigdifference."
-DanFitzgerald,Parent
"YouallatOnlyMakeBelieve[have]beentrulyagodsend.To stillhaveaspacetocomeandplaywithyouallvirtuallyIthink hasbeenreallyhelpful."
-YettaMyrick,Parent
"Oneofoursweetpatientswashavingareallyharddaytodaypriortothis show.Throughtears,theybrightenedwheninvitedtoparticipateinthis. Watchingthemsmile,laughandengagethroughouttheshowwasa testamenttowhatyoualldo.Trulytransformingpatientsfromtheir hospitalenvironmentthroughtherapeuticprogramming!"
-JillPocius,Manager,SeacrestStudios,Children'sHealthDallas(Virtual)
"Currentlytheunithasbeenexperiencingmany patientbehavioralchallenges,however,we witnessedacompleteshiftontheunit.Fromthecool props,costumingandsoundeffectsthattickledour patients,tothemediativedirectivesthatbrought calmnessandpositivecopingmechanisms,today’s performancewastrulyatestamenttothepowerof OnlyMakeBelieve.Everyoneoftheactorswereable toimprovise,engageandacknowledgeourpatients thatallowedthemtofeelsafeandsupportedwhile havingfun.Wewereabletoseecalmnessfrom patientswhowerepreviouslyrowdy,and engagementfrompatientswhowerereserved."
-LanieDavis,InpatientPsychiatryandBehavioralServicesCPU, Children'sNationalMedicalCenter
"WelovedtodaysperformanceofRickSpacey,SpaceDetective!Itwasperfectfor ourstudentswithAutism.Itwassuperengagingastheydanced,sangand exploredwithus.Eachactorcircledtheroomastheyinteractedwitheach audiencemember.Theywerefullofenthusiasmwhichinturnmadeourstudents evenmoreexcited.Therearenotmanyprogramsthatappealtoourstudents andwearesogratefulwefoundaprogramthatourstudentsenjoyedsomuch!"
-NoreenGarvey,SpecialEducationTeacher,AutismProgram,WestchesterHillsSchool29
OnlyMakeBelievehiresprofessionalactorsinNewYorkCityand Washington,D.C.toengagewiththechildrenweserve.Wearededicated tosupportingtheartisticeconomywithopportunitiesforactors,stage managers,andotherindustryprofessionalstohelpsupportourprogram.
I've been an actor with OMB since 2002. I believe in the work that we do. I have seen first-hand the difference that this brand of healinghasmadeinthelivesofthechildren we serve. I have seen children attached to intravenous drips express sheer joy as they walk across the “tightrope,” make believing thattheyareskilledcircusperformers.Ihave seen children in wheelchairs clap and grin with glee as they don a feather boa and make believe that they are fashion divas strutting down the runway. I have seen teenagers who thought that they were "too coolforschool"singingourthemesongtous by the end of our time together. Thejoy,the excitement is contagious, and this is the type of outbreak that I gladly welcome! I have been an actor with OMB for this long becauseIBELIEVEINMAKEBELIEVE.
ALEX ACOSTA NEWYORK
SORABAEK NEWYORK
IANEATON NEWYORK
JEANETTEBONNER NEWYORK DANDOMINGUES NEWYORK
JACQGREGG NEWYORK
BROOKEM.HANEY NEWYORK
An acting career can often seem a bit selfserving & self-celebratory. I run out of gas very fast on a project if I think the only person benefitting from it is me. I never have to ask the question "Why am I doing this"atOMB.Theimpactourshowshaveon the children (and the adults!) is so clear, and the four-week (now five-week) cycle we do for each school allows us to see the growththattheseshowsencourageamong the children over the month-plus that we perform with them. The work is sacred & cultivating (for all involved), and a great dealoffun!
MARIAPEYRAMAURE
VANESARENDÓN
DIEGOPRIETO
CHANNIEWAITES
Aswesayatthebeginningofeachshow, we’re there to do a play with our audience, not for them. And, we know thatparticipationcanlookdifferentfrom site to site and person to person, so we’re equipped with tools to maximize engagementwitheachindividualchild, as they are when we greet them on the day. Typical theatrical productions for children, though well-meaning, often aren’t built to adapt to audiences with disabilities and special needs, and so can miss the opportunity for individual impactthatOnlyMakeBelievestrivesfor witheveryperformance.
DC COMPANY MEMBER (2017- PRESENT)
JIMMYMAVRIKES
Iwillneverforgetashowthatwedidwhena child who at the beginning of the show did not speak but at the end of the show when we asked them to share what imagination meant to them, decided to share a word. I'll neverforgetthewaytheiraidlookedatus. Her jaw dropped in shock, eyes wide, she later came to us after the show and said that the student who spoke was non-verbal and that it has taken them years to get him to speak and that he had only said words maybe 2 or 3 times a year in school. It felt very rewarding that we as a company could create an environment where that childfelttheycouldshare.
Our professional actors set up a backdrop, trunk, and a few propsthe rest is up to the imagination. All our plays strive to be sensoryfriendly, inclusive, and adaptable to the needs of all children. Participants can engage by creating characters, choosing their favorite costume, or by tapping and clapping along to their favorite tunes. Scheduling is easy, and performances can be stand-alone or occur monthly, quarterly, or even once a week for fiveweeks!
actors perform LIVE n closed circuit ) and on your ng devices! Our allow ample dstojoininthefun ng in as they sing ters,andmovethe the use of their ildren have the p j offcamera.
OnlyMakeBelievesupporters havemadesignificant investmentsintheorganization tosupportgrowthandimpactin recentyears.Withcontinued financialgrowthandprogram streamlining,OnlyMakeBelieve hassteadilyincreased investmentinourprograms,inpersonandvirtual,everyyear forthepastthreeyears.
FiscalYear2023auditisbeingconductedby: CondonO’MearaMcGinty&DonnellyLLP Completed 2023 Audit will be available Summer2024 DID YOU KNOW 82 CENTS
Monthlyvolunteereventshadastrongcomebackthisyear! IndividualsandsmallgroupscametogetherattheNYCandDCofficesto contributetheirtimeandcreativitymakingcostumestosharewithchildren duringourshows. Thesededicatedvolunteersensuredoursupplyofkids’ masks,hats,andtutusare“showready”anduptoOMBsafetyandquality standards.Bonus: kidswereabletokeepallthecostumestheywanted!
Ihadsomuchfun,Ilovedit!Ithinkthisissucha coolanduniquewaytobringsomelighttokids goingthroughahardtime. -Chloe
Loved it!! Second time back, I enjoy Gabriella being so informative but most of all down to Earth. The people thatcometovolunteerareamazingalso.It'samustdo event for couples, friends and families. Wonderful and cozyspace. -Chanisse
Ourcorporateincomenearlydoubledfrom2022to2023! Corporate partnersarevitaltooursuccess.Weworkwithlike-minded,impactdrivencompaniesfocusedonmeaningfulcorporatesocialresponsibility initiativestofosterlong-term,mutuallybeneficialrelationships.This allowsustobetterunderstandthespecificgoalsofeachcompanyand focusonwhat’smostimportanttothem.
Each costume created at our Corporate Volunteer events will impact the life of a child we perform with by instilling confidence and encouraging interaction with our actors, while also providing comfort long after the show has ended.
1,329 Volunteers
2,000 Hours
1,579 Costumes
I look forward to this event because it’s a win/win, we get to help children by being children at heart. This is also a great team building event, my team members feel closer after this activity.
- Disney VoluntEAR
The hands-on experience offers an opportunity to give back to our community in support of an important cause while creating a creative, fun and interactive team-building experience for Citi colleagues
- Reem Aliessa, Senior Manager, Citi Volunteers
November6th,2023
OnlyMakeBelieve's24thAnnualGala,heldattheBroadhurstTheatreonBroadwayinNYC,wasa celebrationoftheorganization'smilestoneachievementofservingmorethan100,000children. WithshowstoppingperformancesbyJustinGuarini,TonyAwardWinnerJ.HarrisonGhee,Two-time TonyAwardNominatedBradOscarandmanymoretalentedBroadwayperformers,thisevent raisedmorethan$800,000tosupportourinteractivetheatreprogramminginhospitals,care facilitiesandschoolswithspecialeducationprograms.
Only Make Believe presented the James Hammerstein Award to Brooke Shields in recognition of her advocacy, activism and artisticlegacy.TheJamesHammersteinAwardhonorsperforming artists who have demonstrated a commitment through philanthrophicengagement.
Kimberley D. Harris, Executive Vice President of Comcast Corporation and General Counsel of NBCUniversal, was presented with theOMBFounder'sAward, which recognizes and honors an individual's dedication to philanthropy. KimberleyservesontheBoardofDirectors for the Goldman Sachs Group, Inc., and is also a member of each of the firm’s Governance, Compensation and Public Responsibilities Committees; Advocates for Children of New York, an organization thatprovideslegalandadvocacyservices to at-risk students in the New York City schoolsystem;andtheBrennanCenterfor Justice at the New York University School of Law. Harris is also a member of the Advisory Board for the Yale Law School CenterfortheStudyofCorporateLaw,and the Board of Trustees of the Mount Sinai HealthSystem.
Imagination,interaction,inspiration,joy,laughter,play, empowerment,hope thesearethewordsthatjustpierce myheartwhenIthinkofachildnotautomaticallygetting exposedtothosewords…tobeabletofeelthemintheirlives daily.ThisiswhatOnlyMakeBelievestandsforandwhatit doessobeautifully,OMBopensitsarmsanditsheartstothe mostdeserving.Italleviatestensionsandallowsthekidsto shinebyprovidingescape,humor,healthydistraction. Magichappens.Smileshappen.Joyhappens. -BrookeShields
OnlyMakeBelievegetsitrighteverysingletime. Throughsong,costume,andmovement,theyteach childrenaboutperseverance,teamwork, confidence,acceptance,courageandmanyother aspectsof selfexpressionandself empowerment...lessonweallcouldlearn. -KimberleyD.Harris
Clay Stefanki was a professional actor in New York City. Having discovered musical theatre as a child, ClaypursuedhispassionfortheatreuntilBroadway closeddownduetoCOVID.
Upon his return home he was diagnosed with an aggressive form of brain cancer and passed away attheageof33onNovember5,2020.
Tennis superstar Andy Roddick and model/actress BrooklynDeckerapproachedOMBaboutgivingout a children’s award in Clay’s honor Andy and Brooklyn share a special bond with the Stefanki family as Clay’s father, Larry, is Andy’s former coach TheClayStefankiAwardisgiventochildren who are dedicated to sharing their gift of joy and creativitywiththeircommunity
Thisyear’srecipientoftheClayStefankiAwardis - Christopher Christy. Christopher, 19, has been active with Only Make Believe since he was 10 years old via our partnership with the Kids in ActionProgramthroughtheHSCPediatricCenter. Christopher is deaf and has hemiparesis and cerebral palsy as a result of having brain cancer when he was two years old. Christopher is a 17 year brain cancer survivor. He loves participating in 10 different sports throughout the year with Special Olympics including football, bowling and basketball just to name a few. He has started his firstjobthroughtheMarylandSchoolfortheDeaf -WorktoLearnprogram.
I’mreallythrilledandexcitedtobea partofOnlyMakeBelieve.It’sa thrillingexperience.(Tocelebrate,) I’mjustgoingtobesohappy.I’m goingtoeatalotoffood!
-ChristopherChristy
WhenIfirstmetChristopher,hewasvery quiet,hewasshy,hesatinthebackofthe room,reallydidn’tparticipateverymuch andwasveryreserved...nowheisa differentchild.Heisextremelyinteractive, heisthestaroftheshowandOnlyMake Believehasbeensuchahugepartofhis lifetogethimwhereheistoday.
-RobynCohen Manager KidsinAction-HSC
TheBox,thethrillingnightclubontheLowerEastSide, providedtheperfectlocationforOnlyMakeBelieve'sannual NYJuniorBoardevent.WiththebackdropofTheBox'sart, creativity,andtheatricalescapism,theNYJuniorBoardwas abletoraisecriticalfundsforOMBprogramming.
The DC Regional Board and the DC Junior Board collectively hosting a fun-filled event at SPIN DC. This night ended up being one to remember as we gathered for food, fun and stewardshiptoraisefundsforprogrammingatour16partner facilitiesintheDCmetroarea
KALMIA ADVISORS
CorneliaT.Bailey Foundation
TheElaineDannheisser Foundation THANK YOU TO OUR
TheIsak&RoseWeinman Foundation
CarolClayman
DenaHammerstein*
* Founding Member
