Josephine's Garden | Support Our Cause

Decorative text that reads "Josephines Garden" in bright green, with a pink and red ladybug with green dots on its wings sitting on the 'J' of the text.

Our Mission

Colorful butterfly with pink wings, yellow inner wings, and a dark blue body and antennae.

Colorful cartoon butterfly with green and blue wings and dark blue body

Josephine’s Garden mission is to provide support and love to children and their families as they navigate their battle against pediatric brain tumors and to provide funding for research to help find a cure for pediatric brain tumors.

A cartoon butterfly with pink wings, yellow interior sections, and a dark blue body, set against a black background.

Colorful butterfly with purple edges and orange and yellow inner wings.

Decorative outdoor space with a painted mural of a large tree, flowers, and butterflies on a fence, and a small fountain with frog statues.

Outdoor children’s garden area called 'Josephine's Garden' with murals, a tree, and small animal sculptures, in an urban setting.

Two frog statues sitting in a meditation pose next to a water fountain, with a colorful butterfly and flower mural in the background.

A woman hugging a large tree in an outdoor area with a sign that reads 'Josephine's Garden' in the background.

OVER 1,000

Families Supported

OVER $1,000,000

Raised For Research

OVER $500,000

In Kind Donations

Words from Parents and Patients

“We’ve had long in-patient stays since her diagnosis with a few breaks in between her treatments to go home. I wanted to thank you for your beautiful daughter’s Josephine’s garden. I spend a lot of time out there when I need a break and for some normalcy. I try to water the flowers as often as I can on the hot days when they need it . When it’s an extra hard day the nurses will let me have a few minutes alone to just take a break. It’s so nice for the kids from the oncology floor to be able to sit around the table, blow bubbles, play with chalk and just get some fresh air. The parents connect with each other and we spend time with the very special Nurses.”
“Thank you. 🙏🏻 I love the pictures, dragonflies and flowers….its a very powerful and peaceful place for all of us. I just wanted you to know how much it means to me and what a beautiful way to honor your daughter.”
“Josephine’s Garden literally saved my life while my son was going through treatment …”
“a mom heard her little girl giggle for the first time when the wind tickled her face while out in the garden”
“Thank you for Josephine’s Garden, my son looks forward to coming to the hospital so that he can go to the garden.”

About Josephine

In July 9, 2012, the day Josephine would have turned 8-years old, Josephine's family and friends gathered to officially unveil Josephine's Garden. Just as she had planned, the area features a wishing fountain, a climbing boulder, warrior pole, chalk board and inspirational artwork. Her mother, Heidi Rispoli, said if her daughter were here today, she would "climb on the boulder and then she'd carve her name in the warrior pole and leave her mark to say 'I fought the fight.'"

The Joseph M. Sanzari Children's Hospital sees more 100,000 visits annually. Some may visit for a couple of hours, or some may be with us for extended periods of time. But, each patient who walks through the doors of the Children's Hospital now has the opportunity to visit Josephine's Garden. Easily accessible and open year-round, Josephine's Garden is a place where our young patients can be outside, breathe fresh air, and feel the wind in their faces - just as Josephine dreamed they would.

A woman and a young girl smiling on a beach, with the woman wearing a straw hat and sunglasses, and the girl in a pink swimsuit, against a background of ocean waves and sky.

FAQ

Host a Day of Gold in your school, place of work, or community. If you have a fundraising idea please reach out. Attend our events. People have hosted bake sales, pickleball events, art shows, art supplies donations.
You may send a check to Josephine’s Garden, Venmo or send donation via link.
What can I donate other than money?
Donations of NEW art supplies, bubbles, model magic, pajamas, journals are always welcome!
Please contact us!

We are always looking for motivated individuals who have time and talents to share. Please contact us.
All funds raised for research at this time provide support to Dr. Derek Hansen and Dr. Claire Carter at the C.D.I. in Nutley, NJ which is affliated with the Hackensack Merdian Medical School and Hackensack Meridian Network. They are actively researching treatments for pediatric brain tumors.
In addition to the Josephine’s Garden located for the patients at the Jospeh M. Sanzari Children’s Hospital we provide financial support as well as creative art therapy, sound therapy, movement therapy and traditional talk therapy for individuals and their families. From diagnosis and beyond we are here to support you. Please contact us for requests.

Featured

For Josephine:: Heidi Hartung Rispoli Receives ACS Humanitarian Award

For Josephine: Heidi Hartung Rispoli Receives ACS Humanitarian Award

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Every Dollar Helps

Nothing is more frightening than having your child diagnosed with a brain tumor. We do everything possible to keep our children safe, but when the enemy is within, how can we protect them?

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