A “Glimmer of Hope”
Non-profit Spreads Joy to Kids with Cancer
by Sofia Giannascoli
College student Ali Hornung never expected to be running a non-profit by her junior year. After losing her friend to cancer in 2019, a heartbroken Hornung founded the “Glimmer of Hope Foundation” in her honor.
The Glimmer of Hope Foundation, is a non-profit that donates to children fighting cancer. Founded just five months ago, the foundation was named in memory of Hornung’s friend Ella Integlia, who passed away from childhood leukemia.
Though she was devastated by the loss, Hornung was inspired to continue Integlia’s legacy.
“When she was first diagnosed,” said Hornung. “One of the first things she said was ‘I’m no longer gonna look like my American Girl doll.’”
Integlia wrote a letter to the American Girl doll company asking them to create a special doll for girls who had lost their hair. She thought the making of a bald doll would not only inspire herself, but other young girls fighting disease too. When she received her bald doll, Ella decided to name her “Hope”. This is where the name “Glimmer of Hope” comes from. Their mission is to gift as many bald dolls to young girls fighting cancer as they can.
According to the American Childhood Cancer Organization in the United States 15,780 children are diagnosed with cancer every year. Meaning that one in every 285 children in the U.S. will be diagnosed with cancer before their 20th birthday. The number increases to 300,000 diagnoses worldwide.
Identity is one of the pillars of cognitive development in kids.
Dr. Phoebe Farber, a psychotherapist and clinical social worker from Montclair with over 20 years of experience, said that of the many ways children can develop their own sense of identity, the type of play kids engage in is one of the most important aspects of their cognitive development.
“Toys are really really important,” says Farber, “and can be a way that a child can express their unconscious. So what’s happening unconsciously can be expressed or projected onto the toy.”
Developing healthy body image and self-esteem can be difficult, Farber explains, but for children living with serious illnesses like cancer there are very few toys on the market, where they can see a reflection of themselves. Not having this form of representation can alter the way these kids see themselves.
Ally Deforge, 21, co-directs the Glimmer of Hope foundation. She attends Montclair State University and is a senior studying public relations. DeForge was recruited by Hornung to originally act as a board member. Later, she took on a more prominent role after showing she was dedicated to making a difference.
“We have an incredible community that helps us to donate bald American Girl dolls to little girls fighting chemotherapy…” said DeForge. “By donating bald dolls to childhood cancer patients who are losing their hair, we make sure they see themselves in the toys they play with.”
Through the foundation’s website and social media, donors can give money for dolls and care packages. The bald American Girl dolls can be ordered in different skin colors and ethnicities, for any girl to feel represented.
For the young girls who receive these dolls, having something to relate to could potentially aid in feeling understood and help to soothe them through dealing with cancer or other illnesses.
Dr. Farber says that if there can be dolls that reflect some of the characteristics that these girls have, it could be a “powerfully good thing.”
“Maybe the doll feels the way she feels, because if the doll experiences the physical sensations that she’s experiencing, suddenly somebody really understands,” Dr. Farber continued.
When a child is living with cancer and all the pain and complications that come with it, the last thing a sick child should have to worry about is feeling like they belong. Which the foundation embodies in their mission statement.
“Through our donation of bald American girl dolls, girls experiencing hair loss are able to feel represented, seen and beautiful.”
“The physicality of the doll,” says Farber, “opens the door to the expression of all these other ways of identifying.”
Glimmer of Hope has reached children in five countries and almost all 50 states. In just five months they have donated nearly 50 dolls, dozens of care packages, and meals to Hasbro Children’s Hospital.
Addison, is an eight-year-old cancer fighter and recipient of a bald doll. After her doll arrived her parents expressed their gratitude to the foundation.
“Oh my goodness! Oh my goodness!! Thank you so very VERY much! The smile on her face and the tears in her eyes were priceless. Your generosity and kindness just made this girl’s night/week/month! This doll will be so loved!”
