Purple Playas Blog

February 2, 2023

2022: A Year of HOPE & SMILES

November 30, 2021

GIVING TUESDAY: A Real Life Story of Our Lives

With our son’s permission, for Giving Tuesday, we would like to share a little story of our current life with chronic illness.  Please be patient as you read…As […]
October 10, 2021

October 2021: Growing up on the Sidelines, This Sib is Going Places!

Bridget is a 20-year-old who is going places; she is a junior in college who is double majoring in Biology and Psychology. These degrees will help her achieve her long-term goal of becoming a genetic counselor. For those who are unfamiliar, genetic counselors translate genetic test results for patients. It is the job of the counselor to take this information and help patients make the tough decisions related to both their families, and possible treatments.  When she isn’t working towards her long-term goals, Bridget reads books, hangs out with friends, and calls her family. Oh, and she is the co-president of her college acapella group, and an RA for freshmen. 
September 2, 2021

September 2021: PPF TODAY! Special Edition EXTRA! EXTRA! Read All About It…

EXTRA! EXTRA! All-Call For Kindness! Positive News is something to SHOUT OUT LOUD about! Learn how we all can spread kindness throughout our world. May you be inspired by these kids, siblings, young adults, parents, and extended family members, who, despite all they endure, rise above and care for others in their communities through their chronically caring acts of kindness!
July 19, 2021

Cindy McDaniel, Welcome to the Board!

When asked why she wanted to join our Purple Playas Board, Cindy shared, “The most meaningful part of my career has been working with the incredible […]
June 2, 2021

Pedal for Purple Playas Foundation (#Pedal4PPF): Sibling Bikes for Kids with Chronic Illness

Logan Lentini, a 24-year-old, is about to embark on a 3-day bike ride from Gainesville to Tampa, Florida (170 miles) to raise awareness and money for […]
March 24, 2021

Kerry Wise’s Eagle Scout Project: A “One-of-a-Kind” Work of Art and Love!

Since completing his project, Kerry has begun delivering the five Power Patch Boxes. Kerry constructed them for UF Shands Health Pediatric Hospital, Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital, St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital, Nemours Children’s Hospital, and Camp Boggy Creek. Recipients were overjoyed to receive this great companion to our Purple Playas Coping Kits.
February 1, 2021

February 2021 – Meet Kayden: Our Very 1st Kid Advisor

This "chronically caring kid" is our very first Kid Advisor. Welcome to our Purple Playas Advisory Team Kayden. The voice of children is incredibly important to us!
October 14, 2020

A Mom’s Letter of How “Purple Puff” Helped Her Son Be Brave

I read him the book, “When Purple Puff Gets Scared, Tucker Turtle Teaches Him How to Be Brave”. I couldn't believe how much it helped Daniel feel at ease. Daniel then told me he was ready to have the surgery and be " brave".
August 11, 2020

Revenge of the Electric Cart: A Short Film of Overcoming Through Hope and Joy

Revenge of the Electric Cart is based on my childhood growing up with a mom with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). My mom was diagnosed when I was 6 years old. The specialist who diagnosed her said that she’d be wheelchair-bound within a year, but she fought that diagnosis with determination and humor. Finally, she found a good treatment when I was around 11.
July 14, 2020

Pennies for Purple Playas

These 3 amazing siblings created their very own fundraiser benefitting the Purple Playas Foundation!
June 16, 2020

Purple Playas Foundation Announces New Pediatric Fellowship at University of Florida Awarded Through Partnership with the Arthritis Foundation

The Purple Playas Foundation is proud to be co-funding a three-year pediatric rheumatology fellowship with the Arthritis Foundation at the University of Florida Health Shands Children's Hospital.
November 26, 2019

#GivingTuesday with Purple Playas

Holidays are a really busy time…but we ask you to pause for a moment, take a deep breath, and just imagine…  Imagine the sound of kids […]
October 7, 2019

Our Exciting, Engaging, and Educational Purple Playas Coping Kit is a HIT!

As children open the Purple Playas Coping Kit, SMILES full of JOY light up their faces! Our kits are a home run…bringing excitement to families, engaging […]
March 24, 2019

In the News…On Daytime!

Heads up!  The Purple Playas Foundation is going to be on Daytime! on Tuesday, March 26th at 10:00 a.m. on News Channel 8 (NBC/WFLA).  Our CEO, […]
February 20, 2019

Twitter Chat!

TWITTER CHAT! Join us on February 25th at 7:00 pm ET for a #ConditionConfident Twitter Chat From the outside, getting a diagnosis might seem like an […]
December 21, 2018

Our 1st Annual Golf Tournament

We are getting very excited about our first annual PPF GolfTournament on March 30th, 2019! It’s only three-and-a-half months away and things are revving up.  Our committee […]
December 14, 2018

Welcome to Purple Playas Foundation!

We are so excited you are joining us on this incredible journey! Our hope is to gift smiles to many children with chronic illness in “the […]