Friends of Riley (F.O.R.) is the young professional arm for the Riley Children’s Foundation. F.O.R. hosts various monthly networking/volunteer opportunities throughout the year to bring together the young professional community of Indianapolis to support Riley Hospital for Children. F.O.R.’s sole purpose and mission is to raise money through its events to support the Child Life Program at Riley Hospital. Child Life Specialists are those individuals who work at the hospital, and they serve a child’s social, emotional and educational needs through play, and they really allow kids to be kids while staying in the hospital. They are the ones who play games with the kids, read to them, plan parties and festivities for the kids, and hold their hand while they are going through treatment.

Our biggest fundraising event is RISE, our “annual event.” This year’s event will take place on February 8, 2020 at the “Industry” event space. Our annual event will consist of food from notable restaurants throughout Indianapolis, an open bar, silent and live auction, and music entertainment from “The Roads Below” and DJ Brian Jackson.

Over the past couple of years, F.O.R. has been able to significantly increase the quality of our event and the amount of money that we donate. In 2017, we raised $15,000. Last year, we raised $25,000. This year, we are hoping to raise $50,000 for the Child Life Program at Riley Hospital for Children.