Carolina Caring Foundation launches Cardinal Keepers campaign

The Carolina Caring Foundation announced on Tuesday the launch of the Cardinal Keepers campaign, a new corporate and community initiative dedicated to supporting Cardinal Kids.

Cardinal Kids is Carolina Caring’s Pediatric Palliative and Hospice Care Program. It provides compassionate support to children and families facing serious illness, offering expert symptom management, care coordination, and personalized treatment to address the patient’s physical, emotional, and spiritual needs.

In 2025, Cardinal Kids became the first hospice care program in North Carolina to earn the prestigious “Pediatric Care at Home” Certification from Community Health Accreditation Partner, Inc.

As Cardinal Kids services, partnerships, and volume of patients continue to grow, so does the need for enhanced, local support, hence the launch of the Cardinal Keepers campaign.

The Carolina Caring Foundation is a 501©(3) nonprofit organization that supports the mission of Carolina Caring by securing funding, cultivating community partnerships, and connecting donors with the needs of patients and families. Headquartered in Newton, Carolina Caring serves Burke and 12 other counties across Western North Carolina and the Charlotte region.

Every contribution to Cardinal Keepers helps patients and families access serious illness care services, some of which are not fully covered through traditional reimbursement sources. The campaign offers multiple levels of partnership, including Guardian ($25,000 and above), Nurturer ($10,000–$24,999), Supporter ($5,000–$9,999),

Friend ($1,000–$4,999), and additional opportunities through the Comforter level.

Current Cardinal Keepers supporters include St. Stephen’s Lutheran Christian School and Catawba First Insurance, which have combined to contribute more than $22,000 to the campaign. Thanks to their financial commitments, Cardinal Kids will not only continue to provide expert medical care but will also offer special programs such as the Cardinal Kidsfest in September and fulfillment of patients’ last wishes.

The Carolina Caring Foundation expects the Cardinal Keepers campaign to foster a network of local heroes, whose shared goal is that children and families facing serious illness can still experience joy, comfort, and compassionate support despite their financial circumstances.

Organizations interested in supporting the Cardinal Keepers campaign can visit carolinacaring.org/cardinal-keepers to learn more.

For more information about Carolina Caring, its services, and its mission to provide compassionate care for patients living with serious illness, visit carolinacaring.org or call 828-466-0466.

— JM