Wendy Holman’s journey with Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) began when she was a student at the University of Pennsylvania. Growing up in a Quaker household, she knew right away that she wanted to be of service in her new home of Philadelphia. Wendy began volunteering with CHOP through the Child Life program, supporting nursing staff across the Hospital. 

The experience was both family and patient centric, emphasizing the value of a healthy and happy child. She learned quickly that the two went hand in hand and that she could make a real difference for families simply by putting a smile on a child’s face. Sometimes that meant making a messy art project or delivering a handful of snow for children who could not experience it outside. At other times it meant connecting in small ways by chatting with a family during their hospital stay. 

Now that Wendy is a mother of four, she and her husband, Wayne, are raising their own children to know the value of volunteering too. The family founded Bring Sunshine, an organization that creates special moments for children and families who need them most. Based in Miami, Wendy’s children – Summer, Sienna, Sylvie and Hunter – take the lead on projects, constantly thinking about how to make a difference for families both locally and nationally.

This spring, the Holman family will bring sunshine to Philadelphia, in a full circle moment for Wendy. The Holmans will be sponsoring the Joshua Kahan Fund CHOP Prom, a special event for children across CHOP’s campus. To make it extra special, the Child Life team will transform each unit of the Hospital into a fun and festive setting fit for celebration. The goal is to give these children the opportunity to experience a major part of a normal childhood.

Decades after Wendy put on her blue volunteer jacket, she returns to CHOP with her own children to rekindle the magic she experienced as a student volunteer – all while making new special moments possible for CHOP families.