Hero Image - Child dressed as Superman

Every special needs child has an
inner hero the world may not see.

They are strong. They persevere. Their hearts soar.
But they go through a lot. And there are days they could use a hero—
be it in a cape, wizard hat, princess gown or Jedi™ robe.

Our mission is to brighten the lives and bring hope
to those children and their families.

We bring their personal heroes to them, in hospitals, hospice,
special parties, and school events. We make sure they are not forgotten,
and that in the end their hero becomes their new friend.

Life is hard when your kid isn’t healthy.

No one quite understands the burdens and hardships that come with caring for a sick kid. It’s difficult to find joy when everything’s about tests and treatments and surgeries. To have a superhero surprise your unhealthy child is amazing.

Mikey is truly happy when he's hanging out with his superhero friends and talks about them for days and days. The people at Heroic Inner Kids have made our sick little boy feel normal and happy and that will always mean the world to our family.”

MIKE GOMEZ

MIKE GOMEZ

Mikey's Dad

Our son “SuperJay” was diagnosed with stomach cancer in June 2018.

We lost count of how many times over the following months Heroic Inner Kids visited him and our family. Each visit they brought gifts, games, posters, toys and gave of themselves and their time.

Many times Jay was too exhausted to do much of anything except sit. So they watched movies, played with action figures, laughed and talked about anything on Jay’s mind.

After Jay died, our hearts were breaking, the kids were struggling to understand all that had happened, and the world seemed so unfair. Through the pain our friends were there to hold us and be with us.

Those visits made Jay’s last days exciting and fun. Those memories make the grief a little more bearable. We are forever grateful.”

STEVEN JENSEN

STEVEN JENSEN

Jay's Stepdad

Heroic Inner Kids has been a godsend to us.

Our miracle 1-pound triplets have battled many wars and it’s because of the super-heroes and princesses of Heroic Inner Kids that they continue to smile and laugh even on the hard days.

They show up to cheer up our triplets when we are having a hospital stay but also to celebrate their birthdays. We are grateful for their friendships! They have become part of our support team and family!

Thank you Heroic Inner Kids!!!”

LIZ PIÑÓN

LIZ PIÑÓN

Felicita, Santiago & Valentina’s mom

testimonials from families and partners

Life is hard when your kid isn’t healthy.

No one quite understands the burdens and hardships that come with caring for a sick kid. It’s difficult to find joy when everything’s about tests and treatments and surgeries. To have a superhero surprise your unhealthy child is amazing.

Mikey is truly happy when he's hanging out with his superhero friends and talks about them for days and days. The people at Heroic Inner Kids have made our sick little boy feel normal and happy and that will always mean the world to our family.”

MIKE GOMEZ

MIKE GOMEZ

Mikey's Dad

Our son “SuperJay” was diagnosed with stomach cancer in June 2018.

We lost count of how many times over the following months Heroic Inner Kids visited him and our family. Each visit they brought gifts, games, posters, toys and gave of themselves and their time.

Many times Jay was too exhausted to do much of anything except sit. So they watched movies, played with action figures, laughed and talked about anything on Jay’s mind.

After Jay died, our hearts were breaking, the kids were struggling to understand all that had happened, and the world seemed so unfair. Through the pain our friends were there to hold us and be with us.

Those visits made Jay’s last days exciting and fun. Those memories make the grief a little more bearable. We are forever grateful.”

STEVEN JENSEN

STEVEN JENSEN

Jay's Stepdad

Heroic Inner Kids has been a godsend to us.

Our miracle 1-pound triplets have battled many wars and it’s because of the super-heroes and princesses of Heroic Inner Kids that they continue to smile and laugh even on the hard days.

They show up to cheer up our triplets when we are having a hospital stay but also to celebrate their birthdays. We are grateful for their friendships! They have become part of our support team and family!

Thank you Heroic Inner Kids!!!”

LIZ PIÑÓN

LIZ PIÑÓN

Felicita, Santiago & Valentina’s mom

testimonials from families and partners

We believe passionately
in not only helping children overcome
challenges, but also to see themselves
in others who have challenges—to make
a better world for all children.

The Empathy Experience

Our unique program allows children (and parents) hands-on time with those objects that make other kids different. It de-mystifies the tools they rely on so that the next time that child sees a kid in a wheelchair, or using a hearing aid, or wearing really thick glasses - not only will they not be apprehensive about it, they will have a real understanding of what that special child’s life is like...

...and maybe go over and be their friend.

At our Empathy Stations you can:

  • Type your name and a letter in braille
  • Simulate gradual vision and hearing loss
  • Learn words and phrases in sign language
  • Try a hearing aid
  • Use an ADA white cane to navigate
  • Do an obstacle course in a wheelchair
  • Experience an ADHD simulation
  • Discover how EpiPens work with a child-safe replica

Medical Visits

Our background-checked volunteers (often from caretaking fields) are qualified to come visit your child, regardless of their condition or situation. We bring gifts, play games to the child’s ability, listen to them, and make them feel as normal as possible.

We also make sure to give attention to any siblings. We know they are day-to-day family heroes who are sometimes over-looked and we try to make sure they feel equally as appreciated.

Our visits include:

  • Hospital room
  • Home/hospice
  • Birthdays
  • Hospital play area
  • Waiting room during a surgery

Education & Literacy

We support education in all forms and encourage learning in children by showing them that their heroes are smart and they want you to be smart, too.

From Batman™ reading to kids (and sending audio stories to vision-impaired children), to Tony Stark™ teaching about science, to Hermione™ and her friends showing how studying makes you powerful—we foster a thrill of self-motivation that we hope carries over into everyday education efforts.

Our programs include:

  • Library reading days
  • STEM activities
  • School supplies giveaways
  • Hogwart’s™ Day
  • Museum visits

The Empathy Experience

Our unique program allows children (and parents) hands-on time with those objects that make other kids different. It de-mystifies the tools they rely on so that the next time that child sees a kid in a wheelchair, or using a hearing aid, or wearing really thick glasses - not only will they not be apprehensive about it, they will have a real understanding of what that special child’s life is like...

...and maybe go over and be their friend.

At our Empathy Stations you can:

  • Type your name and a letter in braille
  • Simulate gradual vision and hearing loss
  • Learn words and phrases in sign language
  • Try a hearing aid
  • Use an ADA white cane to navigate
  • Do an obstacle course in a wheelchair
  • Experience an ADHD simulation
  • Discover how EpiPens work with a child-safe replica

Medical Visits

Our background-checked volunteers (often from caretaking fields) are qualified to come visit your child, regardless of their condition or situation. We bring gifts, play games to the child’s ability, listen to them, and make them feel as normal as possible.

We also make sure to give attention to any siblings. We know they are day-to-day family heroes who are sometimes over-looked and we try to make sure they feel equally as appreciated.

Our visits include:

  • Hospital room
  • Home/hospice
  • Birthdays
  • Hospital play area
  • Waiting room during a surgery

Education & Literacy

We support education in all forms and encourage learning in children by showing them that their heroes are smart and they want you to be smart, too.

From Batman™ reading to kids (and sending audio stories to vision-impaired children), to Tony Stark™ teaching about science, to Hermione™ and her friends showing how studying makes you powerful—we foster a thrill of self-motivation that we hope carries over into everyday education efforts.

Our programs include:

  • Library reading days
  • STEM activities
  • School supplies giveaways
  • Hogwart’s™ Day
  • Museum visits

Want to help?

Help us inspire a special child’s inner hero. Be one of our visiting superheroes (or princesses, or wizards, or dragons, or Jedis (TM). Sponsor us. Invite us to your hospital. Let us bring our Empathy Experience or STEM program to your school or Scouting troop. Donate toys. Donate money. Offer your skills. Tell other families who have a special needs child about us.

You can be their hero, too.

Donate

Your financial support helps us buy batteries for wheelchairs, repair braille machines, purchase new toys for kids who would otherwise get none at Christmas, make hero capes and blankets for bedridden children, buy books to help kids read, provide a much-needed family night out…so many wonderful things.

We gratefully accept:

  • Money (one-time or recurring)
  • Toys
  • Tablets/laptops/monitors
  • Gift certificates
  • Special needs equipment (new or used)

Volunteer

Your talent as a volunteer organizer, event planner, administrator, photographic storyteller, artist, writer, editor, fundraiser, leader and a host of other skills is needed to reach even more families. Or if you have the heart to meet and possibly stay in the life of a special child, then we want you as a costumed volunteer.

Recruiting:

  • Costumed characters
  • Board of Directors positions
  • Photographers/filmmakers
  • PR/Marketing/Social media
  • Tech skills

Sponsor 

As a company or partner you play a vital role. If you are part of a hospital, hospice care, lower-income school district, or a business who would like to sponsor our programs, please let us know. Or if you’d like to have us visit your facility on an ongoing basis as a partner, contact us. We will set up a meeting with our leadership.

We offer:

  • 501c3 tax benefits
  • Sponsorship levels
  • Commitment of our involvement
  • Ability to sponsor an event or a child
  • Your logo/credit marketed at event and online

Request

A visit to a special needs or economically disadvantaged child-centered event can mean the world to the kids there. Our visiting heroes service Dallas/Fort Worth, Oklahoma, and East Texas. If you are outside our area, we will send an online message, photo, and/or video to your child.

Visits include:

  • Hospitals
  • Home/hospice
  • Special needs events/birthday parties
  • Schools/libraries
  • Scouting troops

Donate

Your financial support helps us buy batteries for wheelchairs, repair braille machines, purchase new toys for kids who would otherwise get none at Christmas, make hero capes and blankets for bedridden children, buy books to help kids read, provide a much-needed family night out…so many wonderful things.

We gratefully accept:

  • Money (one-time or recurring)
  • Toys
  • Tablets/laptops/monitors
  • Gift certificates
  • Special needs equipment (new or used)

Volunteer

Your talent as a volunteer organizer, event planner, administrator, photographic storyteller, artist, writer, editor, fundraiser, leader and a host of other skills is needed to reach even more families. Or if you have the heart to meet and possibly stay in the life of a special child, then we want you as a costumed volunteer.

Recruiting:

  • Costumed characters
  • Board of Directors positions
  • Photographers/filmmakers
  • PR/Marketing/Social media
  • Tech skills

Sponsor 

As a company or partner you play a vital role. If you are part of a hospital, hospice care, lower-income school district, or a business who would like to sponsor our programs, please let us know. Or if you’d like to have us visit your facility on an ongoing basis as a partner, contact us. We will set up a meeting with our leadership.

We offer:

  • 501c3 tax benefits
  • Sponsorship levels
  • Commitment of our involvement
  • Ability to sponsor an event or a child
  • Your logo/credit marketed at event and online

Request

A visit to a special needs or economically disadvantaged child-centered event can mean the world to the kids there. Our visiting heroes service Dallas/Fort Worth, Oklahoma, and East Texas. If you are outside our area, we will send an online message, photo, and/or video to your child.

Visits include:

  • Hospitals
  • Home/hospice
  • Special needs events/birthday parties
  • Schools/libraries
  • Scouting troops

501c3

Heroic Inner Kids, Inc. is a registered 501c3 charity in good standing able to provide all documentation required for tax-deductible donations, partnerships, and associations.

To request documentation, contact Daniel Sanchez, National President – Heroic Inner Kids at President@HeroicInnerKids.org

Our heroic partners