imadi is a Maryland-based organization dedicated to supporting children facing a life-changing medical diagnoses – and just as importantly, their entire family unit. Through concierge case management, community building, social-emotional support, and pediatric patient advocacy, imadi stands as a North Star for their families, creating a magical space where even in their darkest moments, there is hope.
Their model is simple, but powerful: by engaging families with a thoughtfully curated and trauma-informed support modality, families receive a custom-tailored experience that addresses emergent needs with creativity, compassion, and community. At imadi, one thing is clear – they don’t believe in doing things simply because that’s the way it’s always been done. Their team, under the leadership of Tzvi Haber, constantly challenges the status quo to ask themselves – and the greater community – what do we think our families need, and what do our families actually need. How can we do more?
This year, that mindset led to one of their biggest pivots yet.
“Every year, community organizations (imadi included) host pre-Purim parties – festive, fun, and largely similar to the dozens of other events families could attend around the city”, said Shevy Klein LMSW, imadi’s Case Manager for families living in Baltimore, “we realized that for imadi families, these parties weren’t filling a real need. They already had options – at the shul or school – and our families, balancing overwhelming medical and logistical challenges, needed more than “just another party.” What they actually needed was… real support to help easing into what often can be an intense Pesach season. Parents were desperate to have a few hours of respite… or a few hours to prepare for what often can be the most stressful chaggim of the year.”
And so, imadi made a bold move: they pivoted all of their energy and investment into a brand new initiative – the pre-Pesach FREEDOM FEST.
Freedom Fest was not simply a glorified pre-Pesach camp. It was a full week-long immersive experience, packed with daily programming for all imadi clients – children with a diagnosis and their siblings. Their goal was to create an oasis of fun and, more importantly, structure for children in the imadi community at a time when many parents are feeling stretched thin because their children are home from school.
The results were nothing short of extraordinary.
Over the course of one week more than 200 imadi clients and 115 high school student volunteers participated in daily outings and programs. Recognizing that arranging transportation to events can often be a barrier for parents, especially those juggling multiple children, medical equipment, and complicated schedules, imadi arranged bus transportation – to and from events – from multiple locations in Pikesville and Kemp Mill.
Elana Openden-Rosenbloom, imadi’s Program Coordinator, shared just how impactful the week truly was. “It was incredible,” she said. “Adventure Park USA, Wonderfly Arena, ClimbZone, Sky Zone — every day was packed with excitement. Thanks to the full-day programming, imadi offered parents nearly five hours of true respite each day — giving them the rare gift of time to focus on Pesach preparations, care for other needs, or simply breathe, knowing their children were happy, safe, and cared for.”
Some of the most beloved – and innovative – parts of Freedom Fest were the Afikoman Gift Shop, a magical pop-up shop where parents had the chance to “shop” for special gifts for their children to be entertained over the long school break. They even hosted a Breakfast for Champions on Friday morning – just hours before Pesach began – featuring a deluxe breakfast buffet where parents could bring their kids to eat a hearty, delicious meal at a time when many homes are already turned over for the holiday and the kitchen is bare. And, true to the heart of imadi’s mission, every single part of Freedom Fest was offered free of charge to participating families.
One mother’s words perfectly captured the impact of Freedom Fest: “Making Pesach is overwhelming. Making Pesach with a child who has significant medical needs is beyond overwhelming. But making Pesach with imadi by my side? That’s a blessing like no other.”
