Caps For Kids

Mission

To provide every child that is diagnosed and undergoing treatment for cancer or receiving chemotherapy agents to treat other life threatening illnesses a cap or scarf autographed by the celebrity of their choice. To a child that has lost their hair due to the chemotherapy treatments, the caps and scarves help them establish a special bond with their caregiver/physician and their "celebrity hero.  We have found that many of the children garner strength from the autographed caps and scarves, and they feel as though their "celebrity hero "is right there with them fighting the battle against their illness.

About Caps For Kids...

Caps for Kids is an international 501(c)3 non profit organization with programs in more than 90 hospitals scattered throughout the United States including 4 in Canada. We are dedicated to giving caps and scarves signed by athletes, entertainers and other notable celebrities to children who are pediatric cancer patients

Our Board of Directors            Caps Sponsors

Caps For Kids was founded in 1993 by Dr. Stephen Heinrich, a pediatric orthopedic surgeon at Children's Hospital in New Orleans, Louisiana and a clinical professor at the Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center. Dr. Heinrich was treating a young man with cancer, who was also an avid Auburn University fan. He gave Lee a hat autographed by Auburn University football coach Terry Bowden and his father, Florida State University football coach, Bobby Bowden. When Dr. Heinrich realized how happy a simple hat could make someone suffering from a life-threatening disease, he organized Caps For Kids to improve the spirits of young cancer patients nationwide.

Dr. Heinrich began to garner autographed hats and scarves from notable personalities to be given to the children with cancer that he cared for. Publicity opened new avenues for acquiring hats and soliciting signatures. Dr. Heinrich was soon able to expand the program so that all children receiving chemotherapy for cancer at Childrens Hospital in New Orleans could participate

Today, Caps For Kids exists at more than 90 hospitals in the United States including 4 chapters in Canada. The organization is currently run by one full time employee, one part time staff member and a host of volunteers, all of whom have other full-time jobs. The Board of Directors and an advisory group help to drive the organizations growth.

About Our Founder - Dr. Stephen D. Heinrich, MS, MD

Dr. Stephen Heinrich, Founder and President Emeritus of Caps For Kids is a pediatric orthopedic surgeon at Children's Hospital in New Orleans, Louisiana and a Clinical Professor in the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at the Louisiana State University Medical Center. Since 1988, he has served on the staff of over nine hospitals, written two books, published 85 manuscripts, and organized six post-graduate courses.

In 1993, Dr. Heinrich founded Caps For Kids, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing caps and scarves autographed by celebrities to children, adolescents and young adults suffering from hair loss as a result of various forms of cancer treatment. Under the direction of Dr. Heinrich, Caps For Kids has expanded to an international reach enlisting the support of hundreds of volunteers at its 96 locations.

After graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Biology from the Virginia Military Institute in 1977, Dr. Heinrich earned a Master of Science from the University of Arizona in 1979. Upon receiving a Doctor of Medicine degree in 1983, from the University of Arizona, he moved back to Virginia where he completed an internship and residency before landing a fellowship in Pediatric Orthopedic Surgery at the Children's Hospital in Louisiana State University Medical Center.

Dr. Heinrich resides in New Orleans with his wife Helena. He has four children, Beth, Stephen, Ryan and Emily.