Three women understood the importance of laughter and silliness in healing. The trio brought this magical elixir to Children’s for the patients and their families 10 years ago.
It was back in the 1990’s that Amy Korenvaes was part of the creation of the Big Apple Circus Clown Care Unit in New York. In 1998 she moved to Dallas and started volunteering in the Children’s Emergency Department and Child Life playroom.
Meanwhile Tiffany “Dr. Slappy” Riley, who had been a member of the Big Apple Circus Clown Care Unit, also arrived in Big D. She got together with Brenda “Dr. Abby Normal” Marshall, who was known as “Flower” to children in the area including the Child Life Department.
While Tiffany and Brenda started “making rounds at Children’s two days each week,” Amy was “planning a clown program, but no funding was available.”
That’s when the ladies were joined by a couple of gents in their effort. Dick “Dr. Monday” Monday, who had been the director of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Clown College, “was brought in to help recruit and train talent for the program.” It was called the Funnyatrics Clown Program.
But just a year into the program, it was such a success that its popularity required funding for more clowns and more visits. That’s when Amy’s husband Harlan Korenvaes came through. Along with Amy, Harlan gave $200,000 to establish “an endowment to support Funnyatrics Clown Program” at Children’s.
Harlan summed it up, “It was the perfect storm — the right situation at the right time and place. We were thrilled to work with a number of employees at Children’s who embraced our vision and had the foresight for a successful program.””
On Wednesday, September 2, Amy and Harlan celebrated The Funnyatrics Clown Program’s 10th anniversary with Tiffany, Brenda and the eight other clowns who “are present at Children’s Medical Center Dallas five days a week, and at Children’s Medical Center Plano and Parkland Memorial Hospital’s Burn Unit once a week.” It was a heady affair with red carpet and noses, portrait artists, loads of food and games and, of course, the patients, families and staff of Children’s. Even Children’s Pet-Assisted Therapy pooches Van and Blair were on hand…or, rather, on paw.
According to Amy, “Laughter is a vital part of the healing process. The Funnyatrics program nurtures their spirit, while they are in the hospital, and that’s always been special to us…For a couple of moments, the clowns transport the children out of the hospital surrounding into a magical place.”
Children’s Health Director of Social Work and Child Life Theresa Belcher added, “Many of our patients are dealing with very difficult conditions, and a little laughter can go a long way to help their recovery. Our clowns can make the hospital stay easier for children just by being in the room. They are beloved by patients, families and medical staff alike.”