Empowering children battling cancer, other illnesses, and mental health challenges through the power of patches!
The Oliver Patch Project patches are so much more than pieces of material. Our patches reinforce hope, mend loneliness, and repair self doubt. Our patches represent support, compassion, and strength. Our patches are tokens of love, and are the symbols of our Warriors.
— Brian and Trisha, Oliver’s parents
Our Mission
The Oliver Patch Project (OPP) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation that empowers children and teens to find their inner warriors, as they endure life changing milestone events, by providing a bit of sunshine throughout their journey.
OPP’s mission is to create a free, fun, engaging platform where children, teens and their families can connect through a series of unique patches created by artists and designers just for them.
We believe in the power of positivity to promote healing and are serving families in all 50 states!
Our Programs
Warrior Garment Program
(National Pediatric Cancer Program)
The warrior program is 💯 free and open to any child or teen in active cancer treatment the United States.
Warriors sign into our online patch gallery and choose a jacket or tote bag and 20 of their favorite personality patches. We take these patches, along with their custom embroidered name patch, and sew them on. Included with their custom item is a box of milestone patches representing 13 of the most common medical milestones a warrior and their family will endure.
These patches can be added to each “suit of armor” or “battle bag” as they navigate through their cancer treatments.
Patch of Positivity Program
(National Pediatric Cancer and Sibling Program)
The Patches of Positivity Program provides patches, cards, and animations to each Warrior, and is also open to any sibling, sick child or teen who can use a little love and support. A new patch is sent each month for a year. The QR Code on each monthly patch leads to a webpage where Warriors can watch animations and download coloring sheets.
Sting like a Bee” Patch of Positivity video
National Patch Day
(National Pediatric Physical and Mental Health Program)
National Patch Day is a year-round initiative, celebrated on June 24th. This project raises awareness about mental health by encouraging individuals to send a patch of love and support to ANY child, adolescent and young adult dealing with ANY physical or mental health challenge. A personal message of encouragement can be sent through the website and larger quantities of patches are sent to schools, youth groups, corporations, non-profits, and hospitals all sharing in the mission. Think Valentine’s Day 365 days a year!
All National Patch Day patches are funded by both individual and corporate support sponsors. Each custom patch design is available for an entire year.
As of may 2024 over 35,000 patches of love and support have been sent to children, teens, and young adults. Now that's a lot of smiles!
Pediatric Clinical Trial Support Program
(Global Clinical Trials Support Program)
The Patch Retention Program is a global program offering love and support to every child, teenager, and family engaged in a clinical trial. This initiative is designed to serve as a unified program fostering a sense of community for all participants, regardless of the nature of the trial or its organizers.
Why Patches?
The Truth about the Power of Patches
• Community support is a critical part of wellness, especially during and after a traumatic illness.
• Rapport and Connection between the child and their medical team to help children get through challenging and uncomfortable procedures.
• Validation of being seen and recognized for their efforts and valor.
• Achievement badges are a familiar symbol for children and provide acknowledgement for real life experiences.
• Conversation Starter -Warriors may not know how to share their experiences with others or know what to say about their diagnosis, treatment, or recovery but their jacket/tote bag allows them to do so in a positive way.
• Earning and collecting patches is a family endeavor that has benefits for parents and guardians.
Medical Milestones
Like knights preparing for battle, our OPP Warriors suit up in their warrior jacket “armor” and earn Medical Milestone Patches for each medical milestone treatment they complete along their journey.
Milestones are defined as significant events in the development of a person. For cancer patients, milestones symbolize progress. They represent a breakthrough or turning point; a challenge overcome and worthy of celebration.
Our empowering milestone patches will be administered to the child by their parent or guardian following each of these events.
The Fun
Arts and Educational Content
Creativity is a byproduct of Positivity
OPP is all about the Arts!
OPP creates fun, engaging educational content that supports children and their families throughout their cancer treatment.
Videos can be viewed on the OPP YouTube Channel, monthly Patches of Positivity webpages and OPP Website.
Animations and other additional artistic content are a key component of a child’s well being and part of the OPP curricula.
What Parents are saying:
• I just wanted to let you know we received Jackson's jacket last week and we were blown away! The patches are adorable-and we love his name patch (he does as well). This is such a special gift for him and will mean so much when we can iron-on all his milestone patches. Thank you so much for what you are doing for kids like my son. We so appreciate it and look forward to watching him wear the jacket!
• I haven’t seen my daughter smile in months, and she gets so happy every time she receives a patch in the mail!”
• My son wears his jacket everywhere…even to sleep!
Oliver Patch Project’s Impact
Oliver Patch Project is a 501(c)(3) non profit operating from a home base in Miami, FL and has provided garments to over 1000 warrior in each of the 50 states. As of January 2024 OPP has provided over 35,000 patches to children and teens that need it most!
Oliver Patch Project is currently providing smiles in all 50 states!
With your help…
Your support means so much to our organization, allows us to make children smile during an impossible time in their lives and we would love to have you involved.
Please feel free to reach out and see how you can join the OPP movement!
We look forward to hearing from you!