Emad Foundation

About Us

Emad Foundation is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization registered in the USA, with Federal EIN 83-0600044. Our mission is to provide families with accommodation, food, and other basic amenities, while their kids are being medically treated.

Children’s hospitals in large cities host patients from several smaller towns or rural areas. During their hospitalization, children need the emotional support from their parents and close family members, more than anytime. Being under pressure by financial burdens of hospitalization, many of these families are not able to pay for appropriate accommodation and healthy food. Many families have to stay in tents, without very basic amenities such as restrooms, in harsh weather situations.

Emad's Story

Emad Foundation was initiated with the loving memory of Emad Arman Shamekhi. Emad was born on April 25, 2016 in State College, PA. After birth, he was diagnosed with Down Syndrome and Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome. Emad spent over 7 months at children’s hospitals hundreds of miles away from his home. The Ronald McDonald House Charity was a substantial support for Emad’s family through its accommodations and services provided within. The services the organization provided allowed his parents to solely focus on his treatment and not have other worries. He left our world 4 days after his first birthday. Emad’s parents appreciated the experience and immense support they received at the Ronald McDonald House by deciding to pay it forward through the creation of the Emad Foundation. In loving memory of their son, they wanted to provide a supportive environment to families who travel far distances to seek treatment for their children.

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Emad House

Emad House is a cornerstone project of the Emad Foundation, created to turn the Foundation’s mission into direct, life-changing support for children and families facing serious medical challenges. At its core, Emad House removes one of the greatest burdens families encounter during long-term treatment: safe, dignified accommodation close to specialized medical care.

For many children across Iran, advanced treatments are available only in Tehran. Emad House provides a temporary home for these children and their families during treatment, allowing them to focus on healing rather than housing, logistics, or financial strain.

Learn more about Emad Houses

Who We Serve

Because space and resources are limited, Emad House prioritizes children facing the most intensive and prolonged treatments. Our primary focus is on families whose children are undergoing:

  • Bone narrow transplants
  • Organ transplants
  • Cancer treatment

These journeys often require repeated or extended stays in Tehran, making stable housing not just helpful, but essential.

More Than a Place to Stay

 

While providing accommodation is the primary mission of Emad House, our support extends far beyond housing. Throughout their stay, children and their families may also receive:

  • Nutritious daily meals
  • Assistance with medical expenses
  • Travel support to and from their home cities
  • Counseling and emotional support services
  • Restorative recreational and educational activities for children

This holistic approach recognizes that healing involves emotional, psychological, and social well-being, not medical care alone.

How We Operate

The Emad Foundation operates Emad Houses in close collaboration with a trusted local partner, Khaneh Arman Emad, a registered nonprofit organization based in Iran. Emad Foundation holds a Specific OFAC License from the U.S. Department of Treasury and legally transfers donations to support the operations and projects managed by Khaneh Arman Emad.

This partnership ensures that operations are rooted in local expertise, cultural understanding, and on-the-ground coordination with medical and social service providers.

Together, we manage the day-to-day operations of the houses and ensure that families receive safe, respectful, and supportive accommodations during an incredibly difficult time.