BOCA RATON, FL (Boca Post) (Copyright © 2026) — A Boca Raton-area family’s effort to support parents navigating long hospital stays with their children is approaching a major milestone, with a fundraising campaign tied to Sweet Journey 17 nearing its goal.
As of the latest update, the campaign has raised $57,906 toward a $65,000 target, reaching about 90 percent of its goal through 497 individual donations. The funds are intended to support Sweet Journey 17, a foundation created in memory of Ariana Ehrenthal.
The organization was formed after Ariana’s parents spent six weeks at her side during a prolonged hospitalization that took them from South Florida to Philadelphia. During that time, they experienced firsthand the logistical and financial strain families face when a child requires extended care in a hospital setting.
That experience now defines the foundation’s focus.
Sweet Journey 17 provides financial assistance for meals and accommodations so parents and caregivers can remain near their hospitalized child. The organization is structured around a specific problem many families encounter: hospitals are not always equipped to support long-term family stays, and the day-to-day costs of being present can quickly add up.
For families traveling away from home for treatment, those costs can include lodging, food, transportation, and missed work. Even when medical care is covered, the practical expenses of staying nearby can create additional stress during an already difficult situation.
The foundation aims to remove some of those barriers.
By helping cover meals and overnight accommodations, Sweet Journey 17 allows families to focus on their child’s care rather than the financial pressure of staying close. The support is intended to ensure parents are not forced to choose between being present at the hospital and managing basic daily expenses.
Ariana Ehrenthal’s story remains central to that mission.
According to her family, Ariana spent her final weeks in children’s hospitals, where her parents remained with her throughout her care. Although she never left the hospital, she had hoped to become a nurse and help others facing similar challenges.
That goal became the basis for Sweet Journey 17.
The foundation’s work is framed as a continuation of Ariana’s compassion, turning a personal loss into a resource for other families facing extended hospital stays. Donations to the campaign directly support that effort, helping provide practical assistance during moments when families are focused entirely on their child’s health.
The nearly completed fundraising goal reflects broad community support, with hundreds of donors contributing to the campaign. The funds raised are expected to expand the foundation’s ability to assist families dealing with prolonged hospitalizations, particularly those traveling away from home for care.
For residents in Boca Raton and across Palm Beach County, the effort highlights a local response to a problem that often unfolds out of public view — the cost of simply staying close when a child is in the hospital for weeks at a time.
As the campaign moves closer to its $65,000 target, organizers continue to position Sweet Journey 17 as both a tribute to Ariana Ehrenthal and a practical support system for families navigating similar situations.
The remaining funds needed to reach the goal are expected to further support the foundation’s ability to provide meals, lodging assistance, and other basic needs for families during extended hospital stays.
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