Our Story
About TEACH
When children are hospitalized sometimes for days, weeks, or longer they often face more than just physical challenges. They miss connection. They miss joy. They miss the simple, powerful experience of learning and engaging with the world around them.
TEACH (Together Educating All Children in Hospitals) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting hospitalized children through hands-on STEM education, interactive learning, and meaningful human connection.
We bring moments of curiosity, creativity, and connection into hospital rooms through engaging, hospital-safe STEM activities designed specifically for children facing medical conditions. At a time when so much feels uncertain, TEACH provides something steady: the opportunity to explore, learn, and simply be a kid.
Our Story
TEACH was founded in Spring 2013 by Yair Saperstein and Yosefa Schoor, who recognized a critical gap in the hospital experience for children the absence of meaningful interaction, mental stimulation, and personal connection. With mentorship from Dr. Edward Burns of Albert Einstein College of Medicine, they launched TEACH with a simple but powerful idea: healing through teaching.
What began as monthly visits to a single hospital in the Bronx quickly grew into a movement. Within just one year, TEACH expanded to nine hospitals and engaged hundreds of student volunteers across the tri-state area laying the foundation for a growing nonprofit focused on pediatric patient engagement and STEM-based enrichment.
We are also deeply grateful to the many early contributors whose dedication helped shape TEACH’s growth and impact, including Andrew Dym, Dina Golfeiz, Elisa Karp, Effie Klipper, David Mehl, Michael Shavolian, Amanda Rubin, Dovid Simpser, Yael Steinberg, and Chana Ratner.
Honoring Isaac’s Legacy
At the heart of TEACH’s continued growth and impact is the legacy of Isaac Snyder, whose passion, leadership, and unwavering commitment helped shape the organization into what it is today.
Isaac believed deeply in TEACH’s mission not just as an idea, but as a lived experience. He understood that a single moment of joy, curiosity, or connection could transform a child’s hospital stay. Through his dedication, he strengthened partnerships, expanded TEACH’s reach, and helped build a community centered around compassion, education, and service.
His impact continues to guide our work every day. From the way we engage with hospital partners to the care and intention behind every STEM module, Isaac’s vision lives on in every moment we create for children and families.
TEACH Today
Today, TEACH empowers a dynamic and growing community of more than 1,000 volunteers to deliver hands-on STEM programs to hospitalized children in over 30 hospitals and medical centers worldwide.
Through interactive science modules, children explore real-world concepts in a way that is both engaging and empowering. Whether they are creating silly putty to learn about polymers, building boats that float, or discovering density through lava lamps, each experience is designed to spark curiosity and inspire confidence.
These moments do more than teach science they support pediatric patient well-being, reduce stress during hospitalization, and bring joy into difficult days. TEACH’s hospital programs help children build resilience, foster creativity, and stay mentally engaged throughout their care journey.
Our Board Members, volunteers, dedicated university and medical students are the driving force behind this work. Together, they design, develop, and deliver each STEM module with care, creativity, and compassion creating meaningful connections with every child and family they serve.
Our Vision
From three students serving one hospital, TEACH has grown into an international nonprofit organization reaching thousands of children each year through STEM education and hospital-based programming.
Looking ahead, TEACH is committed to expanding access to hands-on learning for hospitalized children by building new hospital partnerships, growing volunteer networks, and increasing the reach of our STEM modules.
Our goal is simple yet powerful: to bring more moments of joy, learning, and connection to children in hospitals around the world.
Because every child deserves the opportunity to learn, to smile, and to feel inspired no matter where they are.