May 2026 Newsletter
WE’RE ASKING THE COMMUNITY FOR HELP
As the Look. Foundation continues to advocate for improved PANS/PANDAS care at Mass General Hospital and Boston Children’s Hospital, we are reaching out to our community for help. If you have a personal or professional connection to a member of the MGH or BCH Board of Directors and would be willing to make an introduction to the Look. Foundation, we would be deeply grateful. We are working hard to elevate the urgent need for thoughtful, coordinated, and compassionate care for children and families affected by PANS/PANDAS. Meaningful connections can help open important doors and move this work forward.
If you are able to help, please email us directly at info@lookfoundation.org.
THANK YOU TO OUR 2026 BOSTON MARATHON RUNNERS!
We’re still on cloud nine after an unforgettable Marathon Monday. Travis, KD, Luca, and Mia represented Team Look. at the Boston Marathon with courage, heart, and an unwavering commitment to the PANS/PANDAS community. These incredible runners are our heroes, raising critical awareness and over $50,000 to support the Look. Foundation’s mission. We are bursting with pride and gratitude for each of them, and for every supporter who cheered them on, donated, and stood behind this cause. What an extraordinary day for our community.
STRENGTH IN STAGES PROGRAM IN-PERSON EVENT - MAY 14TH
The Look. Foundation, in partnership with United Way of Greater Plymouth County, is proud to present the Strength in Stages, a 5-week program created to educate, support, and connect caregivers of children and young adults with PANS/PANDAS. Join us on May 14 at Ironwood in Hingham for an intimate Evening of Storytelling designed for PANS/PANDAS caregivers and for those who love and support them. This powerful panel will feature caregivers and young adults sharing their journeys with honesty, resilience, and hope.
If financial circumstances are a concern, please don’t let that hold you back. Reach out confidentially to Barbie@lookfoundation.org.
HELP US BRING REAL SUPPORT TO FAMILIES AFFECTED BY PANS/PANDAS IN BOSTON
We’ve partnered with PPAL to submit two $5K grants through Boston Gathers and we only need 50 votes for each to make them happen. One focuses on community awareness and access to care. The other creates multilingual resources so more families can recognize symptoms early and get support.
You don’t need to live in Boston to vote. It takes about a minute.
PEGGY CHAPMAN LOOK. HEALING GRANT
For years, Peggy Chapman showed up for children and families facing PANS/PANDAS with compassion, expertise, and unwavering dedication.
Many in our community have asked for a way to honor Peggy and the incredible role she has played in so many healing journeys. We are proud to introduce the Peggy Chapman Look. Healing Grant. Our goal is to raise funds a grant for a child in need—in her honor. A way to say thank you. A way to carry her impact forward. A way to help the next family find their path to healing.
Donate. Share. Help us honor Peggy.
SUPPORT JIMMY’S IRONMAN!
Jimmy Smith is competing in the 2026 IRONMAN 70.3 Western Massachusetts with Team Look. He’s running, biking, and swimming to raise awareness and support for those affected by PANS/PANDAS, a neuroimmune condition that causes brain inflammation and can lead to severe OCD, anxiety, depression, and more. His story is personal, and he’s participating so more families feel seen, understood, and supported.
CONGRATS BOARD MEMBER,
DR. MICHELLE PINTO
We are incredibly proud of Michelle, on defending her dissertation at UMass Dartmouth, and grateful for the important work she is doing to shine a light on the realities faced by families in the PANS/PANDAS community. Her passion, leadership, and commitment to this work are making a difference, and we could not be more excited to celebrate this incredible milestone with her. Congratulations, Dr. Pinto!
ANNUAL YOUTH AT RISK CONFERENCE
We’re honored to share that Look. Foundation Board Members Sheilah Gauch, M.Ed, LICSW and Melissa Glynn Hyman, LICSW will be presenting at the 26th Annual Youth At Risk Conference at Endicott College on May 20, 2026. Their workshop, “What Every Mental Health and Educational Professional Should Know About PANS/PANDAS,”will help professionals better understand how infections can trigger sudden and severe neuropsychiatric symptoms in children, why PANS/PANDAS is often missed, and how schools and mental health providers can better support affected students and families. The Look. Foundation will also be there as an exhibitor, sharing resources and continuing to raise awareness for the PANS/PANDAS community. We are so grateful for opportunities like this to educate, connect, and bring greater understanding to the children and families we serve. To learn more about YAR and the Conference, please visit: www.pw4c.org/youth-at-risk-conference
TUFTS MEDICAL CENTER IS HIRING A NURSE PRACTITIONER
We’re helping spread the word about an important opportunity in our community.
Tufts Medical Center is hiring a Pediatric Rheumatology Nurse Practitioner in Boston, MA—an opportunity to train alongside Dr. Julia Zhang, a leading expert in PANS and PANDAS, and help change outcomes for children and families. We know how urgently more trained providers are needed, and this is how we grow care.
Apply now at www.careers.tuftsmedicine.org
IN LOVING MEMORY OF DOTTIE GRASSO
We are deeply honored that the Grasso family chose the Look. Foundation as the recipient of memorial donations in celebration of the life of their beloved mother and grandmother, Dottie Grasso. Her legacy of love and generosity will continue to bring hope to families affected by PANS/PANDAS, such as her granddaughter Everly.
PPAL’S 15TH ANNUAL CHILDREN’S MENTAL HEALTH CONFERENCE
We’re proud to highlight Look. Foundation Board Member Sheilah Gauch, M.Ed, LICSW’s presentation on PANS/PANDAS at PPAL’s 15th Annual Children’s Mental Health Conference, the largest of its kind in New England. Her session, “Understanding and Supporting PANS/PANDAS,” explores how infections can trigger sudden neuropsychiatric symptoms and why these conditions are often missed. Sheilah continues to raise awareness around recognition, diagnosis, and support for families and educators navigating these challenges.
MAY IS LYME DISEASE AWARENESS MONTH AND MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH
May is a reminder that physical and mental health are deeply connected. Lyme disease and its co-infections can show up as anxiety, mood changes, and other mental health symptoms—yet the root cause is often overlooked. When we look deeper and treat the underlying issue, healing becomes possible. We’re committed to raising awareness, supporting families, and pushing for better understanding of conditions like PANS/PANDAS. Look beyond the symptoms. Look for root causes. 🧡
NASW-MA VIRTUAL SYMPOSIUM 2026
We’re proud to share that Look. Foundation Board Member Sheilah Gauch, M.Ed, LICSW, presented at the NASW-MA Virtual Symposium 2026 on April 16. Her session, “What Every Mental Health Professional Should Know About PANS/PANDAS,” was well received by clinicians across New England, highlighting how immune responses can trigger neuropsychiatric symptoms and why early recognition is so critical. We’re grateful to Sheilah for helping advance understanding and awareness of PANS/PANDAS in the mental health field.
SAVE THE DATE: LOOK. WALK 2026
OCTOBER 3RD
Join us for the 2026 Look. Walk on October 3rd!
Boston Common – Join us locally for an inspiring walk in the heart of the city!
Not in Boston? No problem! We’re here to help you organize remote walks, hikes, bike rides, paddleboarding events—whatever moves you! More details and registration information will be coming soon. Together, we are making a difference—ensuring that no child with PANS/PANDAS goes undiagnosed and changing the course of mental health for future generations. Let’s walk, raise awareness, and change lives!
The Look. Foundation is dedicated to changing the course of mental health by ensuring that no child or young adult with PANS/PANDAS is missed.
