She wrote poems and helped Chapin write songs for the television show Make a Wish. She helped write lyrics to several of Chapin's songs, including the well-known "Cat's in the Cradle". Chapin wrote several songs about her, including "Shooting Star" and "Sandy."
She accepted Chapin's Congressional Gold Medal and has worked to ensure his charities continued to function after his death. She is chairperson of the charity Long Island Cares and of The Harry Chapin Foundation.
Harry Forster Chapin was an American singer-songwriter, humanitarian, and producer best known for his folk rock and pop rock songs, who achieved worldwide success in the 1970s and became one of the most popular artists and highest paid performers. He is also one of the best charting musical artists in the United States. Chapin, a Grammy Award winning artist and Grammy Hall of Fame inductee, has sold over 19 million records worldwide.