July 2024 Newsletter
Swifter, Higher, Stronger Together.
Our theme for 2024 is the Olympics!
The motto for the Olympics is “Swifter, Higher, Stronger Together”.
We are a local nonprofit. We can react quickly to meet the needs of our Families.
We aim to provide meaningful support and increase what is provided year after year.
The C.U.R.E. Family is stronger together - working with our Community to meet our Families’ needs and provide love and assistance where they are most needed.
The most important thing with the Olympics is to participate. It’s not necessarily the triumph, but the willingness and strive to work hard together!
Your Kindness Makes a Difference!
We continue to be overwhelmed by the generosity of our neighbors. We were able to provide so many services to our Families in the 2nd Quarter. In addition to those listed to the left, we:
- Hosted 3 Parents’ Night Out Activities
- Provided over $4,000 in financial assistance & services to Families
- Coordinated and paid for Family portraits for 17 Families
- Celebrated 3 End of Treatment Bell Ringings
- Hosted nearly 300 friends at our Annual Survivors’ Day Picnic - celebrating our Survivors!
Congratulations, Scarlett!
A huge congratulations to Warrior Scarlett for celebrating her end of treatment! She was joined by her family as she rang the bell to signify chemo being done! Sending lots of love to our Friend Scarlett and her Family.
Welcome, Ryan!
Please join us in welcoming Ryan Doles as our Intern this Summer!
Ryan graduated from Churchville-Chili High School in 2021 and is seeking a Marketing Degree currently.
He will be helping with Awareness Month campaigns, SEO work on our website, social media awareness and more!
Join our Team!
We are looking for interested candidates to join our C.U.R.E. Staff! The Part-Time Parent Advocate position would be working with our current Parent Advocate, Michelle, to ensure our Families are connected to resources and are supported. The position must be filled by the parent of a Long-Term Survivor.
Click here to review the full job description.
Please send your cover letter and resume to Holly. Click the button below to email your documents!
Spotlight on: Alissa
Meet our Friend, Alissa.
Alissa was diagnosed with a brain tumor on March 5th, 2024. After two brain surgeries and a shunt placement, she is rocking the rest of her Kindergarten year and graduated in June! She’s funny, amazing and such a strong kid.
Hey, C.U.R.E. Parents:
Did you know we have a private Facebook Group JUST for you? Connect with other parents. Ask questions about treatment, education help and more. Learn from others.
Contact us to learn more!
June Dads’ Night Out: A night on the Driving Range
We were thrilled to treat C.U.R.E. Dads to a night at the Driving Range! We feel so grateful to be able to connect Dads with one another, giving them the opportunity to “Build their Village” of support and meet and chat with other dads who know what it’s like to have a child with cancer or blood disorder. Thanks for coming, Dads!
Thank you, Catching Dreams Fishing Charters!
Our C.U.R.E. Kids are kicking off nice weather season with some fishing! We are so grateful to Captain Ned and his team at Catching Dreams Charters, Inc. Thank you for treating our Kiddos to some fun on the water and teaching them about fishing. It can be so therapeutic and we are grateful for your compassion for our Kids. Thank you for letting us be a part of your program!
Resources:
Childhood Cancer Survivor Scholarship and Employment Resources:
Children's Cancer Cause is assisting childhood cancer patients, survivors and families by centralizing most national resources that provide scholarships for survivors of childhood cancer or those with particular effects. The site also has resources and advice relating to employment and applying for these scholarships.
Some opportunities require commitment to a childhood cancer advocacy project while in college, while others make you eligible for you just being you. But you do need to apply! Be sure to read the instructions and qualifications very carefully. Apply in plenty of time to get feedback from family, guidance counselors and others.
YOU can help C.U.R.E. for FREE
Follow us on social media:
Facebook: facebook.com/curekidscancerrochester
Instagram: @curekidscancer_
Twitter: @curekidscancer_
TikTok: @curekidscancer_Write a review about C.U.R.E. on our Facebook Page or on Google.
Write a blog that can be shared on our website.
Contact our Parent Advocate Michelle about doing an Instagram Takeover.
“Like”, Share or Comment on our social media posts.
Conquer Cancer in Kids:
make childhood cancer research a priority:
UPDATE: THE PETITION IS JUST SHY OF BEING ONE OF THE MOST SIGNED PETITIONS ON CHANGE.ORG. THE GOAL IS 15,016 SIGNATURES AND AS OF 2/22/2024, THERE ARE 15,039 SIGNATURES!
We invite our families and supporters to join CNN’s Rene Marsh as she advocates to make childhood cancer research a priority! Sadly, Rene lost her two year old son, Blake, to brain cancer in April 2021. She is now working with CNN and childhood cancer awareness advocates to make a difference!
To review and sign the petition, click the button below.
Petition to the Biden Administration to increase funding for childhood cancer research. This effort was started through awareness from The Ellen Show.
81,056 signatures of 150,000 wanted (as of 2/22/2024)
GRYT Health connects patients and caregivers to others with shared experience and to information relevant to their journey.
Through the GRYT app, we’ve created a platform for people affected by cancer to connect to others with similar experiences, and to tailored information that helps our users become more aware of options specific to their needs or diagnosis – empowering them to make choices that are right for them.
Our community of patients, survivors, medical professionals, researchers and advocates across all 50 states in the U.S. and in more than 100 countries worldwide have participated in almost 1,000,000 interactions to date, inspiring people to live according to their own standards.
Trust from our community is paramount to our success and something we take very seriously. We never share any of our users’ information without their explicit permission. Unlike other apps, GRYT is the first social community that is funded, built, and run by patients and caregivers where users communicate anonymously in real-time and each person is 100% in charge of what happens with their data.
Learn more about Bill A6430B
Creates the Sickle Cell Disease detection and education program
Sponsored by Hyndman
Thank you, Pine Brook Elementary School!
We are so grateful for Pine Brook Elementary for participating in our Annual Penny Drive! The Student Community raised $618 for our Families! The students decorated their jugs and encouraged their peers to donate via their daily morning news show! Thank you for supporting C.U.R.E. Families!
The Small Business Council is Amazing!
A BIG thank you to the Small Business Council for including us in your summer networking event! A portion of ticket sales to the event at the Genesee Valley Club were donated to C.U.R.E. The group donated an impressive $1,500 to our organization! We are so grateful for your support of our mission. Thank you to Chris Higgins, C.U.R.E. Board vice Chair, who represented C.U.R.E. and shared a bit about the work we do here at C.U.R.E. with those in attendance at the event.
Wolcott Street School WOWS!
Our Friends at Wolcott Street School did a TREMENDOUS job this year at their penny drive! From kindergarten to 5th grade, these kiddos worked hard to collect pennies AND took the time to count them after school. All in, they raised $1,903.87 for our Families!!
Thank you so much for your support year after year Wolcott Street School!
CURE Bears for Hope and Love Brings Our Kids Lovies
We are SO thankful for CURE Bears for Hope and Love and their continuous support for making this year's Survivors' Day Picnic extra special for our Kiddos! They brought boxes of Squishmallows to pass out at the picnic and made sure each kid was able to bring one home!
Thank you Lynne & Randy and CURE Bears for Hope and Love for always thinking of our community and making the day special for our Families
Sherman Elementary Makes Every Penny Count!
Sherman Elementary School in Henrietta counted every penny! The Student Leadership Group encouraged their fellow school mates to donate change to C.U.R.E. The group then counted the coins that were donated to determine whose class raised the most money. Donut holes were gifted to the winning class (see beside this photo). A HUGE thank you to everyone involved. We appreciate you making every penny count once again.
CooperVision’s Employees Rock!
CooperVision’s Scottsville Manufacturing Plant offered hot dogs to their employees for a small donation. They got donations from the community and helped raise money for C.U.R.E.! The employees were super generous, one member eating SIX hot dogs in a sitting - all to help support C.U.R.E. Collectively, they raised $1,500 for C.U.R.E.!! We are so thrilled to have been included in this effort and appreciate the generosity of the employees so much. Thank you!
HuFriedyGroup Dunks for Dollars!
Our Friends at HuFriedy Group took full advantage of the heat wave in June and offered a spray tank to their employees! The crew paid to spray fellow coworkers with water in a spray tank! All proceeds generated were donated to C.U.R.E. They raised over $1,600!! We are so grateful for their support (and we think those who got sprayed probably appreciated a break from the heat!)
Please give a hand for our Volunteer of the Month….
Anthony Arbore
We are so grateful for Board Member Anthony Arbore! Being a member of our Board of Directors entails some heavy lifting at times - literally. Anthony has been such a tremendous help during our busiest times for our Families: the Holiday Party and our Survivors’ Day Picnic. Anthony helped our Staff load the truck at the end of the Survivors’ Day Picnic AND came back to the office to unload it as well. Very similarly to his kindness after the Holiday Party in December.
Anthony, thank you so much for being such a wonderful advocate for our Families - and for our Staff and Volunteers. You keep showing up for us all and we appreciate it!
Help coordinate the Sunday Brunch!
We are looking for volunteers to join committees for the Sunday Brunch! There are multiple committees you can join based on your interests: PR & Marketing Committee, Live Auction Committee, Registration Committee and the Dining Room Committee (the last two must be able to volunteer the day of).
Please click the button below if you are interested!
Looking for
TEE-riffic
Volunteers!
We are in need of volunteers to help with this year’s Patrick Carr Memorial Golf Tournament! This is a great way to enjoy the day, even if you aren’t a golfer yourself. There will be lots to help with including registration, Olympic Games on the course, raffle tickets & auction and dining room setup/tear down! We will also need help the week of the event with tee gift assembly.
If you are interested, please click the link below to contact Sammi Jo. Please let her know if there is an area you are most interested in doing as well:
Help us raise awareness!
Help us raise awareness this September! We are looking for committee members to reach out to businesses, help us coordinate events and represent our organization and our Families at events.
Interested? Reach out to Holly by clicking the button below!
Julie Roberts Children’s Memorial Garden Volunteer Opportunities:
Our Garden needs love this time of year and we would appreciate your help! Sign up for a week and come any day that week. Duties include weeding, pruning and cleaning around our special bricks.
Join our Board of Directors!
We have some Board positions opening in the very near future! Interested in applying?
The Board meets monthly for 1.5 - 2 hours (Currently the third Wednesday evening of the month from 5:30 - 7:30)
Board members must attend two of the three main fundraisers (5k & Fun Walk, Golf Tournament, Brunch)
Board members are on at least one sub-committee
Board members make a monetary donation for the Board sponsored Live Auction package for the Brunch
Applications can be emailed to:
cureboardapplications@gmail.com
We want to connect!
If you served on the Board of Directors for C.U.R.E. Childhood Cancer Association, we would love to stay connected! Please email Holly Dutcher to connect!
holly.dutcher@curekidscancer.com
The 9th Annual Patrick Carr Memorial Golf Tournament presented by ASP Industries & Brighton Securities is coming up on July 22nd and we are SOLD OUT!!!!!!!
Thank you to everyone who has signed up to participate this year! We will be emailing you as it gets closer with day of details… Stay Tuned!
It’s not too late to be a Partner!
Didn’t get a chance to sign up but still want to contribute to the event? Be a partner! There are various partnerships available including $150 hole signs, $300 Birdie Partner and $500 Eagle Partner STILL available. With a SOLD OUT tournament, you will reach over 200 participants!
These partnerships can include on course signage, golf cart recognition, logo on event website, and social media recognition! Don’t wait - click the button below to email Sammi Jo for more information!
Click the link below to purchase items off of our Wish List. They are separated into three categories:
Under $20
$20 - $50
$50 +
Not into Amazon, but still want to help? We distribute gift cards to our hospitalized Families regularly. Please consider supporting restaurants near the hospital and purchasing gift cards from their establishments to donate. Other good options include:
- Mark’s Pizzeria
- McDonald’s
- Wendy’s
- Dominoes
- Gas stations (Kwik Fill, Valero, Speedway)
- Grub Hub
- Door Dash
Want to say hello to the Staff? Feel free to come into the office during office hours that week to drop off your donation(s). You’ll receive a festive greeting (and maybe even a cookie!)
Congratulations, McColley’s!
As we edge closer to September (we know, we know…summer JUST started here in WNY), we would like to recognize our 2023 Mac Daddy Liquid Gold for C.U.R.E. Challenge Winners: McColley’s in Spencerport!! Not only did they have so many ooey gooey delicious mac and cheese options, they also worked so hard all month to raise awareness of childhood cancer!
They’ve confirmed they are participating in 2024! Who else wants to join them in raising awareness and offering some really incredible mac and cheese dishes?!
Put a lid on childhood cancer!
For the first time ever, we are selling hats to raise awareness all year long (but especially in September!). Order your hat today so you will have it in time for Awareness Month!
Become a C.U.R.E. Ambassador!
The Support Doesn’t Stop When Treatment Stops…
Because of YOU and your kindness.
Support our mission year-round by becoming a C.U.R.E. Ambassador! A C.U.R.E. Ambassador is a donor who commits to our mission through a monthly donation of his/her choosing. Whatever level you are comfortable with makes a difference!
Embrace the Difference
Did you know that we partner with Reeds Jewelers on their Embrace the Difference campaign? With Mother’s Day, Father’s Day and Graduations coming up, we hope you’ll consider grabbing a gift from Reeds Jewelers Embrace the Difference Collection and make a difference to our Families (all while giving a beautiful gift!).
Round Up for C.U.R.E.!
We are thrilled to share that we are now part of the Walmart Spark Good program! You can select “C.U.R.E. Childhood Cancer Association” as your charity of choice and round up your purchases! The rounded up change will be donated to C.U.R.E.!
STEP 1: Visit walmart.com/sparkgood and sign in to your Walmart.com account.
STEP 2: Search for a favorite charity.
STEP 3: Once you choose a charity, go to the Round Up box and click "Select this Charity"
STEP 4: Review the FAQs and the Terms of Use.
C.U.R.E. Partners:
You can now return your cans and bottles to Alpco Recycling and Bottle & Can Retrieval Centers! Let them know you’d like to support “C.U.R.E. Childhood Cancer Association” and a donation will be made to us!
Alpco Recycling is located at:
846 Macedon Center Road, Macedon, NY 14502
Bottle & Can Retrieval Centers located at:
509 Spencerport Rd, Rochester
2199 East Henrietta Rd, Rochester
2374 Chili Ave, Rochester
More ways to help:
Hailey and her Family have been saving aluminum can tabs for C.U.R.E. for many years now. The photo is Hailey standing in an oil drum of tabs surrounded by 14 oil drums FILLED with can tabs! They bring the drums to the scrap yard and then donate the proceeds to C.U.R.E. Those proceeds are then applied to the cost of parking vouchers for our Families.
You can bring your can tabs to our office at 200 Westfall Road, 14620 during business hours and we will collect them for Hailey and her Family.
We hope you think of Hailey and her program while you are at family gatherings, picnics and other fun summer activities this summer that may include aluminum cans!
Rock C.U.R.E. Elite Sport Socks!
These super comfortable and supportive sport socks are HERE! What a great way to show support for C.U.R.E. and small businesses, they are made in the USA! Rock them while you are working from home or out exercising. Sandal season is over, rock these cozy socks today!
C.U.R.E. has joined the PayPal Giving Fund. Please consider adding us to your account to Shop, Donate and Raise Awareness for our families.
PayPal Giving Fund expands our fundraising reach through direct integration with PayPal, eBay and GoFundMe.
Bereavement Group
The July Bereavement Group will be held at the C.U.R.E. Offices at 7:30 on Wednesday, June 10th.
** PLEASE NOTE: This is the SECOND Wednesday vs. the first Wednesday due to the 4th of July holiday **
Please reach out to Carol Austin at carol.austin@curekidscancer.com or Michelle Magin at
michelle.magin@curekidscancer.com with any questions.
Did you know? For children who have experienced the death of a sibling from childhood cancer, SuperSibs offers additional mailings through the Grief and Loss Mailing Program.
This program includes...
💛 Grief support and resources specifically for parents
💛 4 mailings per year for two years with activities designed to help SuperSibs to cope with their grief and feelings
💛 A special remembrance on the anniversary of their sibling’s passing
Learn more about this free program for siblings:
Click Here To Check it Out
We are so grateful to the community for all of the wonderful donations we receive throughout the year. We could not service all the families we do without this generous support. If you or a community group you belong to is looking for something to do for a charity, please consider donating items from C.U.R.E.’s wish list so that we can continue to provide for our families:
A cure for childhood cancer, blood diseases and brain tumors!
- SQUISHMALLOWS! ALL SIZES! The kids love them!
- Universal phone chargers with long cords
- Journals for Kids and Teens
- Gift cards for Wegmans, Tops, Wal-Mart, Target and gas cards
- Gift cards for GrubHub, McDonalds, Wendy’s, Burger King, Moe’s, Chipotle, Dunkin Donuts and Starbucks
- Crafts for young adults and children
- Items for teens or young adults
- Toys (Please look at our Amazon Wish Lists:
Under $20: https://a.co/hlW4hCO
$20 - 50: https://a.co/eHiQcV2
$50+: https://a.co/bVDujCy)
We ask that all items be new and recently purchased. Thank you!