Ava’s Army was founded by Amanda Reinert in 2019 after her daughter Ava underwent a chemotherapy treatment to rid her body of leukemia. The treatment Ava received resulted in difficult side effects, including neuropathy due to nerve damage from chemotherapy as well as severe dental issues caused by her prescribed drugs and chemotherapy. Long-term effects from her treatment include a significantly greater risk of developing breast cancer and other secondary cancers as a result of her poisonous treatment. The treatment Ava received is the same treatment children with leukemia have been receiving for 20 years. Ava’s Army’s goal and mission is to raise funds for the best and most promising pediatric leukemia research.
Charity Collaborators
We are thrilled to partner with the charities below to co-fund projects and thank them for their persistence and dedication to fighting against childhood cancer.
Interested in co-funding a grant with ALSF? Learn how your group or foundation can get involved to make a direct impact through funding a project.
Bear Necessities Pediatric Cancer Foundation is a 501(c) 3 national organization founded in 1992 by CEO/President, Kathleen A. Casey and her son, Barrett “Bear” Krupa, who lost his life to pediatric cancer in 1993. Currently, Bear Necessities funds pediatric cancer research (Bear Discoveries) nationwide & The Bear Hugs Program in Chicago that offers patients comfort and courage through everyday acts of caring because of their understanding that the little things do mean a lot.
Chance for Life was founded in 2005 by Brad Nierenberg after his best friend’s daughter, Kennedy Snyder, was diagnosed with an aggressive spinal cord tumor at age two. What began as a 20-person poker fundraiser has become DC’s charity event experience for pediatric cancer research. 100% of the net proceeds from the event go to funding clinical trials.
Connor’s Heroes is dedicated to helping the families in Central Virginia cope with childhood cancer and our community’s researchers conquer it. Our mission is to build a community of heroes who provide hope, guidance, and support. After diagnosis, a family is handed a Heroes Bag and Backpack. Inside, a child will find an iPad, crafts, toys, and games. A parent will receive the first (of many) gift cards for unexpected expenses that come with a cancer diagnosis. Connor’s Heroes gives a family emotional support with every phone call, text, email and hospital visit. And financial support with gift cards for groceries, gas, house cleanings, meal deliveries, or a special treat for a birthday or holiday. Behind the scenes, Connor's Heroes funds pediatric cancer research. No parent expects to hear the words, “Your child has cancer.” When they do, Connor’s Heroes can help.
The Cure4Cam Childhood Cancer Foundation supports the development of new, more effective and safer therapies to treat childhood cancer. Today’s standard treatments can be highly toxic, creating intolerable side effects and causing lasting health issues. Cure4Cam was founded in honor of Cameron Evans, a top runner for his middle school cross country team with a passion for technology, who, only days after competing in a middle school championship cross country race, was diagnosed with leukemia. After a tough fight, Cameron passed away at age 14. The Cure4Cam Foundation raises money to fund new and innovative cancer research to develop therapies that target individual cancer cells.
Izzy’s Infantry is a nonprofit organization started by the parents of Isabel “Izzy Warrior Princess,” a childhood cancer hero diagnosed with a spinal cord tumor after just a year old. Izzy’s Infantry aims to fund research that will lead to better treatment options and a cure for childhood cancer; to fund rehabilitation programs for children recovering from a spinal cord injury; and to help improve the quality of life for children in treatment and their families through outreach programs and support groups.
Kate’s Cause was formed after Kate Olivia Rhoades passed away from childhood cancer at the tender age of four. After she passed, her family promised that her death would not be in vain and launched the cause in her honor and memory to accomplish three goals.
- Raise Awareness: Currently, the federally funded National Cancer Institute (NCI) only allocates 4% of its annual budget to research for childhood cancers. Small organizations such as ours cannot do it alone. We NEED the government to help make our children a national priority and provide MORE THAN FOUR!
- Raise Funds: We want to support the most promising prospects in pediatric oncology research: for better and less toxic treatments for the kids in treatment today and for the kids who will be diagnosed tomorrow.
- Give Back to the Pediatric Cancer Community: We want to support the pediatric cancer community that so wholeheartedly embraced us through various donations, drives and activities for Kate’s beloved clinic, The Pediatric Specialists of Virginia Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders and her treatment hospital, Inova Children’s Hospital.
Layla’s Legacy Foundation was formed after Layla Stamp passed away from pediatric brain cancer at the age of five. In honor of Layla, her family established Layla’s Legacy Foundation in 2018. Based out of Texas, Layla’s Legacy’s efforts are focused on funding innovative research and supporting families impacted by pediatric brain tumors. Layla’s Legacy also works closely with social workers at hospitals to understand specific financial needs they have. Spearheaded by Sara Stamp, Layla’s mom and executive director of Layla’s Legacy, the foundation helps and brings hope to families impacted by pediatric brain tumors across the country.
Love Your Melon is an apparel brand dedicated to the fight against pediatric cancer. Fifty percent (50%) of net profit from the sale of all Love Your Melon products is given to the Love Your Melon Fund to support our nonprofit partners in the fight against pediatric cancer, create therapeutic experiences, and fund charitable programming initiatives for children and their families battling cancer. To date, we have given over $6.1 million dollars to the fight against pediatric cancer and over 160,000 hats to children battling cancer.
Founded by Brenda Crow and Brenda Frohnapfel, Marshall County Childhood Cancer Awareness Corporation (MCCCAC) was started in July of 2016. Brenda Crow is a school secretary who has been raising money for childhood cancer for two years. Brenda Frohnapfel is a school bus driver who lost her daughter, Abby, to acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) in August of 2015. Abby was an honors student at John Marshall High School and was very active in her school, church, and community. Abby was a healthy teen until her diagnosis. Her form of cancer was extremely fast growing, and she passed away after only 57 days. She was 16 years old. The Frohnapfel family is very happy to be in on the forming of the MCCCAC. They feel it is a wonderful way to honor Abby.
Mary's Fairies is a nonprofit charity that will plan and implement activities for kids to raise awareness and funds towards a cure for pediatric cancer research. We are hoping to make the cancer journey for kids as pleasant as we can by helping them keep a positive attitude and giving them hope that a cure is near. Mary’s Fairies provides many ways in which you can also become a fairy. We will help orchestrate service projects for children that will benefit the pediatrics cancer community. This will help children learn more about pediatric cancer, appreciate the importance of giving back, and develop an ethic of philanthropy. Our goal is quite simple: to establish a movement that seeks to ignite compassion in young children by providing opportunities to actively engage in causes that affect all of us. While kids may be tiny, their enthusiasm to serve is large!
Based out of California, the McKenna Claire Foundation funds research into finding a cure for DIPG, which currently has a 0% cure rate. The McKenna Claire Foundation was formed after McKenna Claire passed away from pediatric brain cancer at the age of seven. After she passed, her family promised that they would honor her legacy and perpetuate the sense of community that lifted them during their darkest time.
The mission of the Northwestern Mutual Foundation is to improve the lives of children and families in need. The Foundation has given more than $35 million since its inception in 1992 and is designed to create lasting impact in the communities where the company's employees and financial representatives live and work. We accomplish this by combining financial support, volunteerism, thought leadership and convening community partners to deliver the best outcomes. Our efforts are focused nationally on curing childhood cancer, and locally on education, neighborhoods and making our hometown of Milwaukee a great destination.
The Pediatric Cancer Research Foundation (PCRF) is an independent, nonprofit organization that identifies and invests in leading edge research that demonstrates the best hope for a cure for childhood cancer. Since its founding in 1982, PCRF has raised over $44 million dollars and funded over $34 million towards the ultimate goal of ending pediatric cancers so children and their families can re-focus on the joys of childhood. PCRF has maintained a stable foundation financially including attaining a Platinum rating from GuideStar. Donors can have confidence in PCRF’s ability to fund the best researchers in the world, with the utmost attention to financial efficacy and transparency.
Inspired by a big heart and brain, the RCD Foundation was created in June 2013 in the memory of Robert ‘Connor’ Dawes. Who, at just 18 years of age, lost his 16-month battle with brain cancer. Now, the foundation works tirelessly to support brain projects in the areas of research, care and development – to fund the science to end brain cancer and support patients in the meantime. This involves contributing funds to brain tumor research, supporting patients with at-home rehabilitation including music and yoga therapy, as well as development initiatives that inspire the next generation of brain cancer practitioners and researchers.
Sammy’s Superheroes Foundation was founded by Erin and Chris Nahorny after their son Sammy was diagnosed with high-risk neuroblastoma in 2012. What started as fundraising by selling t-shirts soon blossomed into a fundraising movement in their community. At the end of that first year, Sammy’s Superheroes raised $40,000. The Nahorny’s were devastated to learn that only 4% of federal cancer research is allocated to children. In early 2013, they kicked into high gear and officially launched their organization, and they’ve been funding cutting-edge research projects ever since.
SebastianStrong Foundation, based in Miami, Florida, is a registered 501(c)(3) charity that honors the life of Sebastian Ortiz (2000-2016) by increasing awareness of childhood cancer and raising money to fund research for less toxic, more targeted childhood cancer cures. This mission was born from the example of strength set forth by Sebs during his courageous 14-month battle with rhabdomyosarcoma. Since his passing in December 2016, the Foundation bearing his name has bolstered the support of donors from across the country.
At Storm The Heavens Fund we believe there is no cause greater than the fight for our children's right to grow up to be adults. Our mission is to advocate for our children by raising funds for desperately needed research and spreading awareness. 0% survival is unacceptable, we must do better.
Tap Cancer Out is a 501(c)3 nonprofit mobilizing and empowering the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu community to raise funds for cancer-fighting organizations. Since 2018, they have raised and donated more than $1.8 million to Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation, providing valuable assistance to critical childhood cancer fighting initiatives and programs. ALSF is proud to be a benefiting charity of Tap Cancer Out.
The Brian Morden Foundation (BMF) funds childhood cancer research, supports patients, family, and staff of pediatric oncology units, awards scholarships, educates and raises awareness about childhood cancer. The BMF was created in memory of Brian, a courageous 19 year old, who battled Ewing sarcoma for more than two years. He lost the battle on February 15, 2003, but his family, friends, and many others who only knew Brian by reputation have vowed to continue the fight against childhood cancer.
The Bryce Bazor Foundation was started in 2023 to continue the legacy of Bryce Bazor, a brave 18-year-old who lost his battle with osteosarcoma in 2022. Our mission is 3-fold: raise awareness, support children (and families) who are undergoing treatment, and funding research grants all in hopes of erasing childhood cancer. Through an annual Wiffle Ball Tournament in Northern California, we raise money to support our mission. In addition to the tournament, the Foundation holds a September toy drive for 3 Sacramento pediatric cancer centers to support the children and families battling all types of pediatric cancer. Raising money to end childhood cancer and supporting those who are affected is our primary mission. #Brycestrong
The Catherine Elizabeth Blair Memorial Foundation was founded in 2011 to honor the life of its namesake, Catherine, who fought Stage 4 Neuroblastoma. Despite enduring harsh and grueling treatments, Catherine lived her life with joy and gusto. The Catherine Elizabeth Blair Memorial Foundation supports innovative research that will improve treatment outcomes for children with neuroblastoma. The foundation has funded research across the US and internationally.
The ChadTough Defeat DIPG Foundation inspires and funds game-changing research to discover effective treatments for pediatric brain cancer, with an emphasis on diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG), which is underfunded compared to most cancers. Powered by parents who have faced a pediatric brain cancer diagnosis, many of whom have lost a child, and guided by a Scientific Advisory Council made up of the leading experts in the field, the foundation ensures every dollar possible funds the most incremental, promising research available anywhere in the world.
The ChadTough Defeat DIPG Foundation believes a collaborative approach is the only way a cure will be found. They therefore welcome the help of other families who want to join in funding pediatric brain cancer research (with an emphasis on DIPG) in honor of their children through their Family Partner program.
The RUNX1 Research Program is a non-profit organization committed to finding a cure for RUNX1-FPD and to support patients in the RUNX1 community by providing a forum in which to help connect, inform and educate patients on the disorder. In addition to providing grants for relevant research projects, the program hopes to build public awareness, educating both patients and healthcare providers on the latest research regarding the disorder.
RUNX1 FPD is a hereditary blood disorder which predisposes an individual to acquiring leukemia in his or her lifetime. The disorder carries a 50 percent lifetime risk of progressing to leukemia through the acquisition of additional mutations in other genes.
The Swifty Foundation was founded by Michael Gustafson before his death from brain cancer in 2013 at the age of 15. Michael’s “Master Plan” was to donate his tumor tissue to science so a cure might be found for other children. Since that time, the Swifty Foundation has started Gift from a Child, a national initiative to promote post-mortem tissue donation and open-access data sharing. Besides tissue donation Swifty focuses on funding brain cancer research and promoting collaboration within the childhood cancer community.
Turn It Gold was inspired by Charlie Dina and his battle with stage 4 high risk neuroblastoma. Charlie was diagnosed at age 4 and was given a 50% chance of survival. Today, Charlie is surviving and teaching us what “Be Brave” means every day as he strives to remain cancer free. Turn It Gold fights for the voiceless youth in the pursuit of elevating childhood cancer awareness and generating bold action through story sharing, events, and athletic activism with hopes to change the percentage of dollars invested in childhood cancer research and make a real difference for a cure. #TURNITGOLD
