ALSF receives $100,000 gift from Northwestern Mutual to further support families during COVID-19 Crisis

Philadelphia – April 16, 2020 - Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation (ALSF) announces Northwestern Mutual, through its Foundation, has donated $100,000 to further assist with the rapidly changing needs of childhood cancer heroes and their families during the COVID-19 health crisis. The funds will support ALSF’s expanded Travel for Care program and temporary new grocery program as well as other emerging needs due to the COVID-19.

In response to the pandemic, which puts children with cancer at even greater risk of illness and leaves many families struggling with additional financial burdens, ALSF continues to explore ways to help protect the health and wellbeing of these families. Adjustments to the Travel for Care program include:

• Temporarily removing guidelines requiring families to first utilize hospitality housing such as Ronald McDonald facilities.
• Allowing families traveling to their home hospitals for standard treatment to be considered for support.
• A temporary grocery program has also been initiated allowing funding assistance.

“We are extremely grateful to Northwestern Mutual for their generous support during this trying time,” said Liz Scott, co-executive director of ALSF. “Northwestern Mutual has been our unwavering partner for many years. They are a constant behind-the-scenes, at our events and through the work they do at their individual offices. They truly care about our mission and are always there to lend a helping hand when needed most.”

 “Children and families impacted by childhood cancer need our support now more than ever during these times of uncertainty,” said Eric Christophersen, president, Northwestern Mutual Foundation. “We’re committed to helping provide the resources and funding needed to address the challenges facing childhood cancer families during this health crisis, and we’re grateful to nonprofit partners who are working tirelessly to serve those in need.”

Northwestern Mutual launched its Childhood Cancer Program in 2012 to find better cures and treatments for childhood cancer while also providing family, patient and survivor support. The program has contributed more than $25 million to the cause with help from employees and financial advisors nationwide, funding more than 330,000 hours of research. The program also leverages nonprofit partners, including ALSF, to help more kids and families live life to the fullest.

About Childhood Cancer

Childhood cancer is a general term used to describe cancer in children occurring regularly, randomly and sparing no ethnic group, socioeconomic class or geographic region. Childhood cancer extends to over a dozen types of cancers and a countless amount of subtypes. Just a few of these cancer types include: Ewing sarcoma, glioma, leukemia, lymphoma, medulloblastoma, neuroblastoma, osteosarcoma, retinoblastoma, rhabdomyosarcoma and Wilms’ tumor. In the United States, childhood cancer is the leading cause of death by disease in children under the age of 15.

About Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation

Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation (ALSF) emerged from the front yard lemonade stand of 4-year-old Alexandra “Alex” Scott, who was fighting cancer and wanted to raise money to find cures for all children with cancer. Her spirit and determination inspired others to support her cause, and when she passed away at the age of 8, she had raised $1 million. Since then, the Foundation bearing her name has evolved into a national fundraising movement. Today, ALSF is one of the leading funders of pediatric cancer research in the U.S. and Canada raising more than $200 million so far, funding over 1,000 research projects and providing programs to families affected by childhood cancer. For more information, visit AlexsLemonade.org.