Elmo & Abby Cadabby at Child-Fest 2010

CCF has just received confirmation that our featured guests

for Child-Fest 2010 on Saturday, May 22nd at Reservoir High School in Fulton MD.

will be The Real Elmo (Kevin Clash), and the real Abby Cadabby (Leslie Carrara).

Check our Events page or call our office at 410-486-4744

to be a Sponsor or Exhibitor or for more information. _____________________________________________________________________________

 Children’s Holiday Party A Success

Over 100 children and their families enjoyed the annual CCF Holiday Party at Skateland Orchard.  This year, children being treated at The Johns Hopkins Hospital, Sinai Hospital, and the University of Maryland Medical System skated, ate pizza, hot dogs, ice cream, and cookies and were entertained by Fumbles the Clown, Pat the Clown, and Mr. Zorak.  They were delighted when Santa arrived and gave a bag of presents to each child. 

  Skating was lots of fun                                                        Balloon Animals from Fumbles the Clown

5 year old Jaidan Richardson                               Brian Murphy & Family with Shirley & Santa

from University of Maryland Hospital.

His smile says it all!

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Children's Cancer Foundation Founder Honored

From LifeBridge Health Blog 11/30/09

It’s not uncommon for people, sometimes strangers, to come up and hug Shirley Howard. After all, for many pediatric oncology patients and their families, she is a guardian angel.

For more than 30 years, Howard has been a tireless advocate and fund raiser for children’s cancer research and facilities. Howard, the president and founder of the Children’s Cancer Foundation, was honored last month by the Association of Fund Raising Professionals with the 2009 Impact of One Award and received a standing ovation as she went to accept her award, which was the first of its kind. Howard was nominated by Sinai Hospital, and is pictured above with Sinai Hospital President Neil Meltzer.

“I felt very humbled by the award,” Howard says. “It never goes to my head.”

When she began her work, originally through the Variety club, hospitals had nothing for pediatric oncology patients. Children were often put in the same ward as other sick pediatric patients, meaning their weak immune systems had to try to fight cancer and diseases like chicken pox. There was very little research or funding for research on pediatric oncology.

Since its inception in 1983, CCF has raised 30.5 million dollars, which has benefited the National Institutes of Health, the University of Maryland Medical Center, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Lombardi Cancer Institute, the Children’s National Medical Center and Sinai Hospital. The foundation is one of the few funding sources for up and coming researchers. One example: many years ago, one of the recipients of its research grants was a fellow at Johns Hopkins named Joseph Wiley, M.D., who is today the chief of the Herman & Walter Samuelson’s Children’s Hospital at Sinai.

Last year, a $50,000 grant helped establish the pediatric oncology laboratory at Sinai, and this year $75,000 is going toward the capital campaign to expand the Herman & Walter Samuelson’s Children’s Hospital. The groundbreaking for the expansion and renovation of the children’s hospital will be Thursday, December 3.

“The support of the Children’s Cancer Foundation is invaluable, not only for our capital campaign, but for our research-driven efforts in pediatric oncology,” says Shannon Wollman, development manager at LifeBridge Health.

CCF Executive Director Diane Perry, who is also Howard’s daughter, says it’s hard to find a pediatric oncology unit in the area that hasn’t benefited from the foundation and her mother’s dedication. “This is my mother’s legacy,” Perry says.

While Howard’s work is by no means done, she says it’s encouraging that while only one child in 10 used to survive cancer, that number is now 8 in 10. Now 85, she’s showing little signs of slowing down. She has been invited to weddings, christenings, bat mitzvahs and other life markers for pediatric oncology patients who have benefited from the foundation’s work.

“I have the best partner in the world – I have substantial help from God,” Howard says. “There’s a lot of love that has poured out.”

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 Retailer Phillips-Van Heusen raises $50,879.98 for CCF 

Patrons of 118 Van Heusen, Bass and Izod stores from Virginia to New England donated a record $50,879.98 during a 3-week campaign in November. This is the first year that Phillips-Van Heusen selected a local charity as the recipient of its annual fundraising drive. "We chose this organization because they funnel most of the funds directly to local hospitals and research institutions, said Paul Roscosky, Maryland/Virginia/Delaware District Sales Manager.

Presenting the check to Shirley Howard and Diane Perry are Paul Roscosky (far right), and (back row) Sue Carneal, Manager of the Perryville Van Heusen and Marie Porter, Manager of the Perryville Bass store.

*Photo courtesy of Cecil Whig Newspaper/Adelma Gregory-Bunnell photographer

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 Thank You Shoppers Food & Pharmacy

Presenting and receiving a $50,000 check from Shoppers Food & Pharmacy (left to right) Tim Lowe - Shoppers Senior Vice-President of Operations, Shirley Howard - CCF President & Founder, Mike Mays - Shoppers Director of Asset Protection, Bob Gleeson - Shoppers Senior Vice-President of Merchandising, and Dr. Jerry Chadwick - CCF Vice-President.

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 Rob Lascasas Nominates CCF

Each year employees of Gantech, Inc. in Columbia MD
nominate charities to receive funds raised by Gantech and their employees.
Thanks to the nomination of CCF by Gantech employee Rob Lascasas 
and the votes of his co-workers, CCF received a check for $10,000

Thank you to Rob (above presenting check to Shirley Howard & Diane Perry),
Gantech President Thomas Laskowsky
and all of the Gantech employees

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 Welcome Molly

 CCF is pleased to welcome Molly Boncaro as CCF’s new Director of Development.  Molly previously served as Director of Relationship Management with The United Way of Central Maryland, developing resources from workplace giving campaigns throughout Central Maryland. Molly is a resident of Perry Hall MD

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