Paige’s Childhood Cancer Fund supports children and families fighting childhood cancer and blood disorders at Upstate Golisano Children’s Hospital, from their time of diagnosis through survivorship, and in heartbreaking cases, bereavement. Our mission is to make a difficult journey a little easier for local families who have heard "your child has cancer," as well as those who will soon hear those dreaded words. We fund touch points that help survivors and families financially and psychosocially, every step of the way. This support also helps the frontline staff at the Dr. William J. Waters Center for Children’s Cancer and Blood Disorders at Upstate Golisano Children’s Hospital with their vital work. Additionally, we are proud to support pediatric cancer research raising critical funds to support pediatric cancer research and patient programs at the Dr. William J. Waters Center for Children's Cancer and Blood Disorders at Upstate Golisano Children's Hospital in Syracuse, NY. Every year, over 70 children are newly diagnosed at the hospital, and the Waters Center serves close to 700 children. The impact of a diagnosis is far-reaching, affecting not only the child but their entire family. We are dedicated to ensuring no family has to face this journey alone. As Dr. Melanie Comito, the Paige Yeomans Arnold Endowed Professor in Pediatric Oncology, notes, "Every day I see the impact that Paige's does to make this journey a little easier and provide hope for tomorrow." Since 1997, thanks to the generous support of our community, we have raised over $5,000,000. These funds are invested in a wide range of initiatives that directly impact pediatric cancer patients and their families in Central New York:
Direct Patient and Family Support:
-Paige's Comfort Kit Fund: Provides newly diagnosed families with a vital "go bag" that includes a warm blanket, toiletries, a change of clothes, and a $200 Gift Card to help with immediate needs.
-Paige's Family Assistance Fund: Offers financial relief for travel, accommodations, food, household bills, and loss of income, easing the financial burden of treatment.
-Paige's Fund for Transportation: Provides gas cards to help families offset the cost of traveling long distances for their child's treatment.
-Paige's Bereavement Fund: Offers financial assistance for funeral costs, and grief counseling, precious keepsakes and supports an annual remembrance service for families. Enhancing the Hospital Experience:
-Paige's Comfort & Fun Fund for Families: Gives Child Life Specialists the resources for educational materials, family meals, and special celebrations to brighten the lives of children during hospital stays.
-Paige's Outpatient Clinic Fund: Creates a safe and fun space in the outpatient clinic with arts and crafts, educational supplies, and celebration resources for patients and their families. Long-Term Care and Community Connection:
-Paige's Survivor Wellness Fund: Supports the long-term follow-up care for childhood cancer survivors, covering unmet medical needs like dental care, mental health care and fertility preservation. Each year, we help send survivors to Camp-Make-A-Dream and Stupid Cancer Conference, allowing them to connect with others who understand what they have been through.
-Paige's Events and Activities Fund: Sponsors events like Syracuse Crunch hockey and Syracuse Mets baseball games, allowing families to connect with their peers and enjoy special events outside of a medical setting.
-Paige's H.O.P.E. Support Fund: Provides opportunities for patients, caregivers, and siblings to engage with other families through fun and inspirational activities outside the hospital that include an educational element to help them on their journey. Advancing Research and Talent:
-Paige's Cancer Research Fund: Directly supports pediatric cancer research at SUNY Upstate and Upstate Golisano Children's Hospital, funding laboratory and clinical research studies.
-The Paige Yeomans Arnold Endowed Professor in Pediatric Oncology: A permanent endowment to help attract and retain top talent to lead the Department of Pediatric Oncology.
-Paige Yeomans Arnold Endowed Patient Family Assistance Fund: A permanent endowment ensuring long-term financial assistance for patients and their families. Our organization was born from the story of a young girl named Paige Yeomans Arnold, who was diagnosed with leukemia in 1993. Although Paige passed away from complications of her treatment in 1994, her parents, Chris and Ellen, were inspired by her strong and beautiful spirit, symbolized by the butterfly. In 1997, they founded the organization in her memory. Today, her legacy lives on through our work, which is a testament to the power of community and a symbol of enduring hope. Thank you for joining us as we fight pediatric cancer and fund hope for a brighter tomorrow.
