Pounding for Parker

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Parker and his brother

It’s no wonder why so many people are pounding for Parker. His strength, resiliency and determination are such an inspiration.

Parker was nearly seven years old when diagnosed with a very rare tumor on his spine. His cancer, which originated between one of his vertebrae, runs from his tail bone up into his lower brain. Because the tumor was mixed in with nerves in his spinal column, it was too risky to remove. So Parker underwent two different types of chemotherapy, which he completed in May 2017.

He also has more nerve damage in his left hand, but doesn’t let that stop him. Today, the fun-spirited nine-year-old is in third grade and has resumed school and his favorite sport – lacrosse. As part of his ongoing therapy, Parker continues to get monthly checkups and quarterly MRIs at Atrium Health’s Levine Children’s Hospital.

“He’s doing really well; living life like a normal kid and being a great big brother,” said his mom, Allison. “He has lots of energy, a good sense of humor and is very driven.”

Pounding for Parker Foundation check presentation to Levine Children’s Hospital

Because Parker may need additional therapy in the future and that there is no cure for his disease, his parents – Allison and Jonathan – launched the Pounding for Parker Foundation in 2017. The Foundation hosts an annual golf tournament, gala and other community events to raise funds to advance research for pediatric brain tumors and improve the quality of life for childhood cancer survivors. In its first year, the Pounding for Parker Foundation presented $100,000 to the Levine Children’s Hospital Brain Tumor Survivorship Clinic.

Among the organization’s fundraisers this year is the Pounding For Parker Foundation Gala. It will take place on Thursday, October 4 at 7:00 p.m. at Sweet Magnolia Estate in Cornelius. There will be a silent and live auction, chef-prepared food stations, beer, wine and live music. In addition, the silent auction will be online starting Thursday, September 27. For more information, to purchase tickets and to check out the silent auction, visit https://poundingforparker.org/event/.

“We’re excited to be in the Charlotte community and to give back to Levine Children’s Hospital,” said Allison. “Our doctors are like family and have really been there for us. We want to do everything we can to find a cure for pediatric brain tumors and come up with solutions for the many issues that pediatric cancer survivors face.”

An Army of Support

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Emily and Kevin know firsthand the impact an army of support can provide a family during a crisis. Their daughter, Claire, was 19 months old when she was diagnosed with Stage 4 neuroblastoma in 2011. They received an incredible outpouring of support and wanted to do the same for other families fighting childhood cancer. So they created Claire’s Army to honor Claire – who passed away in January 2012 – and to continue her legacy of her love for others.

Claire

“Our friends, family, employers, strangers and the hospital teams did so much for us during Claire’s treatments and our time of grief,” said Emily. “We wanted to do for others what others did for us.”

Through Emily and Kevin’s grief counseling at KinderMourn, time spent with other hospital families and discussions with medical providers, they realized that not everyone had support when going through a similar situation. This led to creating the following core programs at Claire’s Army:

CLAIRE PACKAGES: Claire’s Army provides a package to a new family facing a childhood cancer diagnosis at Novant Health Hemby Children’s Hospital and at Atrium Health’s Levine Children’s Hospital. The Claire Package utility tote includes towels, a journal, a gas card and additional comfort items. Valued at $150, the package helps make a family’s hospital stay more comfortable and saves them a trip to the store.

MEAL PROGRAM: Claire’s Army has several restaurant partners and a team of volunteers to deliver made-to-order meals to families at Hemby Children’s Hospital five nights a week. Their goal is to expand to Levine Children’s Hospital in the near future. Since starting this program in February 2014, Claire’s Army has delivered 4,000 meals, which offset a financial burden, provide options beyond hospital food and foster family time.

EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM: Claire’s Army works through oncology social workers to pay for bills to help families who are suffering financially. Emergency assistance can range from mortgage/rent payments, utilities and travel needs to insurance. In one case, Claire’s Army was able to purchase an airline ticket at the last minute for a grandmother to fly roundtrip from El Salvador to attend her grandson’s funeral service. To date, the organization has provided nearly $30,000 of emergency assistance through this program.

“We want to be able to help in any way we can and to make an already awful situation suck less,” said Emily who also spent a few years as a nurse assistant at Hemby Children’s Hospital. “As a hospital provider, it was heartbreaking to see what families go through during a diagnosis, especially if the family was alone with no other support.”

Claire’s Army hosts an annual gala – which raised $200,000 this year – and other fundraisers throughout the year. Funds support these core programs, as well as pediatric cancer research through nonprofits like the Isabella Santos Foundation.

“Claire’s life was very brief, but very impactful,” added Emily. “We hope that the work we are doing is an extension of our love for her and her love for others. We want to carry that on and help these families one at time.”

ISF Fundraising Events, Supporters & Contributions

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Isabella’s parents established The Isabella Santos Foundation in 2009 after she lost her battle to Neuroblastoma to honor their daughter and to carry on her mission of finding a cure for her disease. In 2010 they received a 501(c)(3) status. Although Isabella is no longer with us, the Isabella Santos Foundation continues to hope another child can be saved and will continue to raise money and awareness for the awful disease responsible for stealing her life. Over the years ISF has donated over $1,500,000 for Neuroblastoma research and other children’s cancer charities. Help support our mission and donate today.

Handbags, Heels, & Horsepower
– This November

We are partnering with the Charlotte Auto Show to create a phenomenal event for you & your friends to enjoy! Join us in raising funds for rare pediatric cancer on November 15, 2018. There will be 30+ high-end shoes and purses up for grabs. Attendees have the opportunity to purchase raffle tickets to compete for their favorite items while enjoying the 300+ vehicles on the showroom floor of the Charlotte Auto show.

Each manufacturers space will carry a different high-end handbag or heels for everyone to win. Erin Santos will be presenting at a seated breakfast to wrap up the morning in support of the Isabella Santos Foundation.

Pumpkin Charity Ball
– Every October

ISF hosts the Pumpkin Charity Ball gala, a black-and-white themed formal event, every year to support Atrium Health’s Levine Children’s Hospital. ISF is establishing innovative healthcare programs at Levine Children’s Hospital to treat pediatric oncology patients, and the Pumpkin Charity ball gala raises funds to support these programs for rare pediatric cancer and help solidify Levine Children’s Hospital as a leading healthcare provider in the United States. We hope you will join us for a night of hope, dinner and dancing!

Annual 5K 10K & 1 Mile Fun Run
– Every September

Every September, families come together in Charlotte NC to raise money for pediatric cancer research and local children’s charities. Our 5K for Kids Cancer, 10K and 1 Mile Fun Run is the fastest growing family-friendly race in Charlotte providing fun for the entire family, averaging over 3,000 attendees.

With food and refreshments to help keep you energized, Kids Zone for the little ones including games, face-painting, slides, jump houses, art activities and our raffle/silent auction for the big ones which includes beauty/spa packages, vacations, golf outings, sports memorabilia, jewelry and more.

Golf for a Cure
– June Event

We hosted our first annual “Golf For A Cure” event this past June which was presented by Modern Nissan Lake Norman and hosted at Top Golf in Charlotte, NC. This event is perfect for a girls/guys night out, a double date, or a neighborhood get together.

Food, cocktails, and a silent auction were provided. Top Golf’s tournament style was more social and exciting than traditional on-course golf tournaments and provided day into evening play with no rain-outs or weather delays resulting in a compact timeline and fun for all skill levels. Stay posted for next year’s event! We want you to experience this great event and tee up for an important cause!

Levine Children’s Hospital – 5 Year 5 Million Commitment
– Announced April 10th, 2018

ISF committed $5 million dollars to create a Rare & Solid Tumor Program at Levine Children’s Hospital. This program will oversee care for all solid tumors, rare tumors, metaiodobenzylguanidine (MIBG) therapy, and all related clinical and scientific research at Levine Children’s Hospital.

The donation to Levine Children’s hospital has been one of the single largest in the hospital’s 10-year history, and will fund the creation of a comprehensive team of providers and researchers uniquely positioned to advance care and research for rare and solid tumors.

The team will be constructed over a period of five years, with the initial focus on hiring a medical director, who will be the Isabella Santos Foundation Endowed Chair in Rare & Solid Tumors. This program will serve nearly one-third of the 135 new cancer patients Levine Children’s Hospital sees each year and will allow the hospital to expand their clinical trials.

1st Annual Cocktails for a Cure
– March Event

Our first annual Cocktails For A Cure this past March was a huge success. This event was hosted by our Lake Norman ISF chapter and raised over $30,000! It was a fun night with cocktails, food, and entertainment by Joshua Moyer. Diamonds Direct also helped put the final touches on this night of hope.

We look forward to the upcoming event in 2019! If you are interested in becoming a sponsor for our 2019 event in the Lake Norman area, please contact info@isabellasantosfoundation.org.

Jersey Mike’s Subs Support
– Every March

For the past 8 years, The Isabella Santos Foundation has joined forces with local Jersey Mike’s Subs restaurants throughout the greater Charlotte area for the Annual March “Month of Giving” campaign to raise funds for pediatric cancer research.

In 2018, 37 Jersey Mike’s restaurants participated in a “Day of Giving” and donated 100% of the day’s sales – not just profit – to the Isabella Santos Foundation and raised $141,000!

ISF MIBG Suites Being Built At Levine Children’s Hospital
– Started March 2018, Set to Complete in December 2018

The Isabella Santos Foundation two-room MIBG Suite is currently under construction at the Levine Children’s Hospital and is set to be done December 2018, with the first patient availability in January 2019. When Isabella was battling Neuroblastoma, her parents were forced to travel to the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia due to this treatment not being available in Charlotte. We are excited that we are changing this challenge for other families.

This two-room MIBG suite will include a lead-lined patient room and an anteroom for parents and caregivers, which will provide targeted radiation to pediatric neuroblastoma patients and other rare pediatric cancers with minimal side effects. Most MIBG treatment rooms are just a one-room area for the patient receiving treatment, while their parent or caregiver sits on the other side of a lead-lined shield.

Our two-room suite will give the child receiving treatment the ability to see the parent or caregiver through the connecting room window. In addition, the availability of this room will allow for research studies aimed at testing the effectiveness of early MIBG treatment regimens.

Isabella Santos Foundation Receives $45,000 Gift from All-In to Fight Cancer

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CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Aug. 13, 2018 – The Isabella Santos Foundation announced today that it received a $45,000 donation from the All-In to Fight Cancer 2018 Texas Hold’em fundraiser.

“The Isabella Santos Foundation is a wonderful beneficiary partner and we are thrilled to be able to support their mission and make an impact on our local cancer community,” said Steve Amedio, co-founder of All-In to Fight Cancer.

The donation to Isabella Santos Foundation will support research for neuroblastoma and other rare pediatric cancers, including two endeavors at Atrium Health’s Levine Children’s Hospital: the MIBG Suite, a specialized therapy program which is under construction, and the Isabella Santos Foundation Rare and Solid Tumor Programannounced earlier this year.

“We greatly appreciate the generous donation from All-In to Fight Cancer and being among its cancer charity partners,” said Erin Santos, Executive Director and President of the Isabella Santos Foundation. “The All-In Texas Hold’em fundraiser is a terrific event that brings the community together to make incredible things happen for cancer patients in our Queen City.”

About All-In To Fight Cancer

Founded in 2010, All-In to Fight Cancer is a grassroots, nonprofit group dedicated to increasing public awareness and raising money to find a cure for cancer, by hosting Texas Hold’em tournaments. To date, they have raised over $1,000,000 to support the fight against cancer. Each year, they choose benefitting organizations that are doing incredible things in the local cancer community. They are a grassroots organization that is committed to keeping their funding local and as high-impact as possible – every penny of our proceeds goes straight to our partners. For more information, visit http://www.allintofightcancer.org/.

About Isabella Santos Foundation

The Isabella Santos Foundation (ISF) is a 501(c)3 childhood cancer foundation dedicated to raising funds for research for neuroblastoma, other rare pediatric cancers, and charities that directly impact the lives of children with cancer. ISF was founded in honor of Isabella Santos from Charlotte, N.C. who lost her battle against neuroblastoma. ISF works to improve rare pediatric cancer treatment options in an effort to improve the survival rate of kids with cancer. For more information, visit www.isabellasantosfoundation.org  or follow ISF on Facebook (www.facebook.com/IsabellaSantosFoundation), Instagram (www.instagram.com/theisfoundation) and Twitter (www.twitter.com/TheISFoundation).

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