ISF Donates Over $1.4M For Pediatric Cancer in 2022

Written by Amanda DiFabio, Marketing Manager 

“As we close our year end in 2022, we once again look back, humbled at all the support we have been given. The commitment to the ISF Rare and Solid Tumor Program is in the home stretch as we are already planning all the things needed to complete our agreement in 2023. This has been no easy task given the last couple of years but we find ourselves beyond excited to start the year, knowing this big dream of ours is becoming a reality. But fear not, what we have planned behind it is even bigger. 

For those of you who have helped in this vision, we want to thank you from the bottom of our hearts and hope you will continue to increase your impact in this new year.”

     – Erin Santos, Executive Director and Isabella’s Mom

2022 for us marked the year of events. Coming out of a global pandemic, we were refueled, recharged and ready to see everyone’s smiling faces again in person. It was inspiring to see our ISF community come out to support us, and once again rally for our mission.

As a team we put our heads together and brought to you all new ideas, and new ways to support and get involved. We started off 2022 strong with a string of fun events, which included our march coffee event, In The Company of Women. We shifted from spring to summer, jumping right into our third annual ISF Summer Intern Program. Interns got to learn first-hand from professionals in our community and physically see the impact their hard work led to. In the fall we hosted pediatric cancer patients and their families at Catawba Riverkeeper for a relaxing day on the river. We announced that our 15th annual 5K For Kids Cancer would be our last, and went out with a bang raising $246,000 for pediatric cancer. Lastly, we danced the night away at our Black and White Bowtie Ball. These are just a few of the many many events and moments worth celebrating and reflecting on from 2022. 

2022 marks the third year in a row in our foundation’s history that we were able to give away $1 million or more to our mission for rare pediatric cancers. With the support of our community and passion from our donors, we have once again made a significant impact on the kids who need it most. We are so proud, this is just as much your accomplishment as it is ours. In total, we donated 1,425,190 towards our mission: 

2022 Giving Impact Breakdown:

💜BEAT Cancer: $1,026,087

💜GROW Hair: $306,200

💜LIVE My Dreams: $92,902.70 

BEAT CANCER

Our BEAT Cancer mission program is aimed at improving treatments and solutions for lasting impact and 70% of our mission’s efforts go towards this program. Funds raised through this program go directly to Atrium Health Levine Children’s to help continue growing the Isabella Santos Foundation Rare & Solid Tumor Program supporting rare pediatric cancer research.

GROW HAIR

Kids fighting cancer desperately need safer and more effective cancer treatments. That’s why our GROW mission categories primary aim is to strengthen treatments for rare pediatric cancers. Funds for this program make up 20% of our focus as a foundation, and is granted to national institutions that support research and important clinical trials. 

LIVE DREAMS

We believe that helping children and families going through a pediatric cancer diagnosis is extremely important. Our LIVE mission helps support the various struggles that come with these challenges. Struggles that include anything from counseling services, dental needs, hearing aids, scholarships, activities, and more. 

With a new year comes 12 new chapters and 365 new days of opportunity. We can’t wait to see what our team and community of supporters is able to accomplish. Thank you to everyone who helped make 2022 such a success. Stayed tuned for more on all that’s to come in 2023.