Tag Archive for: charlotte pediatric cancer charity

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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CONTACT:

Jenni Walker – Walker PR Group – 980-339-8041-office/704-649-6571-cell

jenni@walkerprgroup.com

#WishWednesday: American Girl Gifts

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The Isabella Santos Foundation September 5k/10/Fun Run for Kids Cancer event is approaching fast on September 29th, 2018.  We hold this event in September for one reason… to raise awareness for pediatric cancer awareness month and push YOU to take action.  Last year we had almost 3,000 participants and raised close to $380,000!   This event was started in honor of one girl’s fight against neuroblastoma and we love to see how it continues to grow each year in her honor.  The proceeds from this event support our foundation’s commitment to establish the Isabella Santos Foundation Rare & Solid Tumor Program at Levine Children’s Hospital, a $5 million commitment.

Every year our Auction Committee works tooth on one of our most coveted race day activities, the ISF Auction & Raffle.  We pride ourselves in creating one of the best ISF Auction & Raffles in the city.  But we can’t do it without our generous supporters and businesses.  Are you willing to help us create a must-have package?

Isabella and her American Girl Doll

Isabella didn’t go many places without her American Girl dolls… even at the hospital receiving blood products as pictured here! Isabella spent hours dressing her dolls and picking out their outfits.  They were her comfort items during childhood cancer treatments.

For today’s Wish Wednesday ask we are requesting all things American Girl for our upcoming auction at our 11th Annual 5k/10k For Kids Cancer event. Anything American Girl is appreciated: gift cards, dolls, outfits and accessories. These dolls brought so much joy to Isabella, help us bring joy to another little girl in her honor!

Mail to:

Melanie Miller/ISF Auction Chair
9930 Hazelview Drive
Charlotte 28277

6th Annual Isabella Santos Award

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Don’t ever underestimate the impact that you may have on someone else’s life.

Last week during our Coffee for a Cure events, we recognized three individuals with the 6th Annual Isabella Santos Award.  Each award recipient below has made a difference to those around them and continue to do so. They are out to make an impact and inspire change. And we love that they impact and inspire in their own way.  We thank them for the kind individuals they are, the admirable characteristics they embody and all that they have done for the fight against childhood cancer.

Tom Patania & Tim McBride, Isabella Santos Award Recipients with last year’s recipient Jackson Lowry (middle)

TIM MCBRIDE (McBeast)

If you have ever attended a run in Charlotte, you know him.  His famous beard and part-time Christmas job may have you know his face, but if that’s all you know – you are missing out.  Tim McBride lost both of his parents to cancer and his story is amazing.  2 years ago he said he was going to run 50 miles in honor of losing his dad 50 years ago.  I came out and joined him on his run for about 11 miles and listened to him tell me his life story and how Cancer Messed With the Wrong Kid by taking both of his parents.  He runs for every type of cancer cause and is constantly fundraising.  He runs every single day – and as of today has run 2,324 days in a row – never stopping one single day.  He is one of our top foundation supporters and is our most loved Dream Team member for sure.  

TOM PATANIA

We never would have met Tim, had there not been a Tom.  Tom Patania, our beloved Dream Team marathon coach graciously stepped forward 5 years ago with an idea of training a few people to run a half-marathon for ISF.  All in the name of his mom who lost her own battle to cancer.  5 years later, hundreds of runners and over $400,000 later – his impact became 10 fold.  Tom was up before the sun, organizing runs, water stops, cheerleading and motivating a team of grumpy early morning runners.  His positivity and optimizim was infectious.  He helped make runners and walker’s dreams a reality and in the same time – made a huge impact in the world of pediatric cancer.  

Christie Keagy & Erin Santos, Isabella Santos Award

CHRISTIE KEAGY

Impact comes in many different forms.  Not only has Christie made a personal impact on Isabella and her family, she continues to volunteer for our organization by serving on the Auction Committee and volunteering for events throughout the year.  Christie is always available when we need a last minute volunteer to make something happen and she constantly spreads the word about our fight against childhood cancer.

“I realized the last couple of months of Isabella’s life we never heard her kids play outside ever.  She kept her children inside, so that I didn’t have to hear other little girls play outside.”  -Erin Santos

View all past award recipients

Jersey Mike’s raises $135,000 for local pediatric cancer foundation during nationwide Month of Giving

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37 Greater Charlotte area restaurants.  300+ smiling employees. 7,271 loaves of bread.  Countless paper sub bags.  Hundreds of community partners and long lines of volunteers, supporters and friends.  $135,000 RAISED.  Thank you for eating subs with us in March.  Thank you Jersey Mike’s Subs for your give back and make a difference attitude. It is these actions that create IMPACT.

Jersey Mike’s Subs joined forces with its generous customers throughout the Greater Charlotte area in March, to support the Isabella Santos Foundation (ISF) during the 8th Annual “Month of Giving” campaign.  The campaign raised an incredible $135,000 for ISF which will help fight rare pediatric cancer in the Charlotte region and beyond.  ISF recently committed $5 Million to establish The Isabella Santos Foundation Rare and Solid Tumor Program at Levine Children’s Hospital (LCH).  This program will oversee care for all solid tumors, rare tumors, MIBG therapy, and all related clinical and scientific research at LCH and it will be the first of its kind in the United States.

The month of fundraising culminated on March 28th with Jersey Mike’s nationwide “Day of Giving” where 100% of the sales, not just the profits, were donated to the local charities.

More than $6 million was raised by Jersey Mike’s around the country, impacting more than 170 organizations. Thank you for eating at Jersey Mike’s in March with us.  The funds raised for the Isabella Santos Foundation stay right here in the Charlotte community.  During times like these, we feel extremely humbled. Isabella has moved us and many others to take action for kids fighting cancer. Good things are happening because of Isabella’s legacy.  Thank you Queen City!

“Jersey Mike’s is very honored to be a partner with such a great organization like ISF who is making a huge impact on the fight against pediatric cancers.  It is truly amazing how many families the foundation touches and what a huge difference they are making in their lives.  We are so proud to be a small piece of all this and look forward to a long lasting relationship with ISF.” – Nick Smith, Jersey Mike’s Charlotte Franchise Owner

Charlotte Day of Giving Photos