Three Seats Open on We Cancerve Movement All-Youth Board

(Abingdon, MD) – The We Cancerve Movement, Inc., a Maryland-run nonprofit organization, invites youth ages 8-18 in Harford and Baltimore counties and Baltimore city to apply for one of three seats now open on its all-youth board of advisors.

Founded in 2012, We Cancerve’s work is performed mostly by its all-youth board of advisors, who plan and promote projects that bring happiness to homeless, sick and foster children. Projects include the free summer enrichment day camp Camp Happy created in 2015 at Anna’s House, and now is offered at two additional facilities, and Goals for Grace, their newest project, which is a soccer event that raises funds for We Cancerve’s Pediatric Patient Assistance Fund at Sinai Hospital in Baltimore.

Parents and other adults such as teachers, scout leaders, coaches and mentors help board members connect with resources that support the group’s initiatives like local fun spots that would be ideal for field trips for Camp Happy, or carpet and paint stores willing to donate supplies “for our boutique or the libraries we plan to open in 2019,” said Grace Callwood, founder. She also said that adults serve as mentors through navigating networking and especially transportation.

“A ton of the work is done by wonderful community members. In 2018, we’ve had a record year in the total number of volunteers, which helps us bring really exciting initiatives to the children we serve. The reason we’ve had such great community support is due, in large part, to our dynamic board. They’ve introduced We Cancerve to their school communities, their sports clubs and to their scout troops,” said Callwood, age 14, who founded We Cancerve at age 7 in 2012.

“Doing an application for our board for our 2018 service year was a great decision because it brought in 10 new, amazing youth that helped enhance our fundraising and partnerships. They have brought in new resources, ideas, connections and projects. As a team, we were able to help 5,191 homeless, sick and foster children which is 1,956 more children served than our 2017 service year,” said Callwood.

This marks the second time We Cancerve is recruiting board members via an online application.

Members of the advisory board meet quarterly in a formal business meeting led by Callwood. Board members, however, are expected to present board reports during the meeting and to participate in discussions around their projects and partnerships. During each meeting, advisors are able to present new program ideas to the body for review and approval.

Parents are supporters to the advisors but are not board members; while their input and support are valuable, the youth advisors are the creative visionaries who have for five years contributed to We Cancerve's success to date, said Callwood.

Ideal applicants, according to the website, are youth who understand that “teamwork truly makes this dreamwork because as board members who are also children, we want to feel included and we want to contribute to the work of the organization.”

Only three seats are open on the 2019 board. Callwood is opening up a role for youth in the community to serve on special committees. They’re committees for some of the group’s biggest projects that need the most creative ideas. Those selected for these unique opportunities will work alongside board members to plan projects, organize project details and help execute to meet the goal!

“This gives them a chance to still be involved and serve a part of the We Cancerve family,” said Callwood, an 8th grade student in Harford County.

Applications are available at www.wecancerve.org and are being accepted January 6 through January 20. Top candidates will be notified by email and/or phone by January 25. All board members must agree to attend the four quarterly meetings, held the first Fridays in March, June, September and December from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. in Harford County.

Those benefitting from We Cancerve efforts include (Homeless Shelters & Programs) Anna’s House, Bel Air; Booth House by Salvation Army, Baltimore; Eastside Family Emergency Shelter, Rosedale; Hope in Action Homeless Outreach Ministries, Jarretsville; INNterim Transitional Housing for Homeless Women & Children, Pikesville; Karis House Homeless Shelter, Baltimore; SARC, Bel Air; St. Vincent de Paul Hannah Moore House, Reisterstown; St. Vincent de Paul Sarah’s Hope at Mount Street, Baltimore; Wayfarers’ House, Elkton; and Youth Empowerment Society (YES) Drop-in Center for Homeless Youth, Baltimore; (Foster Care Group Homes & Orphanages) Arrow Child & Family Ministries Arrow Crossroads, Bel Air; Arrow Child & Family Ministries Cromwell Bridge, Towson; The Children’s Home, Catonsville; (Children’s Hospitals & Medical Programs) Children’s Hospital at Sinai, Baltimore; Hackerman-Patz House, a Lifebridge Health Property; Johns Hopkins Pediatric Hospital; Ronald McDonald House, Baltimore; St. Agnes Pediatric Emergency Room, Baltimore; Ullman Cancer Foundation; University of Maryland Upper Chesapeake Medical Center, Bel Air; (Community Programs for Homeless & Hungry) Bel Air United Methodist Church Feeding Ministry, Bel Air; Mason Dixon Community Service, Darlington; St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church Outreach Ministry, Abingdon; St. John’s Cupboard at St. John’s Episcopal Church, Havre de Grace; and The Sharing Table, Edgewood.

For more information about We Cancerve, email peoplewhocare@wecancerve.org.

PHOTO CAPTIONS: Elizabeth Wesdock (L) and Katelyn O'Connor, both juniors at C. Milton Wright High School and members of the board of advisors, hosted the Summer Dance Party at Rage Box Contemporary Dance Centerin July to raise funds to cover gas and tolls for Camp Happy field trips. Grace Callwood, plaid shirt, (L) and Ashlee Brockwell, white hoodie (R), join the women of the Omicron Chi Zeta Chapter of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. at the Valentine's Day Card-Making party the sorority hosted for We Cancerve on World Cancer Day in February 2018. (Photos: Courtesy of We Cancerve)