pcfoundation1, Neighbor

Pediatric Cancer is the #1 cause of non-accidental death in children

Every year more than 12,000 infants and children are diagnosed with cancer. Cancer does not discriminate. It can strike anyone at any time.

Pediatric Cancer Foundation’s mission is to find a cure for childhood cancer. Founded in 1970, this 501(c)(3) non-profit charity raises money for research, state of the art equipment/ instruments and patient/parent care for world renowned doctors at the hospitals PCF supports.

These hospitals include:

New York-Presbyterian Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital

Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center

Stephen D. Hassenfeld Children’s Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders at NYU Langone Medical Center

Cohen Children’s Medical Center of NY

Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital at Westchester Medical Center

Comer Children’s Hospital, The University of Chicago Medicine & Biological Sciences

PCF receives no funding from the government.

PCF receives no funding from pharmaceutical companies.

Since 1970, nearly 90% of every dollar supports our mission to eradicate children’s cancer.

No child and their family should have to suffer the horror, pain and despair of pediatric cancer. The eradication of this devastating disease depends on groups such as PCF and the generosity of people like you. Please join us as we …hold the hand of a child.

About the Foundation

Pediatric Cancer Foundation, known as the Maxwell Leeds Pediatric Tumor Foundation until well after 1982, was founded in 1970 by grateful parents whose son underwent surgery at Babies Hospital, New York Presbyterian Medical Center. (This hospital is now known as NewYork -Presbyterian Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital.) These grateful parents established the Foundation after realizing that malignant pediatric tumors were extremely prevalent and that children afflicted in this way needed treatment with the most advanced medical techniques.

The Foundation started simply and utilized the services of devoted volunteers to perform every aspect of fund raising. The first group of Directors were the parents’ family, neighbors and friends, but in a relatively short period of time the membership expanded rapidly to over 40 committed individuals who gave their expertise, time, and support to achieve outstanding goals in basic and clinical research as well as in the care and treatment of children with cancer.

The first event raised $5,000; however, from 1970-1982 approximately $500,000 was raised. Of the three fellowships grants awarded during that time, one was given to the now renowned pediatric surgeon, Dr. Charles Stolar.

Today PCF has grown to include support for children and their families afflicted with all types of cancer. Three decades of support has enabled the foundation to purchase state-of-the-art equipment, support research projects and bring exceptional fellows to both the surgical and oncology departments.

The many hours spent by our caring membership (which consists of over 200 volunteers) enables us to raise significant funds when hospital financial problems threaten to impede further progress.

This year we will have committed half a million dollars in programs, research and equipment. In an effort to meet these commitments, we stage annual events including our opening Luncheon, Evening Benefit/Annual Campaign, Walkathon, and Sportsathons. Keeping pace with our growth, community efforts in creating our many satellite events have added additional resources and friends as well as dollars.

We hold the hands of children and their families with the hope that our efforts will help eradicate the number one non-accidental killer of children. We started as a grassroots, down-home organization that started by doing its own licking and stamping on the dining room tables of its members. Today we have grown into our own and now support five major hospitals in the tri-state area, including their satellite outreach programs. With the inclusion of advanced technological equipment that we support, our doctors are in communication with hospitals both nationally as well as on an international level. We look forward to our continued efforts at growth and advancement in this field, to not only cure but to provide a normal life for children with cancer.