2016 Annual Report
Dear Friends,
Big data. In the digital era, those two words are usually associated with big business, technology, and things that might be considered impersonal. But at St. Baldrick’s, our data is big and personal. Because every number tells a powerful story — one that you’ve helped to create. So this year’s annual report is all about the numbers and the impact we’ve made together, not just this past year, but since our beginning…
- 3: the number of friends who started it all in 2000 with a goal of shaving 17 heads;
- 400,000+: the number of volunteers who have since shaved their heads at 10,000+ events worldwide;
- $200,000,000+: your dollars that made over 1,000 lifesaving research grants possible;
- 300,000: the number of children diagnosed with cancer worldwide each year, who you help to save: Like 7-year old Phineas, diagnosed with chemo-resistant acute lymphoblastic leukemia three years ago, whose life was saved by an immunotherapy trial you made possible.
And that’s why what we do is so important — because each number adds up to a child’s life.
We’re more than numbers, and your dollar is worth more at St. Baldrick’s because we know that no one research center has a monopoly on talent or great ideas. We invest in the most promising research, wherever it takes place, and in lifesaving therapies that all too often wouldn’t get funded without you.
So as we take a look at the successes of our past, and as we approach our 17th anniversary, we give thanks for you. Because when you support St. Baldrick’s, as our numbers prove, you’re investing in the gold standard of childhood cancer research. And what you do adds up.
We couldn’t do it without you.
In service,
Chairman of the Board
Chief Executive Officer
Board of Directors
Mike McCreesh, Chair
John R. Bender | Amy Bucher | Bill Gerber | Tim Kenny | Jeffrey M. Lipton, M.D., Ph.D. | Katherine Lugar | Chris Lynch | Enda McDonnell | Kathleen Ruddy
Board Members Emeritus
Joe Bartlett | Charles M. Chamness | Francis Feeney | Tom Leonhardt | John McKenna
Forever in Our Hearts
Robert J. Arceci, M.D., Ph.D.
The 17th Year
Let’s start the year with a look at some big moments for St. Baldrick’s volunteers and donors:
- 2000: The goal of the very first St. Baldrick’s event on March 17 — shave 17 heads and raise $17,000.
The original St. Baldrick’s shavees set the bar high, raising $104,000 in one night. - 2005: The newly established St. Baldrick’s Foundation makes its first grants, totaling $3.5 million.
- 2016: St. Baldrick’s hits a new milestone — more than $200 million granted to childhood cancer research.
- 2017: St. Baldrick’s volunteers and donors resolve to fund more research than ever to save the lives of infants, children, teens, and young adults fighting cancer.
The St. Baldrick’s Foundation remains committed to fiscal responsibility and transparency.
Every dollar we spend goes:
- to our mission: to find cures for childhood cancers
- to maximize our fundraising
- to improve the effectiveness of our organization
and of course, every dollar spent on fundraising and administration is with the goal of having more for the mission!
The expense ratio varies each year, not only due to changing expenses, but also according to the amount raised by our volunteers.
Statement of Activities
For the fiscal year ended June 30, 2016
Total Revenue, Gains and Support
$39,549,644- Program (childhood cancer research grants, advocacy) $27,521,436
- Fundraising (website, t-shirts, posters, credit card processing fees, etc.) $10,352,114
- Management and general (human resources, accounting, audit fees, etc.) $1,389,648
Total Functional Expenses
$39,263,198- Loss on pledges receivable $102,160
- Change in net assets $184,286
- Net assets, beginning of year $18,523,955
- Net assets, end of year $18,708,241
An independent audit of the St. Baldrick’s Foundation has been performed by Armanino, LLP. A copy of the full financial statements is available at StBaldricks.org/financials. We will also gladly send a copy by mail upon request. Please contact Anja Kloch at 626.792.8247, ext. 268 or Anja.Kloch@StBaldricks.org. All funds reflected on this page are listed in U.S. dollars.
Our Supporters
Thanks to the following companies for their generous support:
National Partner
Partners
Every year, 300,000 kids around the world are diagnosed with cancer. These kids are at the heart of everything we do — they’re the reason for every head shaved and dollar raised.
Many St. Baldrick’s participants honor at least one child. This connection moves volunteers to raise more money and awareness, while also comforting families with the knowledge that others are supporting them in the fight. Since 2005, more than 4,600 kids have been honored at St. Baldrick’s events.
The five St. Baldrick’s Ambassadors for 2017 will share their stories with us all year, giving us a glimpse into the lives of kids and families fighting cancer. Their stories inspire us to change the fact that 1 in 5 kids diagnosed with cancer in North America will not survive.
Hazel is one of these kids.
Welcome 2017 Ambassadors
Our five St. Baldrick’s Ambassadors tell their stories to represent more than 300,000 children and teens diagnosed with cancer worldwide each year.
Princeton Age 7
- Florida
- neuroblastoma
- In Remission
Princeton isn’t afraid to speak up about childhood cancer. That’s because he knows about it all too well. In December 2011, at 2 years old, Princeton was diagnosed with stage 4 neuroblastoma. With an upbeat attitude, he weathered chemo, radiation, a stem cell transplant and immunotherapy, and then a relapse. He’s now in remission, and he isn’t shy about getting in front of a microphone to tell his story if it will help kids like him.
Ike Age 8
- Ohio
- Acute lymphoblastic leukemia
- In Remission
Want to see someone tough? Look no further than Ike. Rocky and Rambo have nothing on this childhood cancer fighter who just finished treatment for acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Now sporting a full head of hair and endless energy, you’d never know what he went through these past three years. Ike’s strength and roll-with-the-punches attitude has inspired friends and family to adopt the motto “Tough Like Ike!”
Abby Age 10
- Virginia
- Ph+ acute lymphoblastic leukemia
- In Remission
Abby loves being with friends, reading, and playing Minecraft, and she always has a smile, despite a difficult journey. She was first diagnosed with Ph+ ALL in February 2011. After a bone marrow transplant in January 2015, Abby developed severe graft-versus-host disease and other complications. Doctors didn’t expect her to survive. Abby has made a miraculous turnaround and is going strong, wowing everyone around her and doing what she does best — defying the odds.
Benicio Age 12
- Illinois
- Medulloblastoma
- In Treatment
Days after shaving his head for St. Baldrick’s, Benicio was in the ER. That’s where this kid with a heart of gold was diagnosed with a brain tumor called medulloblastoma. After brain surgery, Benny is learning to walk and talk again. He has completed radiation and is undergoing a year of chemotherapy. St. Baldrick’s now has special meaning for Benny and his family, and they continue to raise money to find cures for Benny and kids like him.
Emily Age 17
- Louisiana
- Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia
- In Remission
Emily’s nickname as a camp counselor is “Sunshine,” and for good reason. Diagnosed with acute promyelocytic leukemia in April 2016, the teen has kept a sunny attitude, despite a tough and risky treatment plan. She wants to understand her cancer, and at every turn, she asks her doctors to explain everything about it and the special protocol she’s on to fight it. Emily is now in remission and is happy to move forward, into the brighter days ahead.
Hero Funds
St. Baldrick’s Hero Funds raised more than $2 million in 2016. These families raise funds in honor or memory of a child or loved one, with the easy fundraising and extraordinary grant-making of the St. Baldrick’s Foundation — no need to start a new foundation!
Luke’s Army Pediatric Cancer Research Fund
St. Baldrick’s Hero Funds can support a specific type of research, and even have a grant named for them. The Luke’s Army Pediatric Cancer Research Fund was created in memory of 3-year-old Luke Ungerer after his passing from an aggressive brain tumor. This summer the Hero Fund named a grant at the University of Colorado to support brain tumor research.
Bianka’s Butterfly Fund
Bianka loved butterflies, dancing, books, and all things magical. After an 18-month battle with sPNET, a brain tumor, she passed away at the age 5. Her family has since created a Hero Fund in her memory called Bianka’s Butterfly Fund for PNET Brain Tumor Research. To honor Bianka, friends near and far are running races, biking, and inspiring others to raise money to fund childhood cancer research.
St. Baldrick's Hero FundsSpecial thanks to:
Cision is proud to support the mission of St. Baldrick’s Foundation. As an organization, we hold social responsibility and giving back to the communities we work in as a foundational tenant for our business. Through our partnership, we hope to help them raise money for childhood cancer research.
Because of you, St. Baldrick’s funds more childhood cancer research grants than any other foundation — more than $200 million to date. And we don’t just fund any research. We fund the very best research.
And when we say the best research, we mean it! These grants support world-renowned experts and brilliant young minds just starting their careers. They span every part of the research process, from new discoveries in the lab to clinical trials offering hope for a cure.
But who picks the best research for us to fund? More brilliant minds! More than 200 leading scientists are poring over the summer 2017 grant applications. It’s a tough — and very respected — scientific review process to determine what research will be funded this summer with the money you raise.
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Cooperative Research (Children’s Oncology Group):
1 grant: $6,269,477
-
Consortium Research Grants:
2 grants: $993,049
8 new grants to continuing Consortia: $3,846,898
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Research Grants:
19 grants: $1,965,475
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Supportive Care Research Grants:
3 grants: $149,999
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St. Baldrick’s Summer Fellows:
19 grants: $95,000
-
St. Baldrick’s Fellows:
10 Fellows: $1,853,088
4 new awards for continuing Fellows: $382,637
-
St. Baldrick’s Scholars:
9 Scholars: $2,969,376
20 new awards for existing Scholars: $2,260,000
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International Scholars:
1 grant: $330,000
2 new awards for existing International Scholars: $230,000
-
Infrastructure Grants:
33 grants: $2,000,000
-
International Beneficiaries and Partners:
14 grants: $933,861
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St. Baldrick’s Foundation Robert J. Arceci Innovation Award:
1 grant: $750,000
More than $25 million granted for childhood cancer research
(July 1, 2015 - June 30, 2016)A New Type of Funding for Kids’ Cancer Research
When Dr. Bob Arceci lost his life to a motorcycle accident in June 2015, we knew we had to do something special to honor a man who’d left such a mark on the childhood cancer research world.
Dr. Arceci was a board member, chair of our Scientific Advisory Committee, world-renowned childhood cancer researcher, and beloved friend. And he was a revolutionary thinker, so it was only fitting that the award created in his memory be the same.
Unlike other grants tied to a specific research project, this award gives talented early- to mid-career researchers freedom to pursue their own discoveries. Researchers can’t apply — they must be nominated by their peers. They are judged on their innovation, the quality of their science, and the likelihood their work will make a positive impact on patients.
Bob championed international research, so each year one award will go to a U.S. or Canadian researcher, and another to another country. With $250,000 per year for three years, recipients have the resources to be truly innovative.
The first two recipients of the St. Baldrick’s Foundation Robert J. Arceci Innovation Award were announced in 2016.
In May 2016, we named Dr. Charles Mullighan of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital as the first recipient.
In October 2016, we announced the first international recipient, Dr. Sam Behjati. Dr. Behjati works jointly with University College London, Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, and the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute of Cambridge.
Like the late Dr. Arceci, these recipients are described as having unbridled scientific curiosity and dissatisfaction with a “more of the same” approach to research.
Congratulations to Dr. Mullighan and Dr. Behjati on receiving such prestigious awards. Dr. Arceci will be forever in our hearts, and his legacy will continue through this unique St. Baldrick’s award.
Our 2016 International Partners
Since 2000, St. Baldrick’s Foundation volunteers have hosted head-shaving events in 25 countries. This year, our partners outside the continental United States are:
- The Children’s Hospital Westmead, Australia
- Bermuda Cancer and Health Centre Paget, Bermuda
- The Edward M. Calvo Cancer Foundation Guam
- Children’s Cancer Foundation Hong Kong, China
- German Childhood Cancer Foundation Bonn, Germany
- CanKids...KidsCan New Delhi, India
- VU University Medical Center Amsterdam Netherlands
- Children’s Cancer Association of Japan Tokyo, Japan
- Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School Singapore
- Children with Cancer UK London, United Kingdom
Big Moments
We’ve had a lot of big moments to celebrate in St. Baldrick’s history.
It all started with that moment in 1999 when our founders got the bright idea to shave heads to fundraise for kids’ cancer.
Just three years later, we celebrated the first $1 million raised for childhood cancer research.
2014 was a record-breaking year for fundraising and grant-making, where we awarded an unprecedented $27.2 million in childhood cancer research grants. Talk about a big moment.
Then there was that moment in 2015, when the FDA approved a promising new drug for kids with neuroblastoma — a lifesaving treatment made possible by St. Baldrick’s-funded research. It was only the third drug approved in the last two decades that was specifically made for kids with cancer.
But the biggest moments of them all — the moments we are most proud of — are the moments when a child’s life is saved by research. Thanks to you, we have many more of those moments to look forward to.
Charity Partners
To truly change the outcome for kids with cancer, it’s going to take a lot of research. And research costs a lot of money.
In partnership with the St. Baldrick’s Foundation, these organizations are fueling the research engine with an investment of $25,000 or more. They share in our mission to find better, safer treatments and cures for children with cancer.
Ethan Jostad Foundation
Kim and Chris Jostad established the Ethan Jostad Foundation in 2011 in memory of their son, Ethan, who was taken by alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma when he was 9. The foundation’s mission is twofold: fund pediatric cancer research and support families through providing emotional and financial support to children and families impacted by the disease.
Griffin's Guardians
Erin and Adam Engle created Griffin’s Guardians in memory of their son, Griffin, who fought a courageous battle with glioblastoma multiforme, an aggressive form of brain cancer, when he was 7. Griffin's Guardians' mission is to provide support to children battling cancer in Central New York, to bring awareness to pediatric cancer, and to provide funding for pediatric cancer research.
McKenna Claire Foundation
Kristine and Dave Wetzel lost their youngest daughter, McKenna, to diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG) just two weeks shy of her eighth birthday. They created the McKenna Claire Foundation to raise awareness of pediatric brain cancer, to increase community involvement, and to fund research for a cure.
Painting the Town Gold
When 17-year-old Todd Schultz was in treatment for high-risk Ph+ acute lymphoblastic leukemia, he started Paint the Town Gold. Each September for Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, they host a variety of fundraisers to bring awareness to pediatric cancer and raise funds for research.
Ty Louis Campbell Foundation
After a two-year battle with brain cancer, Ty passed away just days after his fifth birthday. His parents, Cindy and Lou, created the Ty Louis Campbell Foundation to fund innovative research for the deadliest childhood cancers, including brain and spinal cord tumors. Their ultimate mission is to help fund the intelligence and technology that will uncover new ways to cure children with cancer.
Young and old, rich and poor, rural folk and city dwellers from all corners of the Earth are at the heart of the St. Baldrick’s Foundation’s community. Together, they have made St. Baldrick’s the world’s largest volunteer-powered fundraising program for childhood cancer research.
Get InvolvedHead-Shaving Events
St. Baldrick’s head-shaving events began as a challenge between businessmen and have grown from one event in 2000 to over 1,240 events in 2016, raising critical funds for childhood cancer research. Events take place in pubs, restaurants, schools, churches, parks, malls, military bases, firehouses, and any other place you can imagine.
Fundraising in 2016
Want to get involved in head-shaving events?
Participants
We’re proudly volunteer-powered — more than 470,000 volunteers have been fueling our engine since 2005.
Our volunteers are kids, moms, dads, grandparents, executives, teachers, and community members from all over the world. They give their time, talent, and sometimes their hair to help us find cures for kids’ cancers. We couldn’t do it without them!
On their third year of volunteer service, our participants join over 32,000 other volunteers in the esteemed League of Legendary Heroes. League members are inducted with a special ceremony at their events and receive an exclusive lapel pin. Intrigued? Volunteer for three years or more to join these loyal participants in their fight against childhood cancer!
VEOs
Since our very first event in 2000, our head-shaving events have been the driving force behind the dollars raised for kids’ cancer research. These events come to life because of the commitment and dedication of the people behind them -- our Volunteer Event Organizers (VEOs).
Our VEOs are parents, grandparents, students, teachers, and businesspeople. They come from all walks of life, and despite having busy lives, they dedicate anywhere between two months to a year to planning and organizing their events, ensuring they make the biggest impact for kids with cancer.
To the over 14,300 volunteer event organizers who have organized over 10,800 St. Baldrick’s events, thank you. We couldn’t have funded over $200 million in childhood cancer research without you!
Do What You Want Fundraisers
Back in 2013, we started a new program to give our creative volunteers more ways to raise money for childhood cancer research. But when we said you could “Do What You Want,” we had no idea how creative you could be.
You swam around Key West. You danced the night away. You crossed the country on two wheels. You grew your beard to unimaginable lengths. You did 270,000 push-ups.
There have been potlucks and Pi Days, cupcakes and casual days, and plenty of races — potato sack and ultra-marathon alike.
In the process, your creative fundraisers have raised over $2 million for kids’ cancer research. That’s a big deal, but you’ve given kids with cancer something else too — hope that one day they can do what they want and just be kids.
Start a FundraiserFamily and Friends
To stand in solidarity with kids fighting cancer: that’s the reason many say they shave. Indeed, childhood cancer patients are delighted to see friends, family members, and strangers go bald at St. Baldrick’s events in their honor.
Volunteers also run marathons, play Bunco, swim crazy distances, wash cars, play golf, throw parties, and find other creative ways to do what families of kids with cancer want most: to fund lifesaving research.
Since the first St. Baldrick’s event, more than 400,000 men, women, and children have rallied to stand in solidarity with kids fighting cancer and their families. These kids will be our inspiration until the day childhood cancer is a thing of the past.
Corporate Partners
Gordon Logan, Sport Clips Haircuts Founder and CEO, participating in the company's "Shave the Day!" event where they raised more than $116,000. Sport Clips became St. Baldrick's Foundation's first national partner last year, committing to donate $1 million to fund childhood cancer research.
Support from business has been an essential part of St. Baldrick’s from the start. In fact, St. Baldrick’s got started when three reinsurance executives turned their company party into a head-shaving fundraiser for kids with cancer. Raising money for cures has been part of their corporate culture ever since.
Today, even more companies — from the technology, finance, retail, industrial, and food service industries — have welcomed St. Baldrick’s into their culture, too. And they’re not just shaving heads — they’re donating services, products, and expertise to further the St. Baldrick’s mission.
So, thank you to the businesses big and small that support St. Baldrick’s and the lifesaving childhood cancer research we fund. You help us give kids with cancer hope. We couldn’t do it without you.
Donors
The St. Baldrick’s Foundation would not exist without our donors. From the beginning, over 3 million donors have helped us fund more than 1,000 grants to find better treatments and cures for kids with cancer.
And these donors aren’t just people with big hearts and bald heads. Almost 6,000 public and private organizations have also supported St. Baldrick’s, giving generous grants to help fund the best childhood cancer research in the world.
So whether you’re one of those big-hearted bald people, a foundation supporting us, or someone who just felt compelled to give, thank you. You are at the heart of every research grant funded by St. Baldrick’s. You are powering the research that’s saving kids’ lives.
Monthly Giving Program
Research is our best path to cures — and for so many kids, a cure cannot come fast enough. Your investment creates hope. By making a monthly gift, you’ll know that you are making a big impact for kids with cancer each and every month. Simply go to StBaldricks.org/donate, enter the amount you'd like to give, and click "Donate Monthly." Together, we can create a future that’s free of kids’ cancer.
Special thanks to:
Sysomos is honored to be a valued partner of the St. Baldrick’s Foundation. Our mission is to support their efforts in building awareness and raising donations by providing the industry-leading social analysis tools they need to evaluate the impact of their truly inspiring work. We are thrilled to be working with St. Baldrick's for a second year, and supporting their important mission to find cures for childhood cancers.
Childhood cancer research receives only a small fraction of U.S. government funding, and so much more is needed. You can help make finding cures a national priority. Join Speak Up for Kids’ Cancer and let’s raise our voices together. You’ll receive information on childhood cancer issues, advocacy tools, timely alerts, and simple ways to help.
Advocates
In the beginning, we were just a few fierce voices for childhood cancer research. Today, our advocacy network, Speak Up for Kids’ Cancer, is more than 9,000 advocates strong.
And we’re making history.
Because of you, the childhood cancer community unified to create the STAR Act, the most comprehensive childhood cancer bill ever to hit Capitol Hill.
Because of you, our Senior Director of Government Relations and Advocacy, Danielle Leach, was invited to join the Pediatric Cancer Working Group of the National Cancer Moonshot, where she’s making sure that the voices of kids with cancer, and the scientists who help them, are heard.
These victories, and more, are because of you. Your voice is creating change for kids with cancer.
Tell Your Story
Your story matters! The reason you’re involved with St. Baldrick’s can be what changes legislators' minds about an issue or makes them remember childhood cancer when thousands of other issues compete for their support. Invite your congressional representative to a St. Baldrick’s event and ask them to join the Congressional Childhood Cancer Caucus. Take any opportunity to share your story.
2014 Ambassador Lauren says: “Because of your support, researchers are able to take innovative approaches not only to curing pediatric cancers, but to giving survivors a fighting chance by creating less toxic and more targeted treatments. With all of the strides being made, the future is endless. As a result of childhood cancer research, I have been NED (no evidence of disease) since September 2012 and finished treatment in October 2013. I was so inspired by the childhood cancer community that I am now pursuing my dreams of becoming a pediatric oncologist, giving back to the community that saved and transformed my life.”