OUR MISSION

The St. Baldrick's Foundation is a volunteer and donor powered charity committed to supporting the most promising research to find cures for childhood cancers and give survivors long and healthy lives.

Dear Friends,

We live in an age of accelerated scientific and technological advancement. Our rapidly expanding knowledge of the human genome, molecular biology and scores of other disciplines together with the emergence of revolutionary treatments supported by the St. Baldrick's Foundation, such as therapies that use the immune system or target specific genes to kill cancer cells, are improving the futures of children with cancer in ways unforeseen when St. Baldrick's began.

As we embark upon our 20th annual year shaving heads to support childhood cancer research, we celebrate the impact your support and leadership have made in just the last year:

The Childhood Cancer STAR Act, spearheaded by St. Baldrick's, was signed into law thanks to the help of St. Baldrick's advocates, the wider childhood cancer community and our partners in Congress. The law makes it possible to collect samples of blood, tissue, DNA, RNA and other biospecimens and data to accelerate pediatric research. It also supports studies of the incidence, distribution and control of childhood cancers to enable improved care for survivors – a critical need since a recent study funded in part by the St. Baldrick's Foundation found that by the age of 45, 99% of childhood cancer survivors will experience chronic health problems, and 96% will have had a life threatening health issue.

We cannot accept this.

Fortunately, in November 2018 the drug larotrectinib (brand name Vitrakvi) was approved - it's the first treatment developed not for a specific type of cancer, but for any cancer patient with a certain genetic fusion.

We now know cancer is less about where in the body it occurs than what biomarkers and genes are involved. Cancers that previously seemed unrelated are revealing common Achilles' heels that allow advances in one cancer to fight another. While this gives new hope to all cancer patients, it's even more vital for children since most governments, pharmaceutical companies and charities focus principally on adult cancer research.

We were honored to welcome our new partner, the Osteosarcoma Collaborative, whose commitment of $1.5 million has made possible an ambitious grant to develop new ways to treat osteosarcoma patients by targeting molecules that evade immunity. This is the first time the St. Baldrick's Foundation has issued a special call for grant applications for a particular type of childhood cancer, and we expect it to serve as a model for future collaborations with partners and major donors.

These are just a few "wins" for children and teens with cancer that you helped make possible in fiscal year 2017-2018. Advances are made daily, and with your continued support, researchers will realize even more progress in the way children with cancer are treated and saved.

Thank you for helping the St. Baldrick's Foundation take childhood back from cancer.

Michael McCreesh
Chairman of the Board
Father of Brent

Kathleen Ruddy
Chief Executive Officer

Board of Directors

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.

Continue to Financials

Your Dollars at Work

In the Fiscal year 2017-2018, you raised $37 million.

The St. Baldrick’s Foundation remains committed to fiscal responsibility and transparency.

Every dollar we spend goes to:

find cures for childhood cancers — our mission
maximize our fundraising
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 ratios may vary each year, not only due to changing expenses, but also according to the amount raised by our volunteers.

Look how much St. Baldrick's volunteers have raised.

Five Year Revenue Chart (In Millions)

Statement of Activities

For the fiscal year ended June 30, 2018

Total Revenue, Gains and Support

$37,145,933

Program (childhood cancer research grants, advocacy) $27,481,920
Fundraising (website, T-shirts, posters, credit card processing fees, etc.) $9,332,656
Management and general (human resources, accounting, audit fees, etc.) $1,708,028

Total Functional Expenses

$38,522,604

Change in net assets ($1,376,671)
Net assets, beginning of year $15,395,155
Net assets, end of year $14,018,484

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.

Champions for Change

Continue to Accomplishments

Accomplishments You Made Possible

With your support, this has been another year of making great strides toward the St. Baldrick's mission. Our research grants and advocacy efforts focus on finding better cures so kids diagnosed with cancer can live long, healthy lives.

New funds committed July 2017 through June 2018

Cooperative Research (Children's Oncology Group):
1 grant: $6,439,837
Consortium Research Grants:
6 new grants to continuing Consortia: $2,352,737
Research Grants:
26 grants: $2,587,744
Supportive Care Research Grants:
4 grants: $199,858
St. Baldrick's Summer Fellows:
19 grants: $95,000
St. Baldrick's Fellows:
7 grants: $1,293,822

7 new awards for continuing Fellows: $679,656
St. Baldrick's Scholars:
11 grants: $3,491,584

17 new awards for continuing Scholars: $1,773,240
St. Baldrick's International Scholars:
2 grants: $660,000

3 new awards for continuing International Scholars: $345,000
Infrastructure Grants:
39 grants: $2,258,867
International Beneficiaries and Domestic Partners:
12 grants: $599,900
St. Baldrick's Foundation Robert J. Arceci Innovation Award:
1 grant: $750,000
St. Baldrick's Foundation Robert J. Arceci International Innovation Award:
1 grant: $750,000

2 new awards for continuing Innovators: $300,000
St. Baldrick's Foundation Innovation Award:
3 grants: $450,000

BIG NEWS: FDA Approves Groundbreaking CAR T Cell Therapy for Kids with Leukemia

"The FDA has approved today a transformative therapy for children with refractory leukemia. It represents the first in an entirely new class of cancer therapies that holds promise for all cancer patients. The support of the St. Baldrick's Foundation during the development of this therapy was indispensable for teaching physicians how to render it as effectively and safely as possible." Dr. Crystal L. Mackall, Professor of Pediatrics and Internal Medicine at Stanford University, associate director of Stanford Cancer Institute, and co-leader of the Stand Up to Cancer – St. Baldrick's Pediatric Dream Team.

The Childhood Cancer STAR Act Passes and is Signed Into Law

Because of your support for St. Baldrick's advocacy efforts, the Childhood Cancer STAR Act, the most comprehensive childhood cancer legislation, was passed into law in 2018. The STAR Act will help kids with cancer and childhood cancer survivors live long, healthy lives. Federal dollars for cancer research have increased this year and we are seeing the impact of increased focus and investment in pediatric cancer research because of your advocacy efforts.

An Injection of Hope: Researcher Studies Innovate Potential Therapy for DIPG

For kids diagnosed with a rare and fatal type of brain tumor called DIPG, or diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma, there is no cure and treatments are heartbreakingly scarce. St. Baldrick’s researcher Dr. Mark Souweidane is on a mission to change the bleak statistics on DIPG survival. Learn about his groundbreaking work so far and what’s coming next.

Dream Team Discovers Potential New Weapon Against Neuroblastoma

Researchers at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, who are part of the Stand Up to Cancer – St. Baldrick’s Pediatric Cancer Dream Team, have found a protein, called GPC2, that appears on neuroblastoma cells and not on healthy cells. Not only that – this same protein is also necessary for neuroblastoma cells to grow. Dream Team members at the National Cancer Institute (NCI) then developed an immunotherapy weapon to hit that target. So far, in tests in the laboratory, it’s working.

This New Tool Could Mean Better Health for Childhood Cancer Survivors

St. Baldrick’s Fellow Dr. Nickhill Bhakta works at his desk in St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. With a portion of the grant supported by the St. Baldrick’s Morgan and Friends Fund, he developed a special statistical tool to help capture the true volume and complexity of chronic health conditions faced by childhood cancer survivors because of the long-term consequences of their treatment — something that hadn’t been done before.

AML and St. Baldrick's: A Continuing Story of Progress

Through collaboration with thought leaders in the research community, St. Baldrick’s has been highly responsive to the evolving landscape of childhood AML research. Our grants support every phase of the process, including early-stage research to challenge the status-quo and drive innovation.

Continue to Our Community

Because of You

Whether you've shaved your head, donated, volunteered, organized a head shaving event or gala to raise crucial funds or advocated on Capitol Hill, St. Baldrick's couldn't do it without you — over 36,710 people shaved their head at 1,108 events. And, with over 410,500 donors we raised over $37 million to support the best childhood cancer research.

And for that, we are so very grateful!

Partnerships Amplify Research Dollars

The St. Baldrick’s Foundation invites like-minded charities to fund or co-fund research projects approved through our highly respected scientific review process. This results in more efficient use of resources for grant applicants, scientific reviewers, and partnering foundations by avoiding duplication of efforts. Funding partners enable more highly impactful research to be funded, and by joining forces, we stand stronger as champions for childhood cancer research. Below is our list of current partners.

Griffin's Guardians

Griffin's Guardians was created by Erin and Adam Engle in memory of their son, Griffin, who fought a courageous battle with Glioblastoma Multiform, an aggressive form of brain cancer, at the age of seven. Griffin's Guardians' mission is to continue the fight for Griffin by providing support and financial assistance to children battling cancer in Central New York, to bring awareness and to provide funding for pediatric cancer research.

Love Your Melon

Love Your Melon is an apparel brand dedicated to giving a hat to every child battling cancer in America as well as supporting nonprofit organizations who lead the fight against pediatric cancer.

Making Headway Foundation

For over 20 years, the Making Headway Foundation’s mission has been to provide care and comfort for children with brain and spinal cord tumors while funding medical research geared to better treatments and a cure. Making Headway offers a continuum of services that includes individual counseling, educational advocacy, in-hospital quality-of-life programs, scholarships, fun family events, medical research grants, facilitating clinical trials, neuro-oncology fellowships, and so much more.

McKenna Claire Foundation

The McKenna Claire Foundation was conceived after Kristine and Dave Wetzel lost their youngest daughter, McKenna, to Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG) two weeks shy of her 8th birthday. The mission of the McKenna Claire Foundation is to cure pediatric brain cancer by raising awareness, increasing community involvement and funding research.

Micaela's Army Foundation

Originally, Micaela’s Army was a group of prayer warriors who loved and supported Micaela throughout her battle with AML. Now, Micaela’s spirit inspires the fight to find a cure for childhood, adolescent, and young adult cancers. The mission of Micaela’s Army is to raise and donate money to help fund cancer research, education, awareness, and patient support for the cancers that affect children and their families.

Osteosarcoma Collaborative

The Osteosarcoma Collaborative’s mission is to bring together data, researchers, patients and families to find new cures for osteosarcoma. Through advocacy, fundraising, education and awareness regarding the disease, it supports new treatment options for patients with this extremely aggressive and often recurring disease. In partnership with St. Baldrick’s, the Osteosarcoma Collaborative is funding research to develop new ways to treat osteosarcoma patients using immunotherapies.

Painting the Town Gold

Established by 17-year-old Todd Schultz of Glen Carbon, IL who is in treatment for high risk Philadelphia chromosome positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia, Painting the Town Gold helps communities take up the fight against childhood cancers throughout September by hosting a wide variety of fundraisers. Painting the Town Gold focuses on providing research funding for all types of childhood cancer.

Team Campbell Foundation

Team Campbell Foundation aims to improve the lives of those fighting childhood cancer by raising awareness, funding research and providing psycho-social enrichment opportunities. By partnering with St. Baldrick’s, the foundation helps to fund the critical research necessary to find a cure for childhood cancer.

The V Foundation for Cancer Research

The V Foundation for Cancer Research is a charitable organization dedicated to saving lives by helping to find a cure for cancer. The Foundation seeks to make a difference by generating broad-based support for cancer research and by creating an urgent awareness among all Americans of the importance of the war against cancer. The Foundation performs these dual roles through advocacy, education, fundraising, and philanthropy.

TLC Foundation

The Ty Louis Campbell (TLC) Foundation was created in memory of Ty, who lost his 2-year battle with brain cancer just days after his fifth birthday. The TLC Foundation funds innovative research and clinical trials specifically geared toward the treatment of the deadliest childhood cancers (including brain and spinal cord tumors). TLC seeks less toxic, more effective treatments that are specifically designed for children fighting cancer. The ultimate mission is to help fund the intelligence and technology that will uncover new ways to cure children with cancer.

Tough Like Ike

Created in honor of Ike Yarmon who was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia when he was four and is now in remission. Throughout his battle, Ike was resilient and inspired the family motto "tough like Ike". The foundation seeks to raise awareness and funds for research of leukemia and other childhood cancers in order to find new cures.

Continue to Hero Funds

We are grateful to the 2018 Ambassadors and their families for sharing their achievements and challenges. Their courage, commitment and strength are an inspiration.

Hero Funds

In the 2017-2018 fiscal year, Hero Funds raised over $2.9 million.

Hero Funds offer families an opportunity to join forces with St. Baldrick’s to fund the world’s best childhood cancer research while honoring a loved one. Families have access to our exceptional fundraising tools and highly-respected grantmaking program. Because of this support, each Hero Fund can cast a wider fundraising net to raise much needed dollars for childhood cancer research. Our sincere thanks to the following Hero Funds that were active during the fiscal year ending June 30, 2018.

Aiden's Army Fund in memory of Aiden Binkley — funding the Aiden's Army Fund St. Baldrick’s Fellow at Duke University Medical Center
Alan's Sarcoma Research Fund in memory of Alan Sanders — funding the Alan’s Sarcoma Research Fund St. Baldrick’s Research Grant at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
A.L.L. Heroes Fund in honor of Connor Benjamin
Amanda Rozman Pediatric Cancer Research Fund in memory of Amanda Rozman
Arden Quinn Bucher Memorial Fund in memory of Arden Bucher — funding the Arden Quinn Bucher Memorial St. Baldrick’s Scholar at Boston University
Be Brooks Brave Fund in memory of Brooks Blackmore - funding the Be Brooks Brave St. Baldrick’s Scholar at Stanford University
Ben's Green Drakkoman Fund in memory of Ben Stowell — funding the Ben’s Green Drakkoman Fund St. Baldrick’s Fellow at University of Michigan
Bianka's Butterfly Fund for PNET Brain Tumor Research in memory of Bianka Kucelin
Cooper’s Pediatric LCH Research Fund in honor of Cooper Bolt
Daniel the Brave Fund in memory of Daniel Gomez
David’s Warriors in memory of David Heard — funding the David’s Warriors St. Baldrick’s Scholar at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia
Derick the Defeater Fund in memory of Derick Palmer
Do It For Dominic in memory of Dominic Cairo
Ella's Love Heals A.L.L. in honor of Eleanor Seigel
Emily Beazley’s Kures for Kids in memory of Emily Beazley — funding the Emily Beazley’s Kures For Kids St. Baldrick’s Research Grants at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and the University of South Carolina, the Emily Beazley’s Kures for Kids St. Baldrick’s Scholar at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and the Emily Beazley’s Kures for Kids St. Baldrick’s Fellow at Emory University
For Eva Jane and All the Others in honor of Eva Bolls
For the Love of Jack in honor of Jack Tweedy
Friends for Hope Fund in honor of all children battling cancer — funding the Friends for Hope Fund St. Baldrick’s Scholar at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital
Georgia and the Peachy Keens Hero Fund in honor of Georgia Moore
Glen Parker Bayne Fund in honor of Glen Parker Bayne
Hannah’s Heroes in honor of Hannah Meeson — funding the Hannah’s Heroes St. Baldrick’s Scholar at Dana-Faber Cancer Institute
Hope for Daisy Research Fund for Pediatric Brain Tumors in honor of Daisy Walsh — funding the Hope for Daisy Research Fund for Pediatric Brain Tumors St. Baldrick’s Research Grant at the University of Michigan
Hope From Harper in memory of Harper Wehneman — funding the Hope From Harper St. Baldrick’s Fellow at University of Michigan
Hope with Hazel in memory of Hazel Hammersley — funding the Hope with Hazel St. Baldrick’s Scholar at University of California, Berkeley
Invictus Fund in memory of Holden Gilkinson — funding the Invictus Fund Research Grant at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia
Jack’s Pack — We Still Have His Back in memory of Jack Klein
JJ’s Angels in memory of Juliana LaMonica — funding the JJ’s Angels St. Baldrick’s Fellow at University Hospitals of Cleveland
Julia’s Legacy of Hope Fund in memory of Julia Janes
Just Do It … and be done with it in honor of Sara Martorano and all children battling cancer — funding the Just Do It…and be done with it St. Baldrick’s Research Grant at Northwestern University and generously supporting the consortium grant at the University of Chicago
Kai Slockers Pediatric Cancer Research Fund in memory of Kai Slockers
Kaitlyn’s Conquerors Fund in honor of Kaitlyn Jankovsky
Living for Luker in memory of Luke Pollok
Luke's Army Pediatric Cancer Research Fund in memory of Luke Ungerer
MaxLove Project Fund in honor of Max Wilford
Mighty Micah's Mission Fund in honor of Micah Bernstein
Mighty Mimi Fund in honor of Mimi Eynon — funding the Mighty Mimi Fund St. Baldrick’s Scholar at the University of Minnesota
Miracles for Michael Fund in memory of Michael Orbany — funding the Miracles for Michael Research Grant at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Not All Who Wander Are Lost Fund in memory of Kiersten Dickson
Oh Danny Boy, I Love You So: The Danny O'Brien Fund for Rhabdoid Tumor Research in memory of Danny O’Brien — funding the Oh Danny Boy, I Love You So: The Danny O’Brien Fund for Rhabdoid Tumor Research St. Baldrick’s Research Grant at Vanderbilt University
PFP Cancer Research Fund in memory of Peyton Arens
Pray for Dominic in memory of Dominic Liples
Rachael Chaffin’s Research Fund in memory of Rachael Chaffin
Rally for Ryan Fund in honor of Ryan Campanaro — generously supporting a St. Baldrick’s Scholar at New York University
Rays of Hope in memory of Rayanna Marrero — generously supporting a St. Baldrick’s Fellow at Stanford University
Robert Arceci Memorial Fund — supporting the St. Baldrick’s Robert J. Arceci Innovation Award
Savery for Avery Fund in honor of Avery Braden
Smiles for Cole in memory of Cole Stoddard
Stanley Kuzmickas Feeney Fund for Pediatric Cancer Research in honor of Stanley Kuzmickas Feeney
Strong & Courageous Fund in honor of Jonah Goodall
Super Soph's Pediatric Cancer Fund in memory of Sophie Rossi — generously supporting a St. Baldrick’s Fellow at UT Southwestern Medical Center
Sweet Caroline Fund in memory of Caroline Richards — generously supporting a St. Baldrick’s Research Grant at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center
Taylor’s Make a Difference Fund in memory of Taylor Boyle
TEAM ABBY Gives in honor of Abby Furco — generously supporting a St. Baldrick’s Scholar at the University of Pennsylvania
Team Clarkie Fund in honor of Clarkie Carroll
Team Georgia in memory of Georgia Godwin
Team Z for Phi in honor of Sophia Zematis
The Amagoia Lazkano Fund in memory of Amagoia Lazkano Retuerta
The Benicio Martinez Fund for Pediatric Cancer Research in honor of Benicio Martinez — funding the Benicio Martinez Fund for Pediatric Cancer Research St. Baldrick’s Research Grant at George Washington University
The Caemon Marston-Simmons Hero Fund in memory of Caemon Marston-Simmons
The Grace For Good Fund in honor of Grace Carey — funding the Grace for Good Fund St. Baldrick’s Supportive Care Research Grant at Baylor College of Medicine
The Henry Cermak Fund for Pediatric Cancer Research in memory of Henry Cermak
The Rebecca Alison Meyer Fund for Pediatric Cancer Research in memory of Rebecca Meyer
The Rich and Weissman Family Lymphoma and Survivorship Fund in honor of Jared Weissman
The Shohet Family Fund for Ewing Sarcoma Research in honor of Noah Shohet — generously supporting a Research Grant at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center
Thumbs Up Fund To Honor Brett Haubrich in honor of Brett Haubrich
Tough as Ace in memory of Asaph “Ace” Schwapp

Thank You

For an Amazing Year

You can be part of the next research breakthrough for kids with cancer. Donate today.

2018 Annual Report