Chance For Hope Foundation

PROVIDE SUPPORTING SERVICES FOR CHILDREN WITH CANCER, AND THE FAMILIES OF THOSE CHILDREN.

THE CHANCE FOR HOPE FOUNDATION SIGNED ITS FIRST APARTMENT LEASE IN NOVEMBER 2014 AND NOW HAS MULTIPLE RESIDENCES PROVIDING OVER 1,800 NIGHTS OF FREE LODGING ANNUALLY. THE CHANCE FOR HOPE RESIDENCES ARE FULLY FURNISHED ONE-BEDROOM APARTMENTS IN THE TEXAS MEDICAL CENTER, PROVIDED AT NO COST TO FAMILIES TRAVELING TO HOUSTON FOR PEDIATRIC CANCER TREATMENTS. THE RESIDENCES ARE PROVIDED ON A FIRST COME, FIRST SERVE BASIS, AND OFFER A SHUTTLE SERVICE THAT PROVIDES QUICK ACCESS TO TEXAS CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL AND THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS MD ANDERSON CHILDREN'S CANCER HOSPITAL AND PROTON THERAPY CENTER. IN 2022, THIS PROGRAM SERVED 33 FAMILIES.

DESPITE THE TRAGEDY OF CHILDREN LOST TO CANCER, CHILDHOOD CANCERS OF ALL TYPES RECEIVE ONLY 4% OF U.S. FEDERAL FUNDING FOR CANCER RESEARCH. THIS DISPARITY IS SIGNIFICANT BECAUSE CHILDHOOD CANCERS ARE NOT THE SAME AS ADULT CANCERS, AND THEREFORE TREATMENT PROTOCOLS AND THERAPIES ARE NOT INTERCHANGEABLE. IN 2015, THE CHANCE FOR HOPE FOUNDATION COMMENCED ITS RESEARCH ENDEAVORS, WITH THE GOAL OF REDUCING THIS MAJOR FUNDING GAP. AS PART OF THIS EFFORT, THE FOUNDATION FUNDS AND MONITORS RESEARCH INITIATIVES DESIGNED TO IMPROVE TREATMENT PROTOCOLS AND ULTIMATELY TO FIND A CURE FOR CHILDHOOD CANCER, WITH A FOCUS ON CANCER OF THE BRAIN AND CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM, WHICH IS NOW THE DEADLIEST FORM OF CANCER IN CHILDREN AND COMPRISES 18% OF ALL PEDIATRIC CANCER DIAGNOSES. WE UNDERSTAND THAT THE CHALLENGE OF FINDING A CURE FOR CHILDHOOD CANCER IS SIGNIFICANT, AND THAT RESEARCH FUNDING NEEDS ARE GREAT, BUT THE FUNDS WE RAISE TOGETHER, ALONG WITH EFFORTS OF CHILDHOOD CANCER ORGANIZATIONS ACROSS THE GLOBE, CAN AND WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE. TO EASE THE FINANCIAL BURDEN CARRIED BY MOST FAMILIES OF PEDIATRIC CANCER, THE FOUNDATION CONDUCTS AN ANNUAL GIFT CARD DRIVE FOR CHILDREN IN TREATMENT TO PURCHASE BACK TO SCHOOL SUPPLIES.

THE FOUNDATION PROVIDES MEAL DELIVERIES TO FAMILIES AT TEXAS CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL AND MD ANDERSON TWICE MONTHLY. WHEN CHILDREN ARE UNDERGOING IN-PATIENT CANCER TREATMENT, OFTEN ONE PARENT MUST REMAIN EMPLOYED WHILE THE OTHER PARENT SUPPORTS THEIR CHILD AS PRIMARY CAREGIVER PROVIDING AROUND-THE-CLOCK CARE FOR THEIR CHILDREN. THIS MAKES IT DIFFICULT FOR THE PARENT TO LEAVE THE HOSPITAL FLOOR TO GET FOOD. SELF-CARE OF THE CAREGIVER IS CRITICAL DURING THIS EXTREMELY STRESSFUL TIME. IN 2022, THIS PROGRAM SERVED 4,638 INDIVIDUALS. AT THE END OF 2021 THE FOUNDATION ADDED THE SNACK CART PROGRAM. THIS PROGRAM SERVES CHILDREN UNDERGOING OUTPATIENT CANCER TREATMENT AT TEXAS CHILDREN'S CANCER CLINIC, AND THE MD ANDERSON CHILDREN'S CANCER CLINIC AND PROTON THERAPY CENTER. THE SNACK CART WILL PROVIDE REFRESHMENTS FOR KIDS DURING CHALLENGING AND SOMETIMES LENGTHY CHEMOTHERAPY, RADIATION, BLOOD TRANSFUSIONS AND OTHER OUTPATIENT MEDICAL TREATMENTS. THIS CART GETS REPLENISHED MONTHLY WITH A LARGE ASSORTMENT OF SNACKS. IN 2022 THE SNACK CART SERVED OVER 14,000 INDIVIDUALS.