Walther Cancer Foundation to Match New Children's Cancer Research Endowments
Children’s cancer treatments fall far short of what our kids deserve. We must accelerate research into new, more effective and less barbaric treatments that not only cure more kids, but preserve their quality of life.
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More than 80% of children diagnosed with cancer are cured, but that number doesn’t begin to make clear the damage cancer wreaks on kids and their families. Approximately 1,800 kids still die each year from the disease in the United States alone, and some types of childhood cancer remain especially deadly. For those who do survive, toxic treatments exact an irreversible toll on their health. Chemotherapy, radiation, steroids and other therapies leave children with lifelong chronic conditions that range from fragile bones to strained hearts to infertility.  Skylar Dobbins survived two battles
with leukemia that robbed her of her elementary school experience.
She’s now cancer free, but her bones were so ravaged by the treatment that she has trouble walking,
lives with excruciating pain, and will eventually require an artificial hip.  Tate Hartzler overcame stage 3 liver
cancer as a baby. But he now must wear hearing aids — a side effect of chemo — and weak bones have led to multiple breaks.  Layla Cunningham was diagnosed with a brain
tumor when she was 4 years old, kidney cancer when she was 10 and thyroid cancer when she was 15. Despite all she endured, she remained a bright light who loved to sing, dance and make other
people happy by drawing cards for them. She passed away in 2022 at the age of 19 when her brain cancer recurred. |
Matching Program Doubles the Power of Your Gift
Walther Cancer Foundation – Indiana’s leading independent foundation dedicated exclusively to funding cancer research – is contributing $10 million to encourage individuals, businesses, foundations and civic organizations to invest in children’s cancer research.
For a limited time, Walther will match all new children’s cancer research endowments established through Riley Children’s Foundation. A minimum commitment of $100,000 is required. As a result, a $100,000 gift becomes $200,000. A $500,000 commitment doubles to become $1 million. A $1 million fund donation creates a $2 million fund.
How an Endowment Works
An endowment is a fund that lasts forever. Rather than spend your donation outright, Riley Children’s Foundation permanently invests it. As the investment earns income, a portion of those earnings is made available each year to propel the program, specialty area or type of research you choose – in this case, children’s cancer research.
You may choose to establish the endowment in your name, the name of a loved one cared for at Riley Children’s Health, or someone else important to you. Because the endowment will remain in place for all time, the name you choose will always be connected to Riley and children’s cancer research.
What Your Endowment Will Support
Funds established through the Walther Cancer Foundation Matching Gift Program will support children’s cancer researchers affiliated with Riley Children’s Health. Through a century-long partnership, Riley pediatric cancer specialists collaborate with some of the nation’s top researchers at Indiana University School of Medicine, forming a powerhouse team focused on delivering leading-edge solutions to children in Indiana and beyond.
Physicians and scientists from Riley and IU will use money donated through the Walther Matching Gift Program to pursue the most promising ideas and test next generation therapies. Funding will support:
- Early stage laboratory studies to understand how cancer develops and spreads
- Precision medicine, including high-tech genomic sequencing, to tailor therapies to individual patients
- Drug development research aimed at curing more cancer and make existing treatments less toxic
- Clinical research studies to test new therapies and make the most promising treatments available in Indiana while
they are still under development - Survivorship research to ensure those who beat their cancer have the best long-term quality of life
Meet Your Match
To take advantage of this special opportunity, simply document your commitment of $100,000 or more with Riley Children’s Foundation. Commitments may be paid all at once, or over a period of no more than five years. Planned gifts are not eligible.
Commitments may be fulfilled in a variety of ways, such as check, credit card, stock transfer, and IRA charitable rollover (for those age 70 ½ and above). If you are interested in giving through a donor advised fund or another mechanism, we encourage you to speak with one of our development team members.