CHILDRENS CANCER FUND OF NEW MEXICO
This organization has already been registered
Someone in your organization has already registered and setup an account. would you like to join their team?Profile owner : d*******e@c***m.o*g
Mission Statement
The Children's Cancer Fund of New Mexico exists to help New Mexico's persons with cancer at a New Mexico Pediatric Oncology facility and their families cope with the day to day emotional, educational and financial needs of living with and fighting cancer.
About This Cause
THE CHILDREN’S CANCER FUND OF NEW MEXICO Helping New Mexico’s children with cancer and their families since 1972 OVERVIEW: The Children’s Cancer Fund of New Mexico exists to help persons in New Mexico’s being treated with pediatric cancer at a pediatric cancer facility and their families cope with the day-to-day emotional and financial needs of living with and fighting cancer. Pediatric Oncologists at the University of New Mexico Children’s Hospital established the organization in 1972. It remained primarily a volunteer group with a board that met only once annually. In 1986, with the establishment of the Erin Trujeque Memorial Golf Tournament to directly benefit the CCFNM, the organization’s budget grew from less than $2,000 per year in donations to over $20,000. As the event grew in size and money raised, in 2001 the CCFNM Board of Directors hired its first Executive Director and through a grant, obtained office space. The organization continues to have the strong support of the Board of Directors and hundreds of dedicated donors and volunteers in order to complete its mission. CCFNM now employs an Executive Director, a professional Clinic Liaison, a clerical/financial staff member and a part time student employee. In 2011, the UNM Children’s Hospital provided a space within the facility where CCFNM now administers their services to children with cancer and their families. CCFNM now also serves pediatric oncology patients at Presbyterian Hospital’s newly created pediatric oncology program. From the moment a New Mexico child is diagnosed with cancer, the Children's Cancer Fund of New Mexico is there to help providing the following: • Education and information about childhood cancer including treatment and support options provided in the form of a parent handbook. • Assistance for transportation costs to and from the clinic in the form of gas and transportation vouchers. • Food and grocery vouchers to help parents feed their families during lengthy stays in Albuquerque. • Emergency assistance for families who are having difficulties paying living expenses such as housing, utilities, etc. • Prizes and bravery awards for children to help minimize the trauma of painful procedures such as spinal-taps, bone marrow biopsies, chemotherapy treatments and prolonged hospital stays. • Scholarship assistance to students who have undergone treatment for childhood cancer in New Mexico and wish to continue their education beyond high school. • Mutual support through educational conferences, social activities and support groups. • Childhood cancer education, prevention, treatment and detection program funded by CHI St. Joseph’s Children. • Emotional support for both the pediatric oncology patient and related family members. • Financial counseling for parents or family members. • Funeral assistance to families in need. Every child diagnosed with cancer in New Mexico is immediately referred to the CCFNM by hospital social workers. They fill out an in-take form and receive detailed information about the services available to them. Each and every family receives some form of service. For some it is only a reward for their child but for most it is in the form of financial assistance. Our goal is to help all families and we track their visits through our database to assure that each one has been assisted. The CCFNM touches the lives of EVERY family in New Mexico who is affected by pediatric cancer. From awarding small bravery prizes after painful treatments to providing meals, CCFNM supports every family in some way. In the best cases CCFNM is able to award scholarships to pediatric cancer survivors and in the most difficult cases, pay for funeral costs. The Children's Cancer Fund of New Mexico awards the Erin Trujeque Memorial Scholarship to students who have undergone treatment for childhood cancer in New Mexico and wish to continue their education beyond high school. Since its inception, nearly 300 persons have received the scholarship. This academic year more than $185,000 in scholarships will be awarded to 28 students attending institutions of higher learning. Four scholarship recipients have graduated from Medical School and are helping others in their communities. Scholarship recipients are required to contribute a minimum of 12 hours of community service to the Children's Cancer Fund of New Mexico in order to receive the award. Not only does this scholarship offer an opportunity for students who have overcome one of the biggest challenges of their lives realize their dreams, it helps create citizens who learn the value of giving back and helping others within the community. Albuquerque is the only city in the State that has a pediatric hospice program, which is the Mariposa Program. Through a gift from CHI St. Joseph’s Children, CCFNM is able to assist this program in several ways but innovatively, provides on-site temporary housing for hospice nurses in extreme cases when end of life pain is so severe that it needs to be constantly monitored. CCFNM has rented an RV so that the hospice nurse can be on site and accessible to the family at a moment’s notice while still allowing the family their privacy. This has proven to be an extremely valuable service for families facing the most difficult time of their lives. For those children who reside outside of Albuquerque, pediatric hospice care is not an option unless they remain in the hospital for end of life care or stay in a local hotel where pediatric hospice staff can care for them. The CCFNM has begun construction of a homelike facility where children can receive specialized pediatric end of life care surrounded by family, friends and even pets. Some children who experience more complicated cancers or experience more serious side effects from treatment are required to remain in Albuquerque sometimes for months at a time, not necessarily because they require hospitalization but because they need to be near their treatment facility. While Ronald McDonald House and Casa Esperanza are available to families, they are short term care facilities and sometimes do not allow for the privacy families should enjoy in a more homelike atmosphere. CCFNM will make the facility, which is called Erin’s Place, available to families in these unique situations. Through a grant through the Livestrong Foundation, the Children’s Cancer Fund has implemented an Artist in Residence Program at the UNM Children’s Hospital. Angus Macpherson, a very well-known local artist works bedside and in small group settings with children in the UNMH Pediatric Oncology Unit to help them discover their own creative resources while meeting the challenges of diagnosis, treatment and survivorship. The CCFNM worked directly with The Creative Center who has years of experience in providing art programs for persons of all ages with cancer. The program, which began in June 2012, has proven to be extremely worthwhile and helpful. In a note written to Angus by a parent stated, “Thank you so much for doing a wonderful job keeping my son entertained last week during his chemotherapy. My husband said Max was so interested in the art project that he didn’t play video games. That is impressive— to get a 7 yr. old boy to put down video games! Thank you!” While the grant was for one year, the CCFNM has realized its enormous value and is committed to continuing this program by raising funds designated for this purpose. The Board of Directors of the CCFNM has established an Endowment Fund at the Albuquerque Community Foundation and plans to continue to contribute to this endowment in order to create another secure funding source going forward to continue to help fulfill the mission of CCFNM. Additionally the CCFNM Board and staff continuously look for opportunities to collaborate with other organizations throughout New Mexico as well as have begun the process of reaching out to existing donors to discuss legacy-giving opportunities. Our Board and staff monitor the CCFNM’s finances and budget very closely to ensure the financial health of the organization. In addition, requiring scholarship recipients to volunteer with CCFNM, which encourages future participation from them as successful adults. For the past 20+ years, the CCFNM’s donor base has largely consisted of persons and companies within the construction industry. As we all know, this industry has been one of the most affected by the economic slowdown. While some donors have given less than in the past, they have remained loyal to the organization and continued to give to and provide potential resources outside of their industry. The CCFNM is most fortunate to have the support of such loyal donors and continues to cultivate and appreciate them. In addition to loyalty in our donor base, we are attempting to expand that donor base throughout not only Albuquerque but throughout the State. The Children’s Cancer Fund of New Mexico has been able to demonstrate the need and desire for our services to the point of being given dedicated office space at UNMH. Because of that, we have been able to provide services to every child treated there. Additionally, CCFNM has developed a process to support families treated at Presbyterian Hospital. Children's Cancer Fund of New Mexico is the only organization of its kind that works directly with the Pediatric Oncology clinic providers of New Mexico to stay in touch with the day-to-day needs of both patients and families. CCFNM provides toys, art supplies, movies, games and other items to the playroom at University of New Mexico Children’s Hospital to make clinic visits more tolerable. Snack closets are also maintained by CCFNM providing nourishment to children while recuperating from early morning treatments and to families whose children are hospitalized for long periods of time. CCFNM maintains a direct presence with an office located at University of New Mexico Children’s Hospital, offering hands-on financial and emotional support to families. In addition, CCFNM has long-term commitments to help support non-treatment programs at the Pediatric Oncology Clinic: