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Lauren's First and Goal Awards More Than $175,000 in Grants

EASTON, PA (Dec. 16, 2013) - Lauren’s First and Goal Foundation today announced more than $177,000 in grant awards to pediatric cancer research, patient services and families impacted by the disease. LFG has now awarded more than $1.3 million in grants as part of the fight against pediatric cancer since 2004.

“We are very grateful to all of the members of Lauren's Circle of Strength – our generous donors, football camp participants, volunteers, coaches and trainers, who return year after year to support our research initiatives and patient/family support programs. Over the past ten years, grants from LFG have supported research that facilitates the translation of science into new treatments for pediatric brain tumors. This targeted research has made the genetic analysis of tumors possible, which enables the development of more personalized therapies for patients and provides the best treatments possible,” said LFG founder Marianne Loose.

LFG is focusing the largest amount of its grants on pediatric cancer research, with three projects receiving $45,000 each. The research projects include:

  • Dana Farber’s Pediatric Low-Grade Astrocytoma (PGLA) program
  • Johns Hopkins’ Pilocytic/Pilomyxoid Research program
  • Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia’s Brain Tumor Tissue Consortium

Each of these projects has received a foundation grant in previous years as well.

Along with their dedication to funding pediatric cancer research, Lauren’s First and Goal continues its focus on supporting patient services that ease the burden on families.
The first award recipient is Camp Can Do, a week-long camp for children who are receiving treatment that provides a normal, active and safe camp experience. Camp Can Do attendees explore the outdoors, swim, fish, boat, work with arts and crafts, and spend a day at Hersheypark among other activities. Lauren, as well as numerous patients from the Lehigh Valley Oncology Clinic, have attended Camp Can Do, which lost its funding from the American Cancer Society. Camp Can Do has filed for non-profit status as a 501c3 to continue to serve families.

Additionally, the foundation is awarding $12,000 to Camp Sunshine this year that allowed six families to attend camp for the Low Grade Pediatric Brain Tumor week. Camp Sunshine is a year-round program that provides respite, support, joy and hope to children with life-threatening illnesses and their immediate families through various stages of a child’s illness.

The final piece of LFG´s mission is family support, recognizing the financial strain of a cancer diagnosis. So far this year, the foundation has provided more than $15,000 to 21 families.

To learn more about Lauren’s First and Goal and the organizations it supports, please visit the Grants page of our website or facebook.