Lauren's First and Goal Foundation

Lauren's First and Goal Awards More Than $120,000 in Grants

EASTON, PA (Dec. 17, 2014) - Lauren’s First and Goal Foundation today announced more than $120,000 in grant awards to pediatric cancer research, patient services and families impacted by the disease. LFG has now awarded more than $1.46 million in grants as part of the fight against pediatric cancer since 2004.

LFG is focusing the largest amount of its grants on pediatric cancer research, with two projects receiving $35,000 each. The research projects include:

- Dana Farber’s Pediatric Low-Grade Astrocytoma (PGLA) program

- Johns Hopkins’ Pilocytic/Pilomyxoid Research program

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. Four different programs have received a total of $31,000.

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, has attended Camp Can Do, which now partners with Gretna Glen Retreat Center. LFG has awarded $15,000 to Camp Can Do this year.

Additionally, the foundation is awarding $10,000 to Camp Sunshine this year for 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 Pediatric Cancer Foundation of the Lehigh Valley has had a long relationship with the foundation. This year, LFG has awarded $4,000 in support of their Chemo Circus activities at the Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Clinic and in-patient pediatrics.

Another returning grant recipient is the Kyle D. Kerpan Foundation. LFG is providing $2,000 in support of patient and family programming and clinic visits and comfort measures at Children’s Hospital of Pennsylvania’s pediatric brain tumor clinic. Kyle was 2 when he was diagnosed with his tumor, and lost his battle at age 11, but this foundation continues in his honor to help support other families.

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 nearly $20,000 to 42 families.