“Lack of awareness is the primary challenge. Very few people know that pediatric cancer is the public enemy #1 in terms of diseases that steal the lives of more children in the U.S. than any other. But once you tell someone about the need, you get their attention. And once you get their attention, you have a good chance of getting them involved and give them the power to know that they can make a difference. It is proven time and time again when someone registers to hold a Cookies for Kids’ Cancer event who has no connection to me or Liam.”
Cookies for Kids’ Cancer is committed to raising funds to support research for new and improved therapies for pediatric cancer, the leading cause of death by disease for children under the age of 18. Through the concept of local bake sales, Cookies for Kids’ Cancer provides the inspiration and support for individuals, communities, and businesses to help fight pediatric cancer. There are many ways to support Cookies for Kids’ Cancer, including sending cookies for birthdays, anniversaries or just because. You don’t have to eat or bake cookies to be a “good cookie”. Other supporters have run marathons, held tag sales, organized golf tournaments, collected spare change, and hosted car wash to support the cause. There is also an online place to donate once or once a month.
Roughly, 25 percent of kids diagnosed with cancer will not survive, Gretchen Witt’s son Liam among them - he did not live to see his seventh birthday. In fact, pediatric cancer claims the lives of more kids in the U.S. than any other disease. The reason why is simple: lack of funds to get promising new treatments into the clinic. Approximately nine out of 10 research proposals submitted to the government for consideration each year do not receive funds, so money raised in the private sector is the only way to bring potentially game changing new treatments forward. Cookies for Kids’ Cancer gives individuals anywhere and everywhere the opportunity to “Be a Good Cookie” and join the fight against pediatric cancer by providing the inspiration and the how-to’s needed to host a bake sale. Gretchen, via Cookies for Kids’ Cancer, literally puts money in the hands of doctors at leading cancer centers around the world to fund research that is changing pediatric cancer outcomes for the better. But Gretchen will not stop until kids stop dying from cancer. That’s why Gretchen is a 2011 Woman of Worth!
Filed under pediatric cancer cookies for kids' cancer
May was an incredible month for Cookies for Kids’ Cancer! Thanks to hundreds of bake sales, corporate donations, and even our little $5K donation from Marriott, Cookies was able to raise over $500,000 for pediatric cancer research!
We are excited to continue adding to this growing number when we auction off The Baking Shoes. We will hold the auction throughout the month of September to go along with the official Pediatric Cancer Awareness month. So, save your pennies because we have the shoes and something else pretty awesome to go along with them!
You can read the official press release from Cookies for Kids’ Cancer below and remember…always LOVE LIKE LIAM!
COOKIES FOR KIDS’ CANCER SUPPORTERS UNITE TO MAKE MAY 2011
THE ORGANIZATION’S BIGGEST FUNDRAISING MONTH ON RECORD
Events raise over half a million dollars and achieve largest match from longtime supporter
The Glad Products Company
Califon, NJ – July 18, 2011 Cookies for Kids’ Cancer and The Glad Products Company announce today that May 2011 was the biggest month on record in the organization’s nearly 3-year history with the most bake sales held and the most money raised in a month. Cookies for Kids’ Cancer is a national non-profit organization committed to raising funds to support research for new and improved therapies for pediatric cancer, the leading cause of death by disease for children under the age of 18 in the US. Founded by Gretchen and Larry Witt who were inspired by their son Liam’s courageous battle with cancer, Cookies for Kids’ Cancer inspires individuals, communities and businesses to help fight pediatric cancer through the concept of local bake sales.
During May, more than 300 individual events combined to raise over half a million dollars in donations to the organization. The achievement was inspired by what should have been the 7th birthday of the Witt’s son, Liam, on May 13th. Known to many as Prince Liam the Brave, Liam came to the end of a courageous 4-year battle with cancer in late January. What followed was a call to action from both the organization and longtime corporate partner The Glad Products Company to honor Liam’s birthday and to inspire support for the fight against pediatric cancer. Glad stepped forward with the promise to match funds raised at bake sales in May up to $225,000. This match represents the company’s largest single donation to Cookies for Kids’ Cancer in the shortest amount of time. Because of the match, Cookies for Kids’ Cancer’s total income for May, counting both the event donations and the Glad match, totaled more than $750,000.
“As a way to honor Liam and inspire people to join the cause, Glad held our largest match since we began supporting Cookies for Kids’ Cancer in 2009 in the shortest window of time,” shared Molly Steinkrauss, Public Relations Manager for Glad Storage Products. “It was inspiring to see how friends, families, communities and even strangers came together to help Cookies for Kids’ Cancer raise more money and host more bake sales in one month than ever before.”
“We are humbled by and grateful for the goodness of people who host Cookies for Kids’ Cancer bake sales. And we are especially thankful to Glad for their ongoing support in the fight against pediatric cancer,” says Gretchen Holt Witt, founder of Cookies for Kids’ Cancer. “Each day, our mission is to not only honor Liam’s love and passion for life but also to keep alive his desire to take care of others. We do this by supporting new, safer treatments for pediatric cancer, because every child deserves the chance to grow up. We already know children who are benefitting from treatments funded by Cookies for Kids’ Cancer. Every effort counts, and every dollar counts.”
The news of May’s record-breaking success comes on the heels of the organization’s announcement of $700,000 in grants to top pediatric cancer research centers, with plans to grant more funds again in September during pediatric cancer awareness month.
About Cookies for Kids’ Cancer:
Cookies for Kids’ Cancer was founded by parents inspired by their son’s fight against cancer. Today pediatric cancer remains the number one disease killer of children in the United States, due in large part to a lack of funding for research into new and improved therapies. Through the concept of local bake sales and online cookie sales, Cookies for Kids’ Cancer inspires individuals, organizations, and businesses to join in the fight against pediatric cancer by raising the funds and awareness necessary to change the facts of pediatric cancer and provide more families with the hope they deserve. Cookies for Kids’ Cancer grants funds raised to leading pediatric cancer research facilities including Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Texas Children’s Cancer Center, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and Dana Farber Cancer Center. For more information, visit www.cookiesforkidscancer.org. Follow on Facebook at www.facebook.com/cookiesforkidscancer and Twitter www.twitter.com/cookies4kids.
The Glad Products Company
The Glad Products Company is wholly owned subsidiary of The Clorox Company. The Clorox Company is a leading manufacturer and marketer of consumer products with 8,300 employees and fiscal year 2009 revenues of $5.5 billion. Clorox markets some of consumers’ most trusted and recognized brand names, including its namesake bleach and cleaning products; Green Works® natural cleaning and laundry products; Armor All® and STP® auto-care products; Fresh Step® and Scoop Away® cat litter; Kingsford® charcoal; Hidden Valley® and K C Masterpiece® dressings and sauces; Brita® water-filtration systems; Glad® bags, wraps and containers; and Burt’s Bees® natural personal care products. The company’s products are manufactured in more than two dozen countries and sold in more than 100 countries. Clorox is committed to making a positive difference in the communities where its employees work and live. Founded in 1980, The Clorox Company Foundation has awarded cash grants totaling more than $77 million to nonprofit organizations, schools and colleges. In fiscal 2009 alone, the foundation awarded $3.6 million in cash grants, and Clorox made product donations valued at $7.8 million. For more information about Clorox, visit www.TheCloroxCompany.com.
Filed under Cookies for Kids' Cancer Jayma Mays The Baking Shoes Charity
…and The Baking Shoes!
After putting my tired kiddies to bed tonight, I grabbed my phone to catch up on some emails and I happened to see an email from a wonderful woman with Marriott International. I have been in contact with her lately while pitching them the idea of giving a grant to Cookies for Kids’ Cancer. Well, it turns out that Marriott really is everything it stands for and MORE. They have generously agreed to donate a whopping $5,000 to Cookies for Kids’ Cancer!
We at The Baking Shoes are beyond grateful to Marriott for their generous donation and we have had a marvelous time on this journey.
The Shoes have returned to their temporary home and have quite the story to tell. The auction will take place very soon and we have some great stuff to go along with them so keep an eye on us and we’ll keep you posted.
Once again, thank you to Marriott for their amazing contribution to this incredible foundation. And thank you to all of you for following us!
XO,
Rachel
The Shoes have made it safely to Canada! This is the final leg of their journey and they will be headed back to DC and prepared for auction soon, but not before they live it up for a little while in Quebec so stay tuned!
XO
As you may have suspected, the shoes successfully arrived. Can I just tell you that they are heavenly? Moving on. They arrived in February and, like most northeastern states, we were in the middle of a never-ending winter.
All that snow prevented me from doing much; however, I was fortunately able to host a bake sale last October. Two friends and two carloads of baked goods later, we were ready. After about twelve hours, we were left with two lollipops, a piece of apple cake, and a few mini-cheesecakes. We raised $545.97, and Glad to Give matched that to give us a grand total of $1,091.94 to donate to Cookies for Kids’ Cancer. This just proves that literally anyone can pull off these bake sales! If two 16-year-olds can do it, anyone can! The great thing about it: Cookies for Kids’ Cancer provides steps and resources on how to plan, prepare for, and host a bake sale on their website.
(Yes, that is an apron and yes, I am wearing layers…it was cold!)
(Round 1: Less than ½ of the food baked)
(Almost there!)
Of course, before I sent the shoes home I just HAD to bake in them! I whipped up a batch of Jayma’s flourless peanut butter cookies and turned up the Shania Twain songs (because that’s the best kind of music you could listen to while baking).
And you know what, they were AMAZING!
After our fun, I tucked the shoes in and sent them on there way. THE SHOES HAVE GONE INTERNATIONAL!!!!
Elizabeth :D
So as I gear up to have a very gleeful weekend, the shoes sadly are spending their last night here in this wonderful city before running off to Pennsylvania to see Liz!
But before I pack up these pretty little ladies I just had to bake in them. So I hit the kitchen in 1950’s style and baked up some chocolate chip cookies!
I love you shoes! Have a safe journey on your way to Liz, and now more than ever let everyone hear your amazing message! Lets find a cure for Pediatric Cancer!
Also in light of today my deepest condolences go out to Liam’s family. You’re in my prayers and thoughts.
We’re sad to share that Liam, the 6 yr old boy at the center of Cookies for Kids’ Cancer, lost his battle to pediatric cancer on Monday. His friends at Glad are mourning his loss along with his family and pass along the family’s request that all their friends and supporters help them spread the word about pediatric cancer and Cookies for Kids’ Cancer. Honor Liam by helping Cookies for Kids’ Cancer reach 50,000 fans TODAY. Like them now and inspire others by sharing this post!
Spread the Word and Make a Difference
Filed under Cookies for Kids Cancer Glad to Give Jayma Mays
