Making a Difference

Hope & Heroes

Since 1996, New York-based Hope & Heroes has been dedicated to aiding research and state-of-the-art treatment that supports children with cancer and blood disorders and their families. Hope & Heroes made a gift of $100,000 in support of the research conducted by Peter Cole, MD, Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Chief and Embrace Kids Foundation Endowed Chair in Pediatric Hematology/Oncology at Rutgers Cancer Institute. The funds will support his study examining medical interventions that can prevent the side effects of chemotherapy and other therapies in children with brain tumors.

“Our hope is that our protective strategy will allow pediatric brain cancer survivors to have an improved quality of life when they grow up,” notes Dr. Cole. “To make sure we have the most advanced treatment options for our children, we must continue our research that will lead to more choices and more therapies, thus we are grateful for this support from Hope & Heroes.”

Dr. Cole is also Director of Hematology, Oncology and Cellular Therapies at Bristol-Myers Squibb Children’s Hospital at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital and Director of the New Jersey Pediatric Hematology Oncology Research Center of Excellence. He leads the Hugs for Brady Foundation Pediatric Cancer Research Laboratory at Rutgers Cancer Institute.

Fightstrong Foundation

Joseph Nigro’s experience with Hodgkin lymphoma in 2021 at the age of 20 left a lasting impression. The outpouring of support from the community during his battle inspired him to create Fightstrong Foundation (FSF), a nonprofit organization dedicated to raising funds for those less fortunate in their cancer journey to help improve their quality of life.

While undergoing treatment, Nigro felt the need to help make a patient’s time in the clinic a more enjoyable experience.Recently, FSF donated four 43-inch televisions and accompanying mobile carts, video game consoles, video games, and headphones to the pediatric clinic at Rutgers Cancer Institute. Thank you, Fightstrong Foundation, for your generous donations, bringing fun and entertainment to our youngest patients!

Sarah’s Fight for Hope

Created in memory of Sarah Crowley who lost her battle with cancer in 2017 at age 14, Sarah’s Fight for Hope Foundation has been serving families in New Jersey for cancer for many years. Most recently, Sarah’s Fight for Hope set aside $20,000 in one-time grants for Rutgers Cancer Institute pediatric patients in honor of Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.

In addition to helping defray the cost of basic living expenses for families in need, the Foundation also assists bereaved parents with unplanned funeral expenses. They regularly donate healthy snacks for patients and have generously provided back-to-school supplies. Sarah’s Fight for Hope Foundation continues their spirit of giving and acts of kindness to positively impact families with children undergoing treatment.

Memorial Wall

The Memorial Wall at Rutgers Cancer Institute honors loved ones who are fondly remembered and deeply missed. When memorial donations made in someone’s honor total $2,500 or more, families may elect to include the name of their loved one on the Memorial Wall. A recent open house provided families the opportunity to visit and see the names of their loved ones. Pictured [above/below/left/right] is the family of Christopher Dean, whose name recently was added, with surgical oncologist Timothy Kennedy, MD, MBA. (far left). 

To learn more about the Memorial Wall and directing donations in memory of a loved one, visit cinj.org/giving/honor-remember or email the Rutgers Cancer Institute Development Office.

In the Fight Together

WADE’S ARMY has made a gift of $100,000 in support of a dedicated treatment room for children receiving cellular therapy or stem cell transplantations at the pediatric hematology/oncology unit of The Bristol-Myers Squibb Children’s Hospital at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital and Rutgers Cancer Institute. “This program and a dedicated treatment room will impact the lives of many pediatric patients and their families by providing access to specialized care close to home. We are grateful that WADE’S ARMY shares in and supports our mission,” notes Niketa C. Shah, MD, chief of Pediatric Bone Marrow Transplantation and Cellular Therapies at Rutgers Cancer Institute and associate professor of pediatrics at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School.

WITH Grace

WITH Grace, founded by Grace Eline and her family, was established to support pediatric cancer research initiatives and families when they need it most. Driven by kindness, WITH Grace strives to ensure that no one feels alone in their cancer journey.

Inspired by Grace’s battle with a rare brain tumor in 2018 at 9 years old, WITH Grace pledged $25,000 to Rutgers Cancer Institute. Many children with brain tumors receive radiation to all or part of their brain as part of their treatment regimen. While radiation is effective, it interferes with normal brain development and often causes permanent damage to structures within the brain. There are programs that can help children cope with cognitive deficits, but there are no proven treatments that prevent damage from occurring in the first place. The funds donated by WITH Grace will support a pediatric brain tumor radiation study, led by Pediatric/Hematology Chief Peter Cole, MD, which examines medical interventions that can protect against brain damage induced by radiation therapy.

Additionally, WITH Grace donated art carts and supplies, which volunteers circulate through the pediatric and adult waiting and infusion areas. The carts are fully stocked with various arts and crafts materials, offering patients a creative outlet through expressive art to help relieve stress. Thank you, WITH Grace team!

A Helping Hand

The Monica K. Young Foundation was founded by the Young family in 2022 in memory of Monica K. Young after she lost a courageous four-year battle with ovarian cancer in 2021. Her family notes Monica was a devoted wife and incredible mother to four children -- deeply loved by family, friends, and all those who had the pleasure of knowing her. Because she lived her life generously caring for others, her family set up the foundation in her name with a mission of raising ovarian cancer awareness, supporting individuals affected by the disease, and funding research initiatives to find a cure. The Foundation recently made a $50,000 donation to Rutgers Cancer Institute to create the Monica K. Young Foundation Fund to support and alleviate the burden of medical expenses on financially vulnerable ovarian cancer patients and families. With your support, her legacy will live on as we positively impact the lives of others affected by this disease.

Denim Days

For more than a decade, East Brunswick Public Schools has raised money each year for Rutgers Cancer Institute through a district-wide “denim day.” To date, over $32,000 has been donated to support research areas in pediatric hematology/oncology, breast cancer, and leukemia/lymphoma. Thank you, East Brunswick Public Schools!

Linden High School Volleyball

The Linden High School Varsity Girls Volleyball team collected over $2,100 between 2022 and 2023 and donated to breast cancer research at Rutgers Cancer Institute. A tradition since 2016, the team sold t-shirts and collected donations to raise money to help prevent and find a cure for breast cancer. Players also made posters and decorated the gym to spread awareness. A ceremony was held before the Linden High School vs. Elizabeth High School varsity game to honor breast cancer patients and survivors. Both teams sported pink uniforms for the event and were cheered on by an enthusiastic crowd.

Shopping for a Cause

Venus Jewelers, located at 1024 Easton Avenue in Somerset, hosted a shop-for-a-cause event during the holiday season. 100% of net proceeds from T. Jazelle Gemstone Cause Charm Bracelets were donated to Rutgers Cancer Institute. Each design features an inspirational charm with a unique meaning and message. Thank you for your support!

Drive for a Cure

Park Avenue BMW hosted a “Drive for a Cure” event to promote breast cancer awareness. For every test drive on October 20 and 21, Park Avenue would donate $100 to Rutgers Cancer Institute, as well as encouraging donations from clients, staff, family, and friends. Sharing in the excitement, management committed on the spot to donate $100 for the sale of every new or previously owned car. Between donations, test drives, and sales, the event raised more than $25,700. Thank you, Park Avenue BMW!

Party in Pink

RWJ Fitness & Wellness New Brunswick hosted Party in Pink fitness events to raise awareness for breast cancer. Donations were directed to breast cancer research at Rutgers Cancer Institute.

Walk for a Cure

The annual Middlesex County Pancreatic Cancer Walk for the Cure & Fun Run saw more than 200 participants this past fall. More than $14,000 was raised for pancreatic cancer research at Rutgers Cancer Institute.

For(e) a Good Reason

The 5th annual Emeritus Wealth golf outing benefitting Rutgers Cancer Institute raised more than $20,000! The Emeritus Wealth team visited the cancer center and presented the check to Bruce Haffty, MD, MS (second from right), Chair of Radiation Oncology and Associate Vice Chancellor for Cancer Programs. With this latest installment, the total contribution over five years is more than $71,000. Thank you, Emeritus Wealth!

A Lasting Smile

The 6th annual Smiles for Om 5K hosted more than 1,500 participants. Honored as the event’s Grand Ambassador was Grace Eline, a cancer survivor treated at Rutgers Cancer Institute and Newark Beth Israel Medical Center, an RWJBarnabas Health facility. During her speech, she shared her inspiration for getting involved. “I love the Om Foundation’s mission. When I first heard about Om’s story, I was amazed at how positive and brave he was throughout his journey. Like him, a phrase used during my treatment was ‘good vibes only.’ The power of good vibes made me stronger.” During the program, Yashashwi Parikh, Om’s sister, announced that the Om Foundation made a $50,000 commitment to establish a fund in Om’s name to support a Child Life Program at Rutgers Cancer Institute. The Om Parikh Memorial Fund for Child Life Program is intended to bring smiles, positivity, and the power of perseverance to pediatric patients. Through this endeavor, Om will continue to impact the lives of children battling cancer and spread positivity to all who have been touched by the disease.

Glow for a Cure

The annual Glow for a Cure Walk/Run continues going strong to raise funds in support of Rutgers Cancer Institute. More than 130 participants came together at Piscataway High School in 2023 to light up the night with glow sticks, bright lights, vibrant colors, and music. Participants decorated luminary bags with messages to loved ones, which lined the beginning of the course (see photo).

Glow for a Cure's mission is to bring the community together to raise funds for research, bring awareness to pancreatic cancer, and improve the lives of those impacted by the disease. The event raised more than $7,300, with proceeds benefitting cancer research efforts at Rutgers Cancer Institute.