About NPCF

About the National Pediatric Cancer Foundation

The National Pediatric Cancer Foundation (NPCF)  is a nonprofit organization dedicated to funding and developing novel research and clinical trials to find less toxic, more effective treatments for childhood cancer. Our purpose is to reduce the side effects of current treatments, improve survival rates, and ultimately eliminate childhood cancer. NPCF is a nonprofit organization under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.

Impact of the Sunshine Project

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$37+ million dedicated to pediatric cancer research

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A coalition of 34 leading pediatric hospitals nationwide

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28 research projects yielding amazing results

Top-Rated Foundation

Donors can be confident their dollars are spent effectively as the NPCF has received a perfect 4-star rating from Charity Navigator for financial health and transparency for the 11th consecutive year. The NPCF is the top-rated childhood cancer-related nonprofit for this distinction.

87.9 cents of every dollar spent supports our mission.

Melissa Dunkel

History of National Pediatric Cancer Foundation

In 1991, two mothers faced every parent’s worst nightmare. Their children were diagnosed with cancer.

Melissa Helms and Risa Tramel met at St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital in Tampa, Florida while their infant daughters were undergoing cancer treatments. Through research advancements, both of their daughters survived and are now healthy young adults. However, through this experience, Melissa and Risa were inspired to continue fighting pediatric cancer. Together, they founded the National Pediatric Cancer Foundation, a non-profit organization whose mission is to collaborate with leading hospitals across the nation and funds clinical trials to find a faster cure for pediatric cancer.

For the first 15 years, the National Pediatric Cancer Foundation funded seed grants at St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital and Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa, Florida, All Children’s Research Institute in St. Petersburg, Florida, the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida, and the University of Miami School of Medicine in Miami, Florida.

$37+ Million to Clinical Trials

The National Pediatric Cancer Foundation (NPCF) formed the Sunshine Project™, an innovative collaboration with one goal: to bring together the nation’s top doctors and researchers to find a faster cure for pediatric cancer. Through the establishment of the Sunshine Project, the NPCF has developed a business model that capitalizes on the strengths of researchers from all different fields of science and streamlines the process to accelerate the development of new treatments.

Best of all, the NPCF has proven that this collaborative model works. Since 2005, the NPCF has funded multiple clinical trials and translational studies valued at $37+ million. New compounds have been, and continue to be, tested and hold great promise for children who have not experienced positive results under the standard treatment protocol.

Childhood Cancer Facts

Cancer is the number one cause of death by disease among children

Cancer is the number one cause of death by disease among children.

Each day, 43 kids in the U.S. are expected to be diagnosed with cancer. Approximately 1 in 285 children in the U.S. will be diagnosed with cancer before their 20th birthday

Each day, 43 kids in the U.S. are expected to be diagnosed with cancer. Approximately 1 in 285 children in the U.S. will be diagnosed with cancer before their 20th birthday.

More than 95% of childhood cancer survivors experience significant health-related issues by the age of 45 because of current treatment options

More than 95% of childhood cancer survivors experience significant health-related issues by the age of 45 because of current treatment options.

Only 4% of the billions of dollars the government spends annually on cancer research is directed towards treating childhood cancer.

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