Programs

  • Pediatric Cancer Research Projects

    RESEARCH: THE WOKC SCIENTIFIC & MEDICAL RESEARCH COMMITTEE CAREFULLY SELECTS RESEARCH STUDIES. OVER THE PAST FOUR DECADES, WOKC'S WIDE RANGE OF NATIONAL NOVEL PEDIATRIC CANCER RESEARCH PROJECTS HAVE INCLUDED MEDULLOBRASTOMA (BRAIN TUMORS), LEUKEMIA, BONED TUMORS, SARCOMAS, WILMS TUMOR (KIDNEY CANCER), NEUROBLASTOMA, GENOMICS, CRISPR GENE-EDITING, STEM CELLS, THERAPEUTIC TARGETING, PEDIATRIC RADIATION ONCOLOGY SEDATION, IMMUNOTHERAPY, THE LONG-TERM MEDICAL PROBLEMS FROM CHILDHOOD CANCER SURVIVORS, AND THE APPLICATION OF AI AND MACHINE LEARNING TO ADVANCE PROGRESS. THESE CRITICAL PROJECTS REPRESENT ADVANCEMENTS IN TREATMENT OUTCOMES, WHICH INCLUDE EARLY DETECTION, PREVENTION OF HARMFUL SIDE EFFECTS, AND LESS INVASIVE TREATMENTS. SINCE IT BEGAN IN 1980, WOKC HAS FUNDED A WIDE RANGE OF NATIONAL CANCER RESEARCH PROJECTS IN ALMOST EVERY PEDIATRIC CANCER CATEGORY, AND THE RESULTS ARE MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN TREATMENTS AND OUTCOMES THROUGH THIS CUTTING EDGE NOVEL CHILDHOOD CANCER RESEARCH PROJECTS. WIPE OUT KIDS CANCER IS DIFFERENTIATED FROM OTHER CANCER FUNDERS IN THAT WOKC FOCUSES ON CUTTING-EDGE NOVEL PEDIATRIC CANCER INNOVATIONS THAT MIGHT NOT INITIALLY RECEIVE TRADITIONAL FUNDING. THESE INNOVATIONS ARE CRITICAL AND ARE KEEPING SCIENTISTS WORKING TOWARD ADVANCEMENTS IN MEDICINE AND TREATMENTS ESSENTIAL TO THE MISSION WOKC SERVES. WOKC HAS SIGNIFICANTLY IMPACTED THE PEDIATRIC CANCER SPACE BY FUNDING 12 MILLION IN EARLY RESEARCH PHASES. THIS SEED MONEY HAS YIELDED MORE THAN 32 MILLION IN GRANT MONEY FOR FURTHER RESEARCH AND DISCOVERIES.
    Geographies
    Not indicated
    Dates
    Jan 1, 2024 – Dec 31, 2024
    Source
    990
    No causes provided
    No populations provided
    –
    $1.1M

  • Buddy Bag Program

    BUDDY BAG PROGRAM: A POTENTIAL CANCER DIAGNOSIS IS ALMOST ALWAYS ACCOMPANIED BY AN IMMEDIATE AND UNEXPECTED ADMISSION TO A PEDIATRIC HOSPITAL, LEAVING FAMILIES UNPREPARED AND WITHOUT THE ITEMS NEEDED FOR A LENGTHY HOSPITAL STAY. BUDDY BAGS EASE THE SUDDEN AND UNCOMFORTABLE TRANSITION FROM HOME OR PEDIATRICIANS OFFICE TO HOSPITAL FOR BOTH THE CHILD AND PARENTS AND ARE FILLED WITH ESSENTIALS INCLUDING TOILETRIES, COZY BLANKET AND PILLOW, DINING CARDS TO EASE THE COST OF HOSPITAL FOOD, AGE- APPROPRIATE ENTERTAINMENT AND ELECTRONICS, GAMES, TOYS, AND AN IPAD TO REMAIN CONNECTED TO SCHOOL WORK AND FRIENDS. THE BUDDY BAG IS ABOUT MORE THAN PRACTICAL ITEMS - IT PROVIDES A SENSE OF GROUNDING IN THE MIDST OF CHAOS. IT REMINDS FAMILIES THAT THEY ARE NOT ALONE, BUT THAT THEY ARE SUPPORTED (WHEN THEY NEED IT MOST), AND THAT WOKC HAS ANTICIPATED THEIR NEEDS BEFORE THEY EVEN KNOW TO ASK FOR HELP. A PEDIATRIC CANCER DIAGNOSIS CHANGES EVERYTHING - IT TURNS LIFE UPSIDE DOWN IN AN INSTANT. ONE MOMENT, LIFE IS NORMAL. THE NEXT, YOUR CHILD IS BEING ADMITTED TO THE HOSPITAL WITH A SUSPECTED OR CONFIRMED CANCER DIAGNOSIS. THERE IS LITTLE TIME TO PROCESS WHAT IS HAPPENING AND NO TIME TO GO HOME AND PACK A BAG. SUDDENLY, YOU ARE IN A HOSPITAL ROOM, FACING THE OVERWHELMING WEIGHT OF A PEDIATRIC CANCER DIAGNOSIS... EMPTY-HANDED, UNPREPARED, AND EMOTIONALLY SHATTERED. THATS WHEN WOKCS SIGNATURE BUDDY BAG IS INTRODUCED. ?MORE THAN JUST A BAG DELIVERED TO THE ROOM BY A CHILD LIFE SPECIALIST, WOKCS BUDDY BAG IS MORE THAN JUST A ROLLING CANVAS SUITCASE FILLED WITH NECESSARY ITEMSIT TRULY IS A MUCH-NEEDED LIFELINE. THOUGHTFULLY FILLED WITH ESSENTIAL ITEMS THAT BRING A MEASURE OF COMFORT, HOPE, AND NORMALCY TO BOTH THE CHILD AND THEIR PARENT(S) AT A TIME WHEN THEY NEED IT MOST. ONE MOTHER SAID, "WE HAD BEEN INPATIENT FOR ABOUT THREE NIGHTS WITH NO SLEEP, WITH A LIFE-THREATENING DIAGNOSIS. MY DAUGHTER FINALLY GOT SOME REST AND I COULDN'T SLEEP. I REALIZED THERE WAS A REAL PILLOW IN THE BUDDY BAG AND I CRIED MYSELF INTO THE BEST SLEEP I HAD IN THREE NIGHTS."
    Geographies
    Not indicated
    Dates
    Jan 1, 2024 – Dec 31, 2024
    Source
    990
    No causes provided
    No populations provided
    –
    $135K

  • Warrior Family Program

    WARRIOR FAMILY PROGRAM: WOKC STAFF, VOLUNTEERS AND BOARD WORK DILIGENTLY YEAR ROUND TO DELIVER A MULTI-DIMENSIONAL APPROACH TO MEETING THE NEEDS OF THE ENTIRE FAMILY AS THEY BATTLE A PEDIATRIC CANCER DIAGNOSIS. THE WOKC WARRIOR FAMILY PROGRAM INCLUDES CHILDREN FROM THE DFW HOSPITALS WITH PEDIATRIC ONCOLOGY UNITS: CHILDRENS MEDICAL CENTER DALLAS, MEDICAL CITY CHILDRENS HOSPITAL, AND COOK CHILDRENS MEDICAL CENTER. FUN FAMILY SOCIAL EVENTS ARE PLANNED THROUGHOUT EACH YEAR INCLUDING HOLIDAY PARTIES, COOKING CLASSES, PICNICS, FISHING, PRO AND SEMI-PRO SPORTING EVENTS, AND MORE EACH DECEMBER AUTONATION HOSTS A SPECTACULAR HOLIDAY PARTY FOR CURRENT AND PAST WARRIOR FAMILIES. NOT ONLY DOES WOKCS TEAM ENSURE THAT EACH ACTIVITY IS FUN, BUT THAT IT WILL ACCOMMODATE ANY SPECIAL NEEDS A FAMILY MAY HAVE, INCLUDING THROUGH DONATED GIFT CARDS FOR GROCERIES AND GAS CARDS TO GET TO/FROM TREATMENTS. WOKC REALIZES THAT CANCER AFFECCTS MORE THAN JUST THE CHILD WHO RECEIVED THE CANCER DIAGNOSIS - IT IMPACTS THE ENTIRE FAMILY - EMOTIONALLY, FINANCIALLY, AND SOCIALLY. WARRIORS ISN'T JUST A WORD - IT IS A TRIBUTE TO PEDIATRIC CANCER TO THEIR STRENGTH, RESILIENCE AND COURAGE. WOKC'S WARRIOR FAMILY PROGRAM INCLUDES THOUGHTULLY DESIGNED SERVICES TO HELP RESTORE SOME NORMALCY, HAPPINESS AND HOPE TO EVERY MEMBER OF THE FAMILY. THE WARRIOR FAMILY PROGRAM PROVIDES FUN SOCIAL EVENTS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR TO PROVIDE FAMILIES WITH THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEND TIME AND BOND WITH OTHER FAMILIES WHO ARE FACING SIMILAR CIRCUMSTANCES AND CHALLENGES. PARENTS HAVE COMMENTED THAT THESE WOKC SOCIAL ENGAGEMENT EVENTS ARE "MEDICINE FOR THEIR SOUL". GIVEN MANY FAMILIES ARE UNDER THE POVERTY LEVEL, BY EASING THESE BASIC EMOTIONAL AND FINCACIAL CHALLENGES, WOKC ALLOWS FAMILIES TO FOCUS ON WHAT MATTERS MOST: THEIR CHILD'S HEALING.
    Geographies
    Not indicated
    Dates
    Jan 1, 2024 – Dec 31, 2024
    Source
    990
    No causes provided
    No populations provided
    –
    $13.5K