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Childrens Cancer Center, Inc. http://www.childrenscancercenter.org

Children's Cancer Center

4901 West Cypress Street

Tampa, FL 33607Map this

\"Helping children and families cope\" %newline% %newline%The Childrens Cancer Center is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing children who have cancer or chronic blood disorders and their families with the emotional, financial and educational support necessary to cope with their life-threatening...

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For more information:

Name: Tyler Freriks
Position: Director of Special Projects
Email: tfreriks@childrenscancercenter.org

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Oncology Support GroupTwice a month, the Children's Cancer Center provides a support group, dinner, and festivities for approximately 40 families who have a child currently undergoing cancer treatment. Mothers, fathers, siblings and caretakers are given the chance to talk and share stories, while the children play and forget about the illness that they are currently suffering from. Since the overall cost of providing one dinner can sometimes reach close to $1,000, including dinner, utensils, and entertainment, the Children's Cancer Center is currently looking for philanthropic businesses and restaurants to sponsor our new Adopt-a-Meal program. Monetary and in-kind donations are tax deductable and would feed many local families in need.
Big Buddy Mentoring ProgramThis program started in 1987 with University of South Florida Medical School students and the young patients at H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute. Starting each September, The Big Buddy Mentoring Program pairs second year medical students with brothers and sisters of patients for an entire medical school year. Big buddies are required to attend an orientation session previous to working with the children. After buddies are paired, the medical students meet their little buddies and their families at a kick-off party. From September to June, the pairs of buddies get together on a monthly basis for special outings of their choice. In the past, these have included horseback riding, hockey games, movies, pizza dinners and picnics in the park. The Children's Cancer Center provides the buddies with a reimburse to cover the outing expenses. With the conclusion of the medical school year, the Children's Cancer Center hosts an end-of-the-year trip to a local theme park. The Big Buddy Mentoring Program is designed to accomplish three main goals: 1. To provide a hands-on volunteer experience for second-year medical students and educate them, outside of the classroom, about how an illness affects the entire family. 2. To give the siblings, who must also cope with the issues surrounding their brother or sister's illness, special one-on-one time and attention. 3. To give parents support by providing an outlet for their children. 4. To foster empathy and compassion in our future physicians.
Camps (Week-long, Overnight, Weekend)/(Summer, Year-round)The Children's Cancer Center currently hosts three camps for families throughout the year, all of which are completely free for families to attend - Kite Camp, Kanga Camp, and Flight Camp. Summer marks the arrival of week-long day camps, including Kite Camp and Kanga Camp. Kite Camp welcomes oncology patients currently on treatment, along with their siblings, while Kanga Camp serves children with bleeding disorders. Both camps include a full itinerary of educational and recreational activities. Participants meet at the Children's Cancer Center each day for a wide range of activities including tours of local sports venues, arts & crafts, delicious restaurants, kid-friendly outings, swimming and much more! Held early in the fall, Flight Camp (Fun and Laughter In Groups Hoping Together) is a weekend camp that serves families currently on treatment. Families stay for the weekend along with the older patients and their siblings.
Hop-To-It-Kanga Krewe Sickle Cell ProgramThe Children's Cancer Center developed the Hop-To-It Kanga Krewe Program in an effort to educate the children with sickle cell disease, the family, the school, and the community. The program includes Kanga Camp, a support group, Sib Shops and Mr. McDaniel's Classroom tutoring program. Since kangaroos can only hop forward, this program's mascot was chosen to be a kangaroo named Dr. Tickle Sickle. Mr. McDaniel's Classroom is a tutoring program started by Randall and Marianne McDaniel, a retired Tampa Bay Buccaneer player. This program is only for sickle cell patients who are currently enrolled in school from kindergarten through eighth grade. Participants are matched with a tutor to help with a sometimes overwhelming load of homework and special projects. The program strives to give children more control over their illness by educating them about their disease and emphasizing the importance of school attendance and achievement. Through good grades, attendance, citizenship and participation in activities at the Center, tutoring participants earn \"Kanga Cash\" to spend in the Kanga Corner store.
Support GroupsThe Children's Cancer Center hosts four different groups to serve the needs of our families - Oncology Support Group, Sickle Cell Support Group, Bereavement Support Group, Survivorship (S.O.A.R.) Support Group. Oncology Support Group is for families who have a child who is actively on treatment for cancer. The group usually meets twice a month to hear and share stories of strength, encouragement and solutions to common issues and fears. The evening begins with a family dinner then splits as the parents attend support group and the kids enjoy activities together. Each support group is themed with plenty of games, crafts and occasional special entertainment. Sickle Cell Support Group meets monthly and gives families a chance to discuss issues and concerns associated with their life-threatening disease. Bereavement Support Group meets twice a month - once in the afternoon for lunch and once in the evening for dinner. S.O.A.R. Support Group meets once a month to discuss issues related with survivorship and readjusting.
Teen Group ProgramTeen Group is a monthly outing for oncology and hematology patients on or off treatment. This often overlooked population gathers for peer support and recreational opportunities in a non-threatening environment. The Children's Cancer Center understands that teens feel too old to benefit from children's programs, yet too young to participate in adult programs. A few of the fun and unique activities that our teens participate in include a Road Rules scavenger hunt, bowling, movies, water parks, festivals, concerts, road trips to the Swamp to watch the Gators play and much more!
Lil Tales PlaygroupOur younger patients and their siblings who have not yet been through kindergarten come in the mornings once a week for Lil Tales. While the parents enjoy a cup of coffee, the children are next door in the playroom busy having fun with volunteers. These children can often not attend a mainstream pre-school due to immune-suppression and other health concerns. Activities are tailored to the childrens skills and interests and special entertainment is brought in from time to time. However, the children love playing with their new friends the most.
Kathys Kids Bereavement Support ProgramThe Childrens Cancer Center offers a bereavement program for parents and siblings of a child who have lost his or her battle to cancer. This program offers a place for grieving families to share their experiences and journey together to find places of healing and hope. There are two monthly support groups for parents and siblings: one in the evening and one in the afternoon. The Childrens Cancer Center also offers a bereavement retreat each fall for families to have a chance to better understand specific grief needs of each member within a family: mother, father, brother, or sister.
Holiday Adopt-A-Family ProgramPay it forward this holiday season... Holiday Adopt-A-Family program helps struggling families have a happy holiday season. Businesses, organizations, families and individuals agree to adopt a family in need during December. All gifts are brought to the Children's Cancer Center for families to pick up. Struggling families are recommended to the program by the hospital or clinic social workers starting in October. Donors are matched with a particular family based on the donor's ability to provide these needs. The donor takes on the role of Santa Claus for the family providing toys, food and gifts. Over the past two years, we have been able to provide more than 125 families with the Christmas of their dreams, with the help of supporters like you! However, if you want to help on a smaller scale this year, we are always accepting donations of gift cards of any denomination to be included in these holiday gift packages, such as Target, Publix, Walmart, Visa and Shell gas cards. Count your blessings and keep this tradition going!
Love Bundles Initial Outreach ProgramBringing smiles to young faces... Designed to alleviate some of the initial anxiety experienced by newly diagnosed patients and families, a representative from the Childrens Cancer Center presents families with Love Bundles shortly after the child is diagnosed. Love Bundles are filled with resources, information, as well as distraction and play items selected specifically for the childs age and gender, which help make their clinic visit or hospital stay not so scary. Through the Love Bundles program, newly diagnosed patients and their families are introduced to the Childrens Cancer Centers programs, services and assistance. Currently sponsored by the Junior League of Tampa, we have been able to deliver 62 Love Bundles since January 1, 2009!
Jason Ackerman Memorial Scholarship FundIn memory of Jason Ackerman, a dedicated Children's Cancer Center volunteer, the Jason Ackerman Memorial Scholarship Fund was created to provide scholarships for patients and survivors in their pursuit of a higher education. Academic scholarships will be given each year to Tampa Bay youth diagnosed with cancer or a chronic blood disorder before the age of 21. These renewable scholarships are available for community college, vocational training or four-year universities. Due to your generosity, we were able to provide 14 well-deserving teens with a scholarship for the 2009-2010 school year!
S.O.A.R. (Surviving Oncology And Readjusting) ProgramThe SOAR Program will provide emotional and psycho-educational support to children and families in the Tampa Bay area who have completed treatment for cancer. This program will strive to equip and empower childhood cancer survivors, siblings, and caregivers with resources and psychosocial tools necessary to optimally transition from active treatment into a healthy and well-balanced life after treatment. SOAR is currently one of the Childrens Cancer Center's largest populations! Please contact Kyleen if you have a child or know someone who has a child who has completed treatment for cancer and would like more information about our exciting SOAR Program.
Gatherings at Wiregrass - Weekly Charitable Concert SeriesThursday, March 04, 2010Every Thursday evening from 6-9 pm, you are invited to enjoy three local bands, a unique shopping experience, beer & wine, and all for a great cause! The Childrens Cancer Center will be benefiting from all beer and wine sales, so come out and let your hair down! Majority of the stores at Wiregrass offer discounts only on these nights too! This is a kid-friendly event - bring the little ones and let them dance to some great, live music! Descriptions of this weeks bands are below. Cant make it this Thursday? Dont worry! Wiregrass will be hosting this event throughout May! The Shops at Wiregrass are located at 28211 Paseo Drive in Wesley Chapel (33543). This week's bands include (3/26/09): Lounge Cat (@ Macys): The velvety, swinging sounds of Lounge Cat often have been described as reverent satire. This versatile six piece combo looks young but plays old: Old School Blues, Jazz, Swing, Ska, standards, Motown and Latin numbers prominently fill a bag of roughly 100 tunes, plus originals. This Rat Pack nouveau will swing, swagger, and sway its way into your heart! Jason Young (@ JCPennys): Contemporary Country Rock at its finest Jason performs with a flair for showmanship and audience interaction! Wes Dearth & Andy Irvine Duo (@ Dillards): Both veterans of the Tampa music scene, Wes and Andy have been touring internationally with various pro outfits for many years now. Wes brand of guitar-driven acoustic and electrical songs represent the cultivation of a diversity of genres intertwined with poignant lyrics drawn from the poetry of the common man. Andys funk-driven bass guitar and songwriting have earned him spots across the nation teaching clinics and advanced seminars. See you there!
4th Annual Summer with Style Fashion ShowWednesday, April 14, 2010Join us for cocktails and hors doeuvres on Thursday, April 16 from 6 to 8:30 pm. Tickets are $50 and benefit the Childrens Cancer Center. Hosted by Tampa Bay Metro Magazine, MCed by Reggie Roundtree and Heather Van Ness, with fashions at Neiman Marcus!
Xtreme Family Fun EventSunday, April 18, 2010Join in the fun for lots of food, arts & crafts, water inflatables and a dunk tank!There will be a silent auction supported by local shops and restaurants! Come and bring the kids for face painting and to bid on all of the incredible and inexpensive auction items. No need to purchase tickets, admission is free! Thank you Xtreme Fitness for hosting our event in your parking lot!
6th Annual Wind Beneath My Wings ConcertMonday, April 19, 2010The Childrens Cancer Center benefits from this event! There is a $10 minimum donation at the door. Check our website for updates about this event!
Alstott Celebrity Outdoor Weekend Golf TournamentSaturday, April 24, 2010Join retired Tampa Bay Buccaneer, Mike Alstott, and his celebrity friends for a unique and competitive day of golf. Proceeds benefit the Childrens Cancer Center!
Christmas in July Online SaleThursday, July 01, 2010 - Saturday, July 31, 2010Every year, remaining inventory from our Holiday Card Projects end up in storage. Take advantage of this one-time sale and help us clean out our closets of holiday merchandise! Sale includes letterhead, wrapping paper, ornaments, calendars, t-shirts, and a wide variety of holiday cards! Your purchases will help us better accommodate the growing population of children with cancer and their families in the Tampa Bay area. Please tell all of your family and friends! Show your philanthropic side - send holiday cards made by a child with cancer. Visit http://cccshop.performixmarketing.com/. Visit our online store to see all of the holiday items up for sale. Remember, this one-time sale doesn’t start until July 1st and ends on July 31st, so shop early & save!
Adopt-a-Meal SponsorshipTwice a month, the Children's Cancer Center provides a support group, dinner, and festivities for approximately 40 families who have a child currently undergoing cancer treatment. Mothers, fathers, siblings and caretakers are given the chance to talk and share stories, while the children play and forget about the illness that they are currently suffering from. Since the cost of providing one dinner can sometimes reach close to $1,000, the Children's Cancer Center is currently looking for philanthropic businesses to sponsor our new Adopt-a-Meal program. Restaurants are also encouraged to donate a fully-catered meal for approximately 100 people. In some cases, Oncology Support Group is the only time that families are able to enjoy a hot, fresh meal together, while socializing with others who share a similar struggle. Both monetary and in-kind donations are tax deductable and would feed many local families in need.
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