Our Mission:
Since 1975, when a group of parents came together to help their children
with cancer and others like them, the mission has remained the same:
Making Life Better for Children with Cancer. ASK is a 501(c)(3)
non profit organization which provides financial, spiritual, social and emotional support directly
to the children and families.
Vision:
ASK serves as the leading source of
support for children with cancer.
Guiding Principles:
·
We believe in children and families first
·
Be mission driven
·
Be responsible stewards of resources
·
Be ethical
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Be an open and collaborative community partner
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Be proactive as well as responsive
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Be creative and innovative
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Show compassion at all times
History:
Nothing can prepare
you for the words “your child has cancer.” it’s not natural, it’s not
fair, but it is real. Children do get cancer. A family’s life is turned
upside down. Now what once were days filled with hurried schedules for
school, sports, play, and work now becomes days filled with long trips
to the hospital, unfamiliar people, and painful medical treatments.
The numbers add up so quickly – about 400 children
each month are treated at the ASK Pediatric Hematology/Oncology clinic.
Each one of them, along with their families, need help dealing with the
complex and stressful issues of cancer treatment.
Fortunately, a network of support is already waiting
and available for them. ASK, (The Association for the Support of
Children with Cancer ) was founded in 1975 by a small group of parents
of pediatric cancer patients at MCV Hospital, Richmond, VA. They joined
together to provide mutual support, to search for answers together and
to deal with the devastating diagnoses. These parents searched for
simple pleasures for their children and support for themselves. None was
to be found at the hospital. It all started with small changes like
books, toys and games to help alleviate the anxiety and pain of
treatment for little ones and small parent gatherings in the hospital
waiting rooms to help reduce the stress. These parents became the
founding members of ASK. Their mission was simple and remains the same
today as we continue to search for ways to “ Making Life Better for
Children with Cancer”.
Today: ASK
continues to walk in the footsteps of its founders, determined in “Making
Life Better for Children with Cancer.” ASK steps in at the time
of diagnosis to help the family deal with the non-clinical side of
what’s happening. While the hospital and medical staff focus on the
treatment, ASK works to provide the children and their families with
the quality-of-life support they need to make going through it all
less traumatic.
ASK was founded by parents and
medical staff that had a vision of hope and happiness for each child
that would be faced with cancer. They began by making small changes. As
the years went by, ASK grew into extraordinary organization expanding
its programs and services to meet the needs of children and families
today as we look toward a cure tomorrow. Until then we continue to hold
on to hope and look for ways of bringing happiness into the life of a
child with cancer.
ASK enhances the
Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Department at VCU Health Systems by
funding several positions including a nurse practitioner, chaplain,
and child life therapist. ASK also tries to provide opportunities
for cancer patients and their families to forget about their disease
and enjoy life. The organization sponsors trips to local
attractions and sporting events. Annual high school graduation
ceremonies and scholarships, monthly birthday parties and weekly
celebrations for successful treatments are ongoing. Monies are
provided for academic enrichment programs, physical fitness.
Our Funding: ASK receives funding from a variety of sources including local corporations, foundations and individuals. ASK's budget for the fiscal year 2007-2008 is $550,000. To receive a copy of our most recent annual report or IRS 990, please contact Anne Cuomo, Executive Director, at (804) 828-1531.
Board of Directors: The ASK Board of Directors is made up of parents of childhood cancer patients and concerned members of the community as well as the medical staff from the ASK Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Clinic.
ASK Board of Directors and Staff Listing |
