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Quoted in the New York Times
February 2025
Cancer in children is considered rare, unless you have a child diagnosed with the disease. Then for you, your child, and your family, childhood cancer becomes your all-consuming reality. Childhood cancer is the leading cause of death by disease in the United States (Siegel et al., 2024). It is estimated that, in 2024, a total of 14,910 children and adolescents, ages 0 to 19, were diagnosed with cancer (NIH, 2024). Although the 5-year survival rates for most childhood cancers have improved in recent decades, the improvement has been notable for only a few cancers, such as acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), the most common childhood cancer. In contrast, survival rates remain poor for many other cancer types, for some age groups, and for some cancers within a site.
Approximately 1,600 children and adolescents die of cancer each year in the United States, indicating that new advances and continued research to identify effective treatments are required to reduce childhood cancer mortality. It is hard enough hearing, YOUR CHILD HAS CANCER, but how does a family manage the other four horrific words…. THERE IS NO CURE? In December of 2024, the New York Times published an article by Sarah Wildman entitled, “If My Dying Daughter Could Face Her Mortality, Why Couldn’t the Rest of Us?” Sarah bravely reflects on this complex and heartbreaking question from her lived experience with her daughter, Orli. Orli was diagnosed with hepatoblastoma, a rare liver cancer which is primarily seen in toddlers, and she died at the age of 14.
Our healthcare system is focused on aggressive medical treatment and cures. However, when a child is dying from cancer and there are no more medical options, how is this reality conveyed? In many cases, death can be viewed as a failure in the medical community, making it challenging for the healthcare team to help families navigate the next phase of the cancer journey, dying.
Mattie Miracle was honored to be interviewed by Sarah Wildman and included in her article. The Foundation is proud of our vision for the creation of the Psychosocial Standards of Care. These historic evidence-based Standards define what children with cancer and their families must receive to effectively support their psychosocial needs throughout the entire cancer trajectory, including end of life and bereavement care. We are grateful Sarah has called attention to the importance of end-of-life care. Families rely on their child’s healthcare team for not only the medicine, but for the support, guidance, and important conversations that are necessary to enable a child to die with dignity and for the family to build upon these conversations to honor their child's legacy.
To access the full article, click on Read More.
Partner in Miracles
January 2025
In December of 2022, the United States Senate Federal Credit Union (USSFCU) reached out to Mattie Miracle. We were requested to meet with the President and CEO, Tim Anderson. Mattie Miracle quickly learned that USSFCU is a bank with a heart, who cares about making a meaningful impact on the community.
The USSFCU experienced the death of several colleagues to cancer and their Board wanted to acknowledge this great loss by supporting the work of a reputable non-profit in the community. We are grateful that USSFCU has chosen to partner with Mattie Miracle three years in a row.
On December 4, 2024, Mattie Miracle accepted a $10,000 check from Tim Anderson. We are grateful to partner with a bank that values the health, well-being, and quality of life of children with cancer and their families.
14 Years!
November 2023
On November 2, 2023, Mattie Miracle celebrated its 14th birthday! We are the only national non-profit dedicated to psychosocial support, awareness, advocacy, and funding innovative psychosocial research for childhood cancer. We are grateful to our sponsors and supporters for making the Mattie Miracles possible.
Together we have:
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Raised over $1M for childhood cancer
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Supported 38,000 children with cancer and their families
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Delivered 26,000 snacks to in-patient families
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Funded 6 child life specialists
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Awarded 14 M&M Wishes
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Funded 3 psychosocial therapy grants to children with cancer
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Awarded $165,000 in psychosocial research grants
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Published the first evidence-based Psychosocial Standards of Care
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Raised $131,249
May 2023
Thank you for participating in our Virtual Walk on May 21, 2023. Our message that childhood cancer is NOT just about the medicine reached far beyond Washington, DC. We are thrilled that friends and families gathered virtually in 36 states to walk in support of the psychosocial needs of children with cancer and their families.
The photos and messages sent to us by Walk participants are amazing and we invite you to watch our Walk Video that captures the excitement. A big thank you to our sponsors and donors who enabled us to exceed our goal and raise $131,249.
We Love Innovation
February 2023
Mattie Miracle is committed to the implementation of the Psychosocial Standards of Care for Children with Cancer and their Families at every treatment site in the country. These evidence-based Standards define what children with cancer and their families must receive to effectively support their psychosocial needs from the time of diagnosis, through survivorship, or end of life and bereavement care.
On February 14 (Valentine's Day), Mattie Miracle is providing $42,000 in research funding to the American Psychosocial Oncology Society (APOS). The funds directly support innovative grants that will assist in the implementation of the Psychosocial Standards of Care. Mattie Miracle is honored to house our implementation grants at APOS and to have APOS as our professional partner.
Raised $144,500
May 2022
Thank you for participating in our Virtual Walk on May 15,2022. Our message that childhood cancer is NOT just about the medicine reached far beyond Washington, DC. We are thrilled that friends and families gathered virtually in 41 states and six countries to walk in support of the psychosocial needs of children with cancer and their families.
The photos and messages sent to us by Walk participants are amazing and we invite you to watch our Walk Video that captures the excitement. A big thank you to our sponsors and donors who enabled us to exceed our goal and raise $114,500.
Funding Child Life
December, 2021
The Foundation donated $53,000 to Children's Hospital at Sinai (Baltimore, MD) to support our endowed Mattie Miracle Child Life Program Fund. This is our second endowed Fund we have established, as the first was created in 2011, at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital (Washington, DC). To date, we have contributed over $400,000 to directly support children with cancer and their families.
Mattie Miracle Took the Plunge!
September 9, 2021
Mattie Miracle applied to Thrivent's Take the Plunge Challenge! Around 70 applications were received and we were one of the five non-profits selected to participate. We were the only non-profit representing the National Capital Area!
The Take the Plunge Challenge was on Thursday, September 9 from 8-9pmEDT. It was a live online ZOOM event. The event was hosted by the Thrivent Member Network and Groundbreaking Entrepreneurial Expert, Shark and New York Times Bestselling Author, Daymond John.
Each of the five non-profits was given four minutes to present, followed by four minutes of questioning by judges and the audience. At the end of the event, the audience voted electronically. The audience determined the winners, and the non-profit with the most votes won $10,000!
We had 200 supporters who registered for the event and voted. Thank you for helping us win $7,500 to fund our new initiative. The NEW initiative is a Psychosocial Referral and Resource Program. Our goal is to match families coping with childhood cancer to qualified mental health providers in the community and pay for up to six therapy sessions.
To read the pitch that co-founder, Victoria Sardi-Brown delivered, click on
"Perfect Pitch." This was how Daymond John described Mattie Miracle's presentation.
12th Annual Walk
May 16, 2021
Mattie Miracle's 12th Annual Walk was a huge success! Together we raised over $125,000, had participation in 50 states and 6 countries, and spread awareness that childhood cancer is NOT just about the medicine.
We are grateful to all our sponsors, supporters, and friends of the Foundation. Thanks to you we are able to continue providing direct support of children with cancer and their families, as well as change the way psychosocial care is provided to children around the country.
Check out our video to see the energy from the virtual walk and how our supporters turned the USA orange.
Importance of Community Partnerships
February 2, 2021
Mattie Miracle is grateful for Kearney & Company's generosity and support since 2015. Every Fall, Kearney & Company hosts a poker tournament to benefit Mattie Miracle. Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, the the poker tournament was converted into a virtual trivia night. On December 17, 2020, the co-founders of the Foundation were invited to the virtual trivia night to give a greeting and to thank our long time sponsor for their annual support.
Virtually we had the opportunity to meet Brian Kearney, the COO of the company, and over 100 participants at the event. Brian shared the exciting news that Kearney & Company is contributing $10,000 to the Foundation to support our amazing work. In addition, Kearney & Company wanted us to know that they are committed to the cause for the long-term. Mattie Miracle is proud to partner with a company that has such a big heart and is committed to making a difference in the lives of children with cancer and their families.
It was a very moving experience for Mattie Miracle as we received numerous chat messages that evening from participants, such as:
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Thanks for all that you do!
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Honored to be remembering Mattie tonight.
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What an incredible way to change the world.
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Thank you for being a positive force!
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You are superheroes.
Kearney & Company makes the Mattie Miracles possible. We realize community service is a vital part of Kearney & Company's culture and we are thankful they have chosen to partner with Mattie Miracle.
Committed to Direct Support
December 2020
The Foundation donated $46,000 to Children's Hospital at Sinai (Baltimore, MD) to support our endowed Mattie Miracle Child Life Program Fund. This is our second endowed Fund that we have established, as the first was created in 2011, at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital (Washington, DC). To date, we have contributed over $300,000 to these Funds to directly support children with cancer and their families.
The Mattie Miracle Child Life Program Fund pays the salary of Adina Levitan, a child life professional at Children’s Hospital at Sinai. Adina works one on one with 200 patients and families a year and through the Mattie Miracle Snack & Item Cart, provides snacks, treats and toiletries annually to 1,500 families caring for children with cancer and other life-threatening illnesses.
Child life specialists are pediatric health care professionals who work with children and families in hospitals to help them cope with the challenges of hospitalization, illness, and disability. They provide children with age-appropriate preparation for medical procedures, pain management, coping strategies, and play and self-expression activities. In addition, these professionals provide information, support, and guidance to parents, siblings, and other family members.
Child life services are associated with improved quality, outcomes, and patient and family experiences as well as decrease costs in pediatric care. There is evidence that child life services help to contain costs by reducing the length of stay, decreasing the need for sedation and analgesics, and increasing patient satisfaction ratings. Patient experience data and interdisciplinary team member feedback further confirm the positive effects of child life programs on children, families, and staff.
Champagne & Oysters 10th Anniversary Celebration - raised $33,000
November 7, 2019
In honor of Mattie Miracle's decade of service, Friends of the Foundation hosted a Champagne and Oysters Celebration, at a beautiful home in Alexandria, VA. This was the first fundraising event that was planned for Mattie Miracle, without Foundation involvement. There were 80 attendees and the event was a wonderful way for sustaining and new supporters to learn more about Mattie Miracle's mission, achievements, and psychosocial vision of care.
Greetings were given by:
Victoria Sardi-Brown, Co-Founder & President
Dr. Aziza Shad, Chief of Pediatrics at Children's Hospital at Sinai
Adina Levitan, Mattie Miracle Child Life Specialist
Dr. Lori Wiener, Director of Psychosocial Support & Research Program, NIH
Peter Brown, Co-Founder & CEO
Ann Henshaw, Board Member
Brett Thompson, Board Member
Click Here to read the greeting delivered by Mattie Miracle's Co-Founder & President.
Special Thanks to:
Debbie and Peter Keefe
Candy Drive yields 9 tons!
November 15, 2019
Mattie Miracle's 9th Annual Post Halloween Candy Drive was a huge success. We are deeply grateful to all of our candy contributors who are comprised of individuals, 38 schools, and 47 community groups and businesses.
This year, 18,000 pounds of candy was donated to Mattie Miracle. Thanks to our volunteers, this candy was inspected, sorted by type into Ziploc bags to preserve the candy for our recipients, and delivered throughout Washington, DC, Maryland, and Virginia. The candy is intended to provide a sweet treat to family members caring for children with cancer. Specifically, a good portion of this candy is used to stock our two Mattie Miracle Snack and Item Carts. One Cart is located at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital in Washington, DC and the second Cart is at Children's Hospital at Sinai in Baltimore, MD.
This Drive provides a year's worth of candy for our Carts. The Carts are pushed three times a week in the in-patient units of the Hospitals and offer free candy, nutritional snacks, drinks, and toiletry items to families. Families are deeply appreciative to receive these basic items because it is very difficult to leave their children's bedside to try to meet their daily needs.
There were 18 Recipients of Mattie Miracle Candy this year:
Washington, DC
1. MedStar Georgetown University Hospital
2. Ronald McDonald House
3. HSC Pediatric Center
4. Children's National Medical Center
5. Covenant House
6. Sasha Bruce
Maryland
1. Children’s Hospital at Sinai, Baltimore
2. Hackerman Patz House, Baltimore
3. Ronald McDonald House, Baltimore
4. Children's Inn at NIH, Bethesda
5. Nourish Now, Rockville
6. St. Ann's Center for Children, Youth, and Family, Hyattsville
Northern Virginia
1. Ronald McDonald House, Falls Church
2. Special Love for Children with Cancer, Winchester
3. Pediatric Specialists of Northern Virginia (PSV), Falls Church
4. Embry Rucker Community Shelter, Reston
5. Cornerstones, Reston
6. United Community Ministries, Alexandria
10th Anniversary Walk & Family Festival raised over $119,000
May 19, 2019
The 10th Anniversary Walk & Family Festival was a grand celebration! We had over 400 people attend, 38 sponsors, 300 individual donors and had a beautiful weather day. The funds raised from the event allow us to (1) Endow a Psychosocial Research Program, (2) Funding Child Life Specialist Positions, (3) Support multiple In-Patient Snack Carts, and (4) Operationalize Psychosocial Standards of Care Nationwide. We thank all of our supporters for their decade of commitment, loyalty, and generosity. Please watch the video for an idea of how the event went!
Direct Psychosocial Support (April-June 2019)
Spring 2019
Adina Levitan is the Mattie Miracle Child Life Professional at Children's Hospital at Sinai (Baltimore, MD). We are proud to support Adina's position as she enhances treatment outcomes and the quality of life for children with cancer and their families on a daily basis. We welcome you to view our recent three month overview which highlights our funded child and family focused interventions.
Mattie Miracle's 1st Early Investigator Award
February 28, 2019
At the 16th Annual American Psychosocial Oncology Society (APOS) conference in Atlanta, GA, Mattie Miracle awarded Dr. Kimberly Canter (Nemours Center for Healthcare Delivery Science in Wilmington, Delaware) with our first Early Investigator Award. The Foundation has partnered with APOS to create implementation grants. Grants to produce clinical tools and models that will enable the implementation of the Psychosocial Standards of Care at treatment sites around the country.
The $10,000 Mattie Miracle Early Investigator Award is a distinguished honor that was granted to Dr. Kimberly Canter. Dr. Canter's research proposal was selected from an impressive group of 12 proposals by a scientific review committee. Dr. Canter's study is entitled, Community Implementation of a Psychosocial eHealth Intervention for Parents of Children with Cancer. eSCCIP (the Electronic Surviving Cancer Competently Intervention Program) is a brief, cognitive behavioral and family systems eHealth intervention for parents and caregivers of children with cancer. This funded study will be a community-centered pilot test of eSCCIP, in partnership with Life with Cancer in Northern VA, and will focus on evaluating intervention feasibility and acceptability, as well as key psychosocial outcomes (posttraumatic stress, anxiety, and family functioning).
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