Sammy’s Superheroes Foundation, a Nebraska non-profit organization dedicated to awareness and funding of life-saving research for pediatric cancer, contributed its one millionth dollar to pediatric cancer research with a gift to the Child Health Research Institute (CHRI). The institute is a collaboration between the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) and Children’s Hospital & Medical Center.
On Feb. 21 in Omaha, Sammy’s Superheroes Foundation presented a check for $110,000 to CHRI’s Pediatric Cancer Research Group (PCRG), led by Don Coulter, M.D., associate professor of the UNMC Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology.
Erin Nahorny, president of the foundation board, and Alyssa Hogeland, a member of the board of directors, presented the check to Eleanor Rogan, Ph.D., professor & chair, UNMC Environmental, Agricultural and Occupational Health, College of Public Health. Dr. Rogan will use the funds for continued work on the Nebraska Watershed Project, a research project within the PCRG.
“It has been nearly eight years since Sam was diagnosed and I am so grateful to tell you that he has beaten all the odds,” Nahorny said. “He is a happy, loving, silly, kind 12-year-old who likes to raise chickens in our backyard and tease his dad. We are so incredibly encouraged by the movement that began as today we give our millionth dollar to research. We thank the researchers, volunteers, donors and supporters for being a voice and uniting for a cure for all children with cancer.”
The gift marks a milestone in the foundation’s fundraising for pediatric cancer research — their one millionth dollar raised.
“Teamwork is our focus and this public-private partnership brings together researchers, physicians, philanthropic donors who decided to make a change,” Dr. Coulter said. “Together we are so much more powerful. This research can spawn wonderful things.”
The current gift will allow Dr. Rogan and her team of researchers to pursue discoveries connecting watersheds with a high incidence of pediatric cancer in Nebraska. From increasing the number of researchers on this project, to implementing computer modeling to fill in the gaps on historical data, the funding from Sammy’s Superheroes Foundation meets the overarching goal of understanding the possible environmental factors that lead to pediatric cancer.
Nahorny explained why the foundation decided to fund the research.
“Nebraska leads the Midwest in the incidence rate of childhood cancer per capita and cancer is the No. 1 cause of death by disease in children,” she said. “This is a major health issue in Nebraska and we are thankful to be able to support the watershed project in helping to determine why Nebraska has such an alarming rate of childhood cancer.”
Ann Anderson Berry, M.D., Ph.D., interim executive director, CHRI, said CHRI and PCRG are grateful for the support.
“To be honest, today’s children can’t wait for innovations tomorrow,” Dr. Anderson Berry said. “With incredible partners like Sammy’s Superheroes, together we will make significant achievements to accelerate and expand pediatric research and encourage collaboration between clinicians and investigators to transform children’s health. Groundbreaking research being done by Dr. Rogan and her team has tremendous potential for collaborative discoveries that will help reduce rates of pediatric cancer in Nebraska.”
Rodrigo López, interim president and CEO of Children’s Hospital & Medical Center, said the funding helps support Children’s mission to improve the life of every child and its focus on innovative research. “We are proud to have a community partner like Sammy’s Superheroes Foundation, whose dedication to awareness and funding of life-saving pediatric cancer research goes hand-in-hand with our own vision for child health. This opportunity also furthers our research experience and places Children’s and UNMC in a sweet spot for recruiting the next generation of the brightest health care professionals.”
About Sammy’s Superheroes Foundation
A notable CHRI partner, Sammy’s Superheroes Foundation is dedicated to awareness and funding of life-saving research for pediatric cancer. Sammy’s Superheroes Foundation’s success is measured by the number of people they can help through the programs and services they provide.
About CHRI
The Child Health Research Institute, a joint collaboration between the University of Nebraska Medical Center and Children’s Hospital & Medical Center, aims to improve the health of children through innovative research, collaborative discovery and community engagement. The key theme in the mission is the collaborative nature between the two entities and community partners who understand the need and strategies to advance pediatric health care.