West Linn, OR. The 11th annual Children’s Cancer Association (CCA) Invitational was held August 11th-12th at The Oregon Golf Club and featured 21 Oregon and Southwest Washington PGA golf pros, paired with amateur players, vying for a competitive prize purse, all while raising funds for the CCA. The invitational golf tournament is one of the largest fundraising events for CCA and has raised more than $1.7 million over the course of 11 years, which includes this year’s record-breaking total of $470,000. (Photo Credit, Portland Photography)
The Bruno family whose daughter was served by CCA posed for photo with the three celebrity panelists, Roger Clemens, Drew Bledsoe and Sean McDonough.
Sean McDonough, ESPN Sportscaster; Eric Weckert, CEO/Partner, Team Studio, CEO/Founder, DRIVe; Drew Bledsoe, former NFL Quarterback; Andy Lytle, CCA Board of Directors and Division VP, Western US at Jackson Family Wines
Regina Ellis, Founder and Chief Joy Officer, CCA delivers keynote speech
Group photo
The event was founded by Grant Hammersley, Vice Chair of Opus Board of Directors, and is governed by a steering committee including co-chairs Bob Turnquist, Head Pro/GM at The Oregon Golf Club and Jason Strobbe, VP of Sales at Vintage Wine Estates.
The event began with a Celebrity Round Table dinner on Sunday, August 11. Celebrity panelists included former MLB All-Star Pitcher, Roger Clemens; former NFL Quarterback, Drew Bledsoe; and ESPN Sportscaster, Sean McDonough.
The reception and dinner featured an inspiring story shared by Heidi Bruno of Tigard, OR, whose daughter, Holly, was served by CCA. Guests also had the opportunity to bid on exclusive experiences curated by each of the celebrity panelists.
The Pro-Am tournament, presented by OnPoint Community Credit Union, followed the reception on Monday, August 12, and offered world-class golf overlooking the sweeping views at the Oregon Golf Club. Additional sponsors include Joe’s Burgers, Go To Ortho, Prestige Care, Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Oregon, and Acme Construction.
To learn more about CCA, please visit JoyRx.org.
About Children’s Cancer Association (CCA):
Since 1995, Children’s Cancer Association (CCA) has been transforming the pediatric healthcare experience through innovative, Joy-based programming, enhancing the mental health and emotional well-being of pediatric patients with the healing power of music, friendship, and nature. JoyRxTM programs empower kids to positively shift their emotional states during the stressful and painful experiences related to fighting life-threatening illnesses and extended hospitalizations. CCA aims to clinically position and deliver JoyRx as best practice in children’s hospitals across the country. See JoyRx in action at JoyRx.org or Facebook.com/ChildrensCancerAssociation.
North Plains, OR. Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club co-founder, Gay Davis hosted his ninth annual Golf for Joy fundraiser June 24th-26th at the club. This three-day event, which culminated in Davis’ golf marathon, raised $535,000 for the Children’s Cancer Association (CCA). During his golf marathon this year, Davis (who posed for a photo with CCA served kid Sol Soria-Zuniga) golfed 131 holes, nearly eight rounds, in 16 hours – all on foot. This athletic feat energized his supporters to donate to CCA’s mission. (Photo credit, Portland Photography)
Tracy Sepulveda, Accounting Manager at David H. Sutherland & Co., Inc; Mark Sepulveda, chiropractic and Golf for Joy Auction Chair; Marie Markham, teacher, Kinnaman Elementary; Judi Davis, community leader; and Clare Hamill, Vice President of Global Growth Initiatives, Nike, CCA Founding Board Chair, during the dinner event.
Nicole McDonald, Director of Finance and Operations, CCA; Danielle York, President and General Manager, CCA; Cathy Marchant, VP Brand and Marketing, CCA
Jeff Sanders, President, Golf Events, N.A., Lagardere Sports; Brent Jacobs, Owner and President at Jacobs Heating and Air Conditioning; Don Ossey, Principal Broker at Capacity Commercial Group, LLC
Additional events included: A pro-am tournament with golf professionals from around the country; a dinner program and auction with guest speakers Heidi Bruno, a CCA-served mother, and Jeff Sanders, President, Golf Events, N.A., Lagardere Sports; and a kids’ clinic, where CCA-served kids learn golf tips from, and get to play with, professionals.
Davis and his wife Judi are long-time supporters of CCA, a Portland-based non-profit that delivers free-of-charge programming to 35,000 seriously ill children and their family members each year. The seed for Golf for Joy was planted nine years ago when Davis set out to combine two of his favorite passions: golf and helping kids. What started as a one-man golf marathon has grown to a three-day celebration that has raised $1.9 million for CCA.
“Nothing tugs at my heartstrings more than a child with cancer, it’s just not a fair fight,” said Davis. “CCA’s innovative programs deliver joy to kids and families through music, friendship, and nature. Their critical work supports families who need more than medicine – they need joy.”
From Children’s Cancer Association (CCA):
Since 1995, CCA has been transforming the pediatric healthcare experience through innovative, Joy-based programming, enhancing the mental health and emotional well-being of pediatric patients with the healing power of music, friendship, and nature. JoyRx programs empower kids to positively shift their emotional states during the stressful and painful experiences related to fighting life-threatening illnesses and extended hospitalizations. To date, CCA has provided JoyRx free-of-charge nearly 400,000 times with a bold goal to clinically position and deliver JoyRx as best practice in children’s hospitals across the country. See JoyRx in action at JoyRx.org or Facebook.com/ChildrensCancerAssociation.
Sponsored: Portland, OR. This year, the Children’s Cancer Association (CCA) was able to serve over 9,000 kids and teens—49% more than last year. The CCA delivers JOY to kids, teens, and their families who are fighting a serious illness. The nonprofit knows that for seriously ill children and their families every moment is precious so it uses music, friendship, play, and resources to create transformative moments of joy. Unlike many organizations dedicated to the worthy goal of someday finding a cure for cancer, CCA is all about creating joy today. CCA is now in the middle of its year-end fundraising drive, CLICK HERE for more information on how to give.Â
It was all smiles this week as kids gathered around the tree at the CCA family holiday party.
Founder and Chief Joy Officer, Regina Ellis, is sharing inspiring stories about special kids that CCA has served over the past year. She explains, “One incredible kid we had the privilege to serve in his time of need is six-year-old Otto, who after a nearly two year battle, recently completed treatment for neuroblastoma. Otto, also known as “Otto-bot”, is a huge fan of superheroes, and has displayed many heroic qualities himself. His incredible perseverance and determination throughout his journey with cancer even got him recognized as a 2017 CCA Hero.”
“Otto has had to put up with a lot of terrible things, but he never gives up,” his mom, Emily, said proudly.
Regina Ellis says Otto had a lot of support from his Chemo Pal®, Jerry, along the way. Together they spent lots of time playing video games and building LEGO sets, which allowed his mother, Emily the time and space to speak with doctors without isolating Otto.
Donations help keep the CCA program going strong. Gifts of $50 help Chemo Pals fill their activity bag with fun new toys and supplies, and a gift of $2,500 funds activities for an entire year.
Donations that support essential needs and resources through CCA’s Link Program make it possible to cover the cost of things like the airline tickets Otto and his mom needed to go to San Francisco for specialized treatment.
And when Otto was stuck in the hospital and needed to blow off some steam, CCA’s MyMusicRx® team was there with guitars, keyboards, and drums to jam with him at his bedside. Donors can help provide music as medicine for kids going through treatment with a gift of $250 to purchase instruments the CCA in-hospital music carts that help reduce stress, anxiety, and the perception of pain.
“During our toughest times, CCA was there to bring our family the friendship, music, resources, and JOY we needed most,” explained Otto’s mom, Emily.
All of CCA’s programs are free-of-charge to families thanks to the kindness and the generosity of friends in the community who believe that JOY matters.
This video shows how CCA brings moments of joy to kids.
Please CLICK HERE and join us by investing in the healing power of joy today to support deserving kids like Otto and the thousands of other children, teens, and family members who need a dose of JoyRx this holiday season. We believe kids deserve long, wonderful lives. Or, at the very least, short, wonderful lives. We believe cancer sucks. We’ve had it, or loved someone who did. We prescribe moments of joy for kids who are in the fight against all serious illness. We believe joy grows exponentially when it’s used collectively. We are music medicine pioneers. We believe in purple. We know joy comes in all colors, shapes, and sizes – just like the kids we help. We love to laugh. We are not afraid to cry. We spend every dollar wisely. We give hugs freely. We believe in today. We respect our history as a grassroots organization. We embrace our destiny as a global source of JoyRx. We believe these things matter.
Portland, February 11th, 2016. Love was in the air as the Children’s Cancer Association (CCA) celebrated “Valentine’s Day for CCA.” Broadcasting live on 105.1. Fox 12 Meteorologists, Mark Nelsen and Liana Brackett, got the phones ringing with a friendly hula hoop competition. The Buzz and FOX 12, helped with the two-day on-air fundraiser and raised a record-breaking $742,000 to fuel CCA’s innovative programs for children and teens facing cancer and other serious illnesses. VDay for CCA, now in its 11th year, finds corporate, foundation, and hospital partners joining dedicated volunteers and staff to answer phones in the FOX 12 studio. Listeners and viewers throughout Oregon and SW Washington responded generously, helping raise critical funds for CCA’s free-of-charge programs that create transformative moments of joy for seriously ill children and their families.
In honor of their son, Danny, a CCA Hero who died in 2011, the Keagbine Family took calls on the phone bank. Also pictured: FOX 12’s Tony Martinez, Kimberly Maus, Shauna Parsons, and Andy Carson
105.1’s Daria, Mitch and Ted moved their show over to the FOX 12 studios for the special two-day broadcast
FOX 12’s News Director, Corey Hanson, and CCA’s VP of Development, Jenny O’Bryan join in on the Valentine’s fun.
Adorable eight-year-old Xavier Jackson picked the winning raffle ticket in CCA’s “Win the Keys to Our Heart” car raffle. One lucky winner got to choose from one of eight cars donated by Dick Hannah.
From CCA:
At CCA we believe all kids deserve long, wonderful lives. Or at the very least, short, wonderful lives. That’s why our programs leverage music, friendship, play, and resources to create transformative moments of joy for families facing cancer and other serious illnesses.
Tigard, June 23rd. The JoyRide starts from Paradise Harley-Davidson with registration at 9am and the first bike out at 10am. JoyRide concludes at CCA’s Caring Cabin in Pacific City. 7-year old cancer survivor, Austin, cuts the ribbon to officially start the ride
Welcome to the most caring motorcycle ride around, the 3rd Annual JoyRide benefitting the Children’s Cancer Association’sCaring Cabin. Join us for this heartwarming exprience and make a difference in the life of a child.
Mike and Cheryl Durbin, owners of Paradise Harley-Davidson, help kick off the 2012 Children’s Cancer Association JoyRide
Over 50 riders braved the rain to ride to CCA’s Caring Cabin in Pacific City
Iris Harrison and the KGON team come out to kick off the 3rd Annual JoyRide
Cliff, Zach and Kate Ellis enjoying the sun out at the Caring Cabin
From CCA:Â 3rd Annual JoyRide for Children’s Cancer Association Lifts Spirits
For seriously ill children, teens and their families, every moment is precious. When kids need more than medicine, CCA is a voice of experience and hope. We prescribe JOY.
Mission
When seriously ill children and their families need more than medicine, CCA’s innovative programs create joy one moment at a time.
Company Overview
In 1995, Regina Ellis’s daughter Alexandra died after a 2 1/2 year battle with cancer. Out of those dark days, a beacon of hope emerged. Alexandra’s family knew through hard experience that even the best medical care cannot provide for the many non-medical needs of families with seriously ill children. That same year, with the help of wonderful community leaders, the Children’s Cancer Association …was born. It’s mission was to give other families a compassionate resource for critical needs and programs that bring joy to young hearts. We understand the unique needs of families in medical crisis. We work with an extraordinary team of staff, medical professionals and community volunteers to meet those needs with innovative programs and services. As we begin our 14th year, we’re grateful to be recognized as a national leader bringing Joy Rx to tens of thousands of kids and their families.
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