$925,000+ Granted to Families Since Creation
Runway to Hope provides direct assistance that is desperately needed by children and families affected by pediatric cancer. For these families, the promise of a future cure isn’t enough. They need help today.
We currently operate a Family Assistance Program 365 days a year. Our goal is to sustain this program for years to come by increasing the amount of families served each year.
The Runway to Hope Family Assistance Program has policies and procedures that allow for the cutting of bureaucracy in order to grant emergency assistance within 48 hours. With continued financial contributions to Runway to Hope, we will be able to sustain the monetary assistance and make a greater impact within our Central Florida pediatric cancer community.
Runway to Hope grants the most emergency financial assistance for mortgage and rent payments to help keep a roof over our children and their families during their pediatric cancer journeys. The next highest spend we have are car payments so our families can continue to get to and from treatment. Sadly, a close second to car payments are the funeral expenses. Runway to Hope is honored to help lessen the burden of financial expectations for families during the some of the hardest times of their lives.
Updated as of 6/23/2023
Our organization assists with many other financial burdens that families navigate as well, such as gas to and from treatment, utility payments, and grocery assistance. We also work with many community partners to avoid duplication of services. You can learn more about that programming: here.
Currently, Runway to Hope is committed to serving families battling pediatric cancer in Central Florida at one of our three local children's hospitals: Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children, AdventHealth for Children and Nemours Children's Health or living in one of the seven counties considered to be part of Central Florida. There are special circumstances where families traveling to or from one of our Central Florida’s children hospitals for treatment are also reviewed.
Since inception of the Family Assistance Program in 2014, Runway to Hope has granted over $925,000 to 611 individual families in direct financial assistance as of June 2023.
Often, at least one parent must quit their job in order to become a full time caregiver, dramatically reducing the family’s income. Medical expenses and other bills mount quickly; the stress can overwhelm parents and children alike. When a child is diagnosed with cancer, the entire family suffers.
One of our team’s favorite responsibilities is to provide extraordinary events for our kiddo’s to attend, away from hospitals & treatment centers. Giving them a night to remember and be celebrated by those who love them bring our hearts so much joy. We have several events throughout the year, like our Bloomingdale’s Bash Weekend, Spring Soiree, and Sparkle & Shine 5k, to name a few.
Our families’ needs are endless and solely funded by philanthropy. We would not be able to provide the financial assistance, support, and FUN that we do without all of YOU! Thank you to all of our supporters for your unwavering support.