January 2026 Newsletter
C.U.R.E. Childhood Cancer Association is celebrating 50 years of impact, hope, and walking alongside Families during their most difficult times. As we honor the legacy built by our Founders, Supporters & Families, we’re also preparing for an exciting future. While we take pride in how far we’ve come, we’re even more energized by what’s ahead. Big, exciting things are on the horizon—the next chapter of C.U.R.E. is just the beginning.
Happy New Year!
Wishing all of our Friends a happy New Year! Here's to fresh starts, glad hearts, and beautiful memories to come.
As we step into 2026—C.U.R.E.’s 50th anniversary year—we’re looking ahead with gratitude and excitement.
Check out: “What I Wish I Knew…”
We are sharing a new series of YouTube videos called “What I Wish I Knew”. They will be from the perspective of Parents, Caregivers, Providers and more.
Spotlight on: Nora
Meet our Friend, Nora!
Nora was diagnosed with Medulloblastoma mid-way through 2025. She is extremely thoughtful and considerate of others. She LOVES her family fiercely. Nora is very shy, but once she knows you, she is very silly and enjoys telling jokes!
While in the hospital, Nora likes to watch movies, play with PlayDoh, go to the Playdeck, participate in music therapy and snuggle! She also likes to play with Barbies and have visits from family.
Nora is extremely selfless in all that she has been through. She always cares about everyone else and how taking care of her effects those around her.
Hey, C.U.R.E. Parents:
Did you know we have a private Facebook Group JUST for you? Connect with other parents. Ask questions about treatment, education help and more. Learn from others.
Contact us to learn more!
Ice Cream for Breakfast Ice Cream Social
C.U.R.E. Families - look for a sign up coming in the Program emails.
Fun Fact - Did you know?
The holiday was invented on a snowy February morning during the 1960s right here in Rochester, NY by Florence Rappaport, the mother of six children. To entertain her two youngest children, and she declared it to be Ice Cream For Breakfast Day. She explained, "It was cold and snowy and the kids were complaining that it was too cold to do anything. So I just said, 'Let's have ice cream for breakfast.” The next year, they reminded her of the day and a tradition began. When the siblings grew up, they held parties and introduced the tradition to friends while in college, and the tradition began to spread. Celebrations expanded around the World!
CANDICE’S SICKLE CELL FUND SCHOLARSHIP
Candice’s Sickle Cell Anemia Fund, Inc., is a powerful initiative founded by Candice Young-Deler, who has courageously overcome the challenges of living with Sickle Cell Disease. Inspired by her own academic journey, Candice created this scholarship to support students living with Sickle Cell who are pursuing higher education.
Each year, the fund awards $1,500 scholarships to three deserving individuals, helping ease the financial burden and recognize their resilience and determination. These scholarships not only provide financial support but also affirm the strength and potential of students facing chronic health challenges.
💡 Why It Matters:
Students with Sickle Cell often face painful health episodes that disrupt their education. This fund helps ensure that their dreams of college and career success remain within reach.
📬 Want to support or apply?
Visit candicessicklecellfund.org to learn more, donate, or share the opportunity with someone who may benefit.
Cancer for College Scholarship
Cancer for College has provided need-based scholarships to cancer survivors since 1993.
The scholarship application period is November 1 – January 31 each year. Starting November 1, 2025, they’re accepting applications for the 2026-’27 school year.
To learn more, please click the link below or contact CFC at applications@cancerforcollege.org.
Resources:
Childhood Cancer Survivor Scholarship and Employment Resources:
Children's Cancer Cause is assisting childhood cancer patients, survivors and families by centralizing most national resources that provide scholarships for survivors of childhood cancer or those with particular effects. The site also has resources and advice relating to employment and applying for these scholarships.
Some opportunities require commitment to a childhood cancer advocacy project while in college, while others make you eligible for you just being you. But you do need to apply! Be sure to read the instructions and qualifications very carefully. Apply in plenty of time to get feedback from family, guidance counselors and others.
YOU can help C.U.R.E. for FREE
Follow us on social media:
Facebook: facebook.com/curekidscancerrochester
Instagram: @curekidscancer_
Twitter: @curekidscancer_
TikTok: @curekidscancer_Write a review about C.U.R.E. on our Facebook Page or on Google.
Write a blog that can be shared on our website.
Contact our Parent Advocate Michelle or Elena about doing an Instagram Takeover.
“Like”, Share or Comment on our social media posts.
Research & Advocacy:
Conquer Cancer in Kids:
make childhood cancer research a priority:
We invite our families and supporters to join CNN’s Rene Marsh as she advocates to make childhood cancer research a priority! Sadly, Rene lost her two year old son, Blake, to brain cancer in April 2021. She is now working with CNN and childhood cancer awareness advocates to make a difference!
To review and sign the petition, click the button below.
Petition to the Biden Administration to increase funding for childhood cancer research. This effort was started through awareness from The Ellen Show.
81,106 signatures of 150,000 wanted (as of 05/16/2025)
Bereavement Group
January Bereavement Group
Wednesday, January 7, 2026 - 7:00 p.m.
C.U.R.E. Office
103 White Spruce Boulevard*
Rochester, NY 14623
No RSVP Required
February Bereavement Group
Create a Valentine’s Remembrance craft!
Wednesday, February 4, 2026 - 7:00 p.m.
C.U.R.E. Office
103 White Spruce Boulevard*
Rochester, NY 14623
RSVP Is Required
*(Please note our new address)
Not on our Bereaved Family mailing address list or in our private FaceBook page? Click the button below to be added or contact Diane at (585) 473-0180 x105.
Did you know? For children who have experienced the death of a sibling from childhood cancer, SuperSibs offers additional mailings through the Grief and Loss Mailing Program.
This program includes...
💛 Grief support and resources specifically for parents
💛 4 mailings per year for two years with activities designed to help SuperSibs to cope with their grief and feelings
💛 A special remembrance on the anniversary of their sibling’s passing
Learn more about this free program for siblings:
Click Here To Check it Out
Once upon a time - and still today - Families in our Community have faced a dragon far fiercer than any found in storybooks: childhood cancer and chronic blood disorders. When that terrible beast appears, it can shatter even the bravest hearts.
For nearly 50 years, the Rochester Community has wrapped its arms around C.U.R.E. Childhood Cancer Association, standing beside Families through their darkest chapters. With every act of kindness, every donation, every moment of compassion, our Knights in Shining Armor from the Community help us slay the beast and bring light back into the lives of those who need it most. We invite you to journey with us into this next chapter - where together, we can bring light to Families facing their darkest days. With every act of love and generosity, we help write a story of courage, comfort, and hope that shines bright through the holiday season and beyond.
Thank you to all of those who honored your heroes this holiday season. To see the full publication, click the link below.
Thank You Holiday Volunteers!
THANK YOU to all of the volunteers who made this holiday season so magical for our Families! Altogether, there were 520+ hours spent planning, prepping, wrapping, day of event execution and everything in between to make the holidays extra special!
To our wrappers who helped wrap endless gifts for our Families, to those who helped at our Holiday Party, bringing their holiday cheer and making it a joyous night! We are so thankful for your kind hearts; we wouldn’t be able to do what we do without all of you!
Thank You Amazon Angels!
For the past month or so, our office has been overflowing with kindness from our Amazon Angels! These wonderful individuals & organizations have been shopping off of our Amazon Wish Lists to help make the season a little bit brighter for our Families.
To our Friends and supporters who shopped from our Amazon Wish Lists to help support our mission, we appreciate you. You helped fulfill holiday wishes of our Kids! It was exciting to not only recieve these packages daily but to see what was inside and knowing it would bring a smile to a kiddo’s face.
Thank you, Amazon Angels for your kindness & generosity this season!
Thank You Private Sponsors!
This year, 23 C.U.R.E. Families were privately sponsored this holiday season. What does this mean? We sent 23 Wish Lists to Friends of C.U.R.E. who lovingly selected, wrapped and delivered gifts for the Family they adopted. Everything from the wrapping paper to the gifts were so carefully selected, it brought joy to our hearts to see! These Private Sponsors alleviated the stress of the holidays from so many of our Families and gave them the opportunity to be present with their children and enjoy the holidays without the worry of shopping and wrapping. The financial stress of purchasing gifts was also lifted from these Parents’ shoulders. Thank you to our Friends who sponsored Families this year.
Hugs of Joy!
A big thank you to CURE Bears for Hope and Love who organized a stuffed animal drive, working with Jared Jewelers in Henrietta NY & Kay Jewelers in Webster! Together, they sold and collected the holiday huskies & bears that were given out to Families at our Holiday Party. These stuffies are so loved by our kiddos and they have been providing them for about 12 years!
Thank you CURE Bears for Hope & Love, Kay Jewelers & Jared Jewelers for your kindness and bringing smiles to our Kiddos faces💛
Quotes for C.U.R.E.!
We are so grateful for our Friends at Genesee Valley Agency! During October-November, they donated $5 for every new insurance quote, no purchase necessary needed from the client. Altogether, they raised $1,220! In addition, they also collected can tabs at all six office locations - Arkport, Avoca, Caledonia, Dansville, Livonia, Odessa.
We are so grateful for their year-round support and for supporting our Families, thank you!
We❤️Florence & Santa’s Helpers!
Our long-time Friend, Florence, has brought her crew of Santa’s Helpers back for another year of giving! For over 35 years, Florence has been distributing gifts in our Community for children to enjoy during the holidays, C.U.R.E. being one of those organization!
She brought along her friends as they unloaded cars full of toys, activity books, stuffed animals, and more! Thank you Florence, for your many joyous years of Friendship and for making spirits bright during the holidays!
Bringing Joy To Kiddos!
Our Friends at the New Vision Pioneers shopped off of our Amazon Wishlists and purchased $500 worth of toys and activities for our kiddos this holiday! They chose everything from Taylor Swift Mad Libs to craft kits & games! A lot of these items were distributed at our Holiday Party this year.
We are so grateful for their kindness and making our Families happy this holiday season. Thank you New Pioneers for supporting our mission!
Rochester Press-Radio Club is Making a Difference!
C.U.R.E. was honored to join the Rochester Press-Radio Club for their Holiday Luncheon last month! C.U.R.E. is among a number of non-profits (pictured here) they support within three areas: Families in Need, Special Needs, and Adaptive Sports. We received a donation for $2,000! Thank you for continuing to support the work we do here at C.U.R.E.!
Rotork Toy Drive is bringing Joy!
The Rotork team held their annual toy donation drive again to help C.U.R.E. Families! This year, they made a giving tree based off our Amazon Wishlists and employees picked what they wanted to purchase. Any tags not taken were sponsored by the company.
Altogether, they donated 140 items! We are overwhelmed by their generosity and support over the last several years! Thank you for your kindness and thinking of our Families!
Josh Allen’s Baby Shower!
Thank you to everyone who came out for Josh Allen’s Baby Shower at Ziggy’s!
Because of you, Ziggy’s was able to donate a TON of toys and over $800 to C.U.R.E. for our Families this holiday.
We’re so grateful for this community and for the best fans in football. Bills Mafia always shows up, thank you!
Color for C.U.R.E.!
Our friends at The Landing Strip continue to honor sweet angel, Landon Coia and his family. Each football season, they offer a meaningful way for their guests to participate: coloring football helmets for a small donation. These donations are made in memory of Landon, and we are deeply grateful that The Landing Strip contributes them to C.U.R.E. to help further our mission.
This year, they raised $1,500! It is truly an honor to celebrate Landon’s memory in this special way.
Bowling for C.U.R.E!
The American Legion Greece Post 468 have been so kind to C.U.R.E.! Over the past few years, they’ve provided bags of can tabs for Keeping Tabs on Cancer with Hailey, which helps pay for parking vouchers at the hospital and have also been providing donations like handmade blankets and hats.
In November, they held a a Bowling Tournament to help raise funds for C.U.R.E. at Domm Bros.! They raised over $1,118 and the funds were then used to shop off of our Amazon Wish List! The people who made this possible were Wendy Coccitti, Marion Palumbo and the Sons of the American Legion Post 468.
We are so grateful for their unwavering kindness and are overwhelmed by their support. Thank you for helping our Families!
Taco-bout a Good Time that makes you wanna Shout!
In November, our Friends at Old Pueblo Grill hosted a Buffalo Bills Charity Watch Party, benefiting C.U.R.E.! They had door prizes, 50/50 raffles and food & drinks specials! They raised nearly $700 for our Families!
Thank you, Old Pueblo Grill for your kindness and spreading the Bills Mafia generosity! We are so grateful for local organizations like you who give back in our community!
Honoring Julianne’s Legacy!
Our dear Friend, Shari, has been organizing Julianne’s Journey to Christmas Joy Jam with Friends for many years! She, along with her Grit and Grace bandmates, Iron Smoke, the Dawgs and other incredible local bands & friends, volunteer their time towards this benefit. Shari organizes all this in honor of her sweet angel, Julianne, who passed around the holidays.
Altogether, they raised $7,186.50 for C.U.R.E.! These funds were distributed between restaurant/ gas/grocery gift cards, toys off of our Amazon Wish List, and a check to help meet the needs of our Families. Biggest thank you to all who donated and and supported and attended, making this year a successful year in supporting our C.U.R.E. Families!
Comedy for a Cause!
On December 19th, Comedy @ The Carlson put together great New Comic Night lineup, hosted by Vinnie Paulino. Twenty funny performers gave it their all, with 100% of the profits going directly to C.U.R.E. Childhood Cancer Association! The winning comic at the end of the night donated back their winnings, and altogether the night raised $1,100 for C.U.R.E.!
We are so grateful for our Friends at Comedy @ The Carlson for hosting this night and choosing to support our mission. Thank you to all who went and helped put on this event!
Giving Back for the Holidays!
Our Friend, Katie, stopped by our office last month and dropped off some wonderful toys and squishmallows - a crowd favorite - for our Families! This year, she decided that instead of receiving gifts for Christmas, she wanted to donate toys to C.U.R.E. kiddos!
Thank you, Katie, for thinking of others and spreading holiday cheer for our Families! You are making a difference in our community!
January’s Advocate of the Month is…
Genetaska Club of Rochester, Inc.!
We are beyond grateful for their support from this wonderful group!
Every year the Genetaska Club volunteers to help C.U.R.E. get ready for the Holidays and other events. This year they helped put together craft kits that were distributed to Families at the holiday party. We are so grateful for their help and kindness. Thank you so much Genetaska Club for always helping C.U.R.E. Families!!!
We appreciate you!
Say Cheese!
We are looking for local photographers who would be willing to donate their time occasionally to photograph our End of Chemo Bell Ringings in the office. If you are interested in joining our volunteer email list for this project, please click the box below. When we are notified of an upcoming End of Chemo Bell Ringing, we will reach out to our network of photographers and will work on a first-come-first-here basis. We would love to build up our volunteer photographer list for these special occasions!
Join our Board of Directors!
We have some Board positions opening up! Are you interested in applying?
The Board meets monthly for 1.5 - 2 hours (Currently the third Wednesday evening of the month from 5:30 - 7:30)
Board members must attend two of the three main fundraisers (5k & Fun Walk, Golf Tournament, Brunch)
Board members are on at least one sub-committee
Board members make a monetary donation for the Board sponsored Live Auction package for the Brunch
Applications can be emailed to:
cureboardapplications@gmail.com
Calling all Former Board Members:
If you served on the Board of Directors for C.U.R.E. Childhood Cancer Association, we would love to stay connected! We are hoping to plan an Alumni Board event in the near future! Please email Holly Dutcher to connect!
holly.dutcher@curekidscancer.com
Super Bowl Squares 2026
We are again offering Super Bowl Squares for C.U.R.E. in 2025! Squares will cost $25 each. Once you make your donation, you will be assigned a random square. When the board of 100 is full, we will use a random number generator to assign numbers to rows and columns.
The winner is decided by looking at the last number in each teams' score and then matching those digits on the grid to see where the squares intersect.
Payout will be as follows:
Winner of the 1st Quarter: $150
Winner at Halftime: $200
Winner of the 3rd Quarter: $150
Final Score Winner: $300
Winners will be notified after the game.
TRIVIA NIGHT IS BACK!
SAVE THE DATE: Thursday, February 26th!
Please join us as we return to Comedy @ the Carlson for a our 10th Annual Trivia Night. It’s sure to be a good time with food, drinks, raffles, friends and of course, TRIVIA!
Registration is open now through February 18th. Don’t wait, reserve your team’s spot today!
Totally Rad Time!
The Totally 80’s Cupid Ball with NERDS GONE WILD will take place on Friday, February 13th!
Join us for a totally rad time! You could win an overnight stay and play at Batavia Downs Casino! Drink specials and many more prizes and giveaways:
When: Friday, February 13th
Time: Starts @ 7p, Band @ 9p
Where: Buntsy’s Band Stand - 2225 Empire Blvd, Webster, NY 14580
Looking for a fun family project? All proceeds from the sale of vintage miniature furniture kits from minisbycm.etsy.com will go directly to C.U.R.E. Childhood Cancer Association. Each kit costs $12 and contains everything needed to build a piece or set of dollhouse furniture. Please spread the word!
PeachSkin is the perfect holiday gift!
PeachSkin Sheets are the coziest, softest bedsheets… you'll INSTANTLY fall in love, or asleep! Purchase a set now through December 15th and to get $45 OFF for every set. Not only will you be getting luxury sheets for a discounted price, but $20 per set will be donated back to C.U.R.E.! WHAT A DEAL!
Here's how you can order yours today:
-Click the button below to visit the website, the discount is specific to that link.
-Get a discount AND make a difference!
Grateful Giving
Grateful Giving is a platform and mobile app that connects individual donors and businesses with nonprofits that need support to carry out their mission.
When you sign up, Grateful Giving allows individuals to automatically donate a portion of their spending to selected charities. It operates through a software platform that connects users with over 1.5 million non-profits, transforming everyday purchases into automated micro-donations to support causes. For individuals, this involves connecting a bank account or credit card to the service, which then sends a small percentage of daily spending to a chosen charity. For businesses, it can be used to give back to customers' favored causes or to make automatic donations for purchases, referrals, and birthdays, with the business paying for the donation as a thank you.
For individuals
Connect your accounts: Link your bank account or credit card to the Grateful Giving platform.
Set up giving: Choose to automatically donate a small percentage of your daily spending to a charity you care about.
Select a charity: Choose from a database of over 1.5 million 501(c)(3) charities.
For businesses
Partner with Grateful Giving:
The business pays a subscription fee to use the platform.
Automate donations:
The platform makes automatic micro-donations on behalf of the business for customer purchases, referrals, or employee/customer birthdays.
Pay for the donation:
The business pays for the donation as a way to thank customers or employees and support social good.
Enhance customer loyalty:
Businesses can align with causes their customers care about, increasing loyalty and customer retention.
How it helps
Simplifies giving:
It makes it easy for both individuals and businesses to give to charity through automated, regular donations.
Supports charities:
It provides a consistent funding source for a wide range of non-profit organizations.
Builds community:
It fosters deeper connections by allowing businesses to support causes that are important to their customers, employees, and communities.
Qualified Charitable Distributions:
To transfer funds from your IRA to C.U.R.E., please follow these step-by-step instructions:
(1) Contact your financial advisor or representative at the financial institution that holds your IRA.
(2) Tell your representative that you wish to make a QCD from your IRA to C.U.R.E.
(3) Request a check made payable to “C.U.R.E. Childhood Cancer Association” and indicate that it is a “qualified charitable distribution from the account of (your name).
(4) For wire transfers, contact request transfer instruction from C.U.R.E.
(5) Tax ID information: C.U.R.E. Childhood Cancer Association Federal Tax ID: 51-0215037
(6) Please contact C.U.R.E. and let us know to expect a payment.
Please note that the maximum QCD is $100,000 per year per person, with married couples with separate IRAs eligible to give up to $200,000 per year. Transfers to donor-advised funds, supporting organizations, private foundations, charitable remainder trusts, and charitable gift annuities do not qualify. The transfer is tax-free and is not included in your adjusted gross income (AGI), thus there is no charitable deduction. A transfer is not subject to AGI limitations on charitable deductions. C.U.R.E. recommends you consult with your estate attorney and/or financial advisor prior to requesting a QCD to C.U.R.E.
Become a C.U.R.E. Ambassador!
The Support Doesn’t Stop When Treatment Stops…
Because of YOU and your kindness.
Support our mission year-round by becoming a C.U.R.E. Ambassador! A C.U.R.E. Ambassador is a donor who commits to our mission through a monthly donation of his/her choosing. Whatever level you are comfortable with makes a difference!
Embrace the Difference
Did you know that we partner with Reeds Jewelers on their Embrace the Difference campaign? With Graduations approaching, we hope you’ll consider grabbing a gift from Reeds Jewelers Embrace the Difference Collection and make a difference to our Families (all while giving a beautiful gift!).
We also have exclusive bracelets here at C.U.R.E. with our logo on them that make beautiful gifts!
Round Up for C.U.R.E.!
We are thrilled to share that we are now part of the Walmart Spark Good program! You can select “C.U.R.E. Childhood Cancer Association” as your charity of choice and round up your purchases! The rounded up change will be donated to C.U.R.E.!
STEP 1: Visit walmart.com/sparkgood and sign in to your Walmart.com account.
STEP 2: Search for a favorite charity.
STEP 3: Once you choose a charity, go to the Round Up box and click "Select this Charity"
STEP 4: Review the FAQs and the Terms of Use.
C.U.R.E. Partners:
You can now return your cans and bottles to Alpco Recycling and Bottle & Can Retrieval Centers! Let them know you’d like to support “C.U.R.E. Childhood Cancer Association” and a donation will be made to us!
Alpco Recycling is located at:
846 Macedon Center Road, Macedon, NY 14502
Bottle & Can Retrieval Centers located at:
509 Spencerport Rd, Rochester
2199 East Henrietta Rd, Rochester
2374 Chili Ave, Rochester
More ways to help:
Hailey and her Family have been saving aluminum can tabs for C.U.R.E. for many years now. The photo is Hailey standing in an oil drum of tabs surrounded by 14 oil drums FILLED with can tabs! They bring the drums to the scrap yard and then donate the proceeds to C.U.R.E. Those proceeds are then applied to the cost of parking vouchers for our Families.
You can bring your can tabs to our office at 200 Westfall Road, 14620 during business hours and we will collect them for Hailey and her Family.
We hope you think of Hailey and her program while you are at family gatherings, picnics and other fun summer activities this summer that may include aluminum cans!
C.U.R.E. has joined the PayPal Giving Fund. Please consider adding us to your account to Shop, Donate and Raise Awareness for our families.
PayPal Giving Fund expands our fundraising reach through direct integration with PayPal, eBay and GoFundMe.
We are so grateful to the community for all of the wonderful donations we receive throughout the year. We could not service all the families we do without this generous support. If you or a community group you belong to is looking for something to do for a charity, please consider donating items from C.U.R.E.’s wish list so that we can continue to provide for our families:
A cure for childhood cancer, blood diseases and brain tumors!
- Gift cards for Wegmans, Tops, Wal-Mart, Target and gas cards
- Gift cards for GrubHub, McDonalds, Wendy’s, Burger King, Moe’s, Chipotle, Dunkin Donuts and Starbucks
- Gifts for teens or young adults
- Toys! Please see our Wish Lists below:
- Shop our Walmart Wish List here: https://www.walmart.com/lists/holiday-wishlist/a31ff2c6-8f70-4472-b862-93f8969c18fc
- Shop our Amazon Wish Lists:
Under $20: https://a.co/hlW4hCO
$20 - 50: https://a.co/eHiQcV2
$50+: https://a.co/bVDujCy)
We ask that all items be new and recently purchased. Thank you!