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When you donate to Children’s Minnesota this September — Childhood Cancer Awareness Month — you help thousands of kids, and their families, right here in our region.
Kids like Katerina. Diagnosed at age 5 with a type of kidney cancer, she began a 20-year care journey at Children’s Minnesota. Now grown and cancer-free, she’s looking back at her whole family’s experience — and asking our community to support the programs that help moms, dads, brothers and sisters stay strong on the hardest days.
Our cancer and blood disorders team fights more than tumors. We also care for children living with lifelong blood disorders. Like sickle cell disease. Children’s Minnesota sees more than 80% of children and teens in the state with sickle cell disease, an incurable condition that causes severe pain, frequent infections and even strokes. Your gifts will help us do more for these Minnesota kids who deserve a healthy, happy childhood.
Make an impact in September by creating your own Shine Bright for Kids fundraiser. Maybe you’ve personally experienced the Children’s Minnesota cancer and blood disorders program, or you have a loved one or friend who has. Or, you want to be part of a greater community rallying around families affected by cancer or a blood disorder. By fundraising and sharing your story, you’ll make a difference for more than 3,500 kids — and their families — who are cared for by our dedicated, highly specialized cancer and blood disorders team each year.
We care for the majority of children in our region who face cancer. That means your support goes directly to help families right here at home. As the largest and most specialized cancer and blood disorders program in the Upper Midwest, we know that families rely on us to be the experts. It’s a big job, and it requires the support of our entire community.
Your donation, partnership, or fundraising efforts fund everything from special therapies to life-saving research to mortgage and rent relief. Donations also enable us to make sure families have child life specialists, social workers, arts therapists and other team members who provide vital services not covered by insurance, services that never show up on a patient’s bill.
“What I went through was completely different from what my siblings and parents went through,” says Katerina, now in her 20s. “The mental and emotional pain to have a loved one go through all of that can be just as traumatizing.”
Katerina’s older sister Ashley still remembers details from that time. Like the blue pill crusher pouring dust into her sister’s ice cream bowl. A pink sparkly bandana bobbing down their school hallway, hiding a head that used to be full of hair. A support group with other kids.
Her dad remembers learning about his daughter’s diagnosis. “Typically, men in my family want to hold in our emotions, but it was something I was not able to do and ended up crying into my pillow that night. I was not sad, I was scared.”
For Katerina, the understanding of her family’s experience spurred her to help other families going through the same thing. “To get even a glimpse of what my family went through, understanding how they felt, is exactly why I wanted to do something.”
As she celebrates 20 years of being cancer-free, Katerina is raising money for cancer care at Children’s Minnesota — and all the support services that come with it.
Your gift can do so much: from cancer research to sibling play areas, meals, child life therapists, transportation, even mortgage payments. Your gift helps families like Katerina’s face the hardest days of their lives.
“It can be a weight off their shoulders,” says Katerina, “allowing families to put their energy towards loving and supporting their kids.”
With your donation, we’re able to deliver extraordinary care to children living with cancer and blood disorders — not only the best medicine and latest treatments but also the healing support of a devoted team that includes child life specialists, social workers, arts therapists and many more.
Amy’s Cupcake Shoppe is a scratch-made bakery located in Hopkins, Minnesota. With custom cakes, macarons + more, they are baking the world a little sweeter one homemade treat at a time. $1 from each Shine Bright cupcake sold during the month of September will support the Cancer and Blood Disorders program at Children’s Minnesota.
BlackStack Brewing, a local craft brewery, brew pub, taproom in St. Paul, is donating a portion of proceeds from their “Shine On” beer, an Northeast-style IPA especially brewed for Shine Bright for Kids.
Café Astoria is an independent St. Paul local coffee shop with a commitment to the neighborhood and strive to create a warm comfortable place for people to relax, work and socialize. During the month of September when guests make a donation of $3 or more, they will receive a gift of a “Shine Bright Cocoa”, a 12 oz hot chocolate garnished with whipped cream, sprinkles, and toasted marshmallow. Donations help support the Cancer and Blood Disorders program at Children’s Minnesota.
The world famous and local favorite, Candyland, created a dazzling popcorn mix for Shine Bright. Stop by any of their three locations to pick up this special mix – vanilla popcorn, drizzled with milk chocolate and topped with sprinkles and gummi bears! Proceeds will directly benefit patients and families at Children’s Minnesota.
This September, Lift Bridge Brewing, Ullsperger Brewing, and Union 32 Craft House are teaming up to support patients and families. Beginning Thursday, September 12, Lift Bridge Brewing in Stillwater, MN and New Richmond, WI will tap the “Shine So Bright” and donate a portion of the proceeds from this Hazy IPA back to Children’s Minnesota. This beer will also be available in crowlers to-go throughout the month. Their Stillwater location will feature a double give back day on Thursday, September 12 to celebrate the partnership.
This September, Lift Bridge Brewing, Ullsperger Brewing, and Union 32 Craft House are teaming up to support patients and families. Beginning on September 10, Ullsperger Brewing in St. Louis Park will tap the “Shine So Bright” and donate a portion of the proceeds from this Hazy IPA back to Children’s Minnesota. They will also host a special Shine Bright Happy Hour on Wedensday, September 18 to celebrate the partnership.
This September, Lift Bridge Brewing, Ullsperger Brewing, and Union 32 Craft House are teaming up to support patients and families. Beginning September 1, Union 32 Craft House in Eagan will tap the “Shine So Bright” and donate a portion of the proceeds from this Hazy IPA back to Children’s Minnesota. They will also host a special Shine Bright happy hour on Tuesday, September 24 to celebrate the partnership.
Papa John’s will be Shining Bright for Kids from September 23 – 29 by hosting a giveback week to benefit Children’s Minnesota. Customers can use code CM20 for any orders that week, and 20% of the proceeds will benefit Children’s Minnesota.
We are grateful to Prime Therapeutics for being one of our most generous donors, matching up to $25,000.
With a focus on giving back to local Minnesota communities, Blaze Credit Union is supporting Shine Bright for Kids with a $5,000 gift that will directly support patients and families throughout their experience at Children’s Minnesota.
The Minnesota Twins will be hosting nearly 100 Children’s Minnesota patients, families, and staff at their Childhood Cancer Awareness Game on September 28.
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Children’s Minnesota is registered as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Our tax identification number is 41-1754276.
