St. Baldrick's Foundation

St. Baldrick's Foundation

Founded	2000
Location	Monrovia, California
Area served	United States and 28 other countries.
Key people	Kathleen Ruddy, Executive Director
Website	http://www.StBaldricks.org

The St. Baldrick’s Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit public charity, headquartered in Monrovia, California and hosts events across the globe. Events have taken place in all 50 US states and 28 countries. The Foundation raises money for childhood cancer research primarily through head-shaving events. Volunteers, sponsored by family, friends and employers, go bald in solidarity with kids who typically lose their hair during cancer treatment.

The concept of St. Baldrick's was devised in 1999 by three Irish-American reinsurance executives from New York City, and grew from a single event to a nationwide effort in a relatively short period of time, now known as the world’s first and largest volunteer fundraiser for childhood cancer research. The founders decided to turn their St. Patrick's Day party into a benefit for pediatric oncology research by shaving their heads, thereby showing solidarity with children undergoing chemotherapy treatment. Therefore, the name of the Foundation is a play on the words Bald and Patrick - going bald on St. Patrick’s Day, led to St. Baldrick’s.

Since 2000 through May 2010, the St. Baldrick's Foundation has raised over $87 million, hosted over 3,200 head-shaving events and shaved over 145,000 heads in 50 U.S. states and 28 countries.

The St. Baldrick’s Foundation became a non-profit organization in late 2004 and makes grants to research organizations that meet stringent criteria and share the foundation’s commitment to fiscal responsibility and emphasis on research. St. Baldrick’s research grants help fill crucial funding gaps at medical institutions where children are treated for cancer, ensuring the finest care for every child. St. Baldrick’s Fellowships enable some of the most promising new doctors to pursue pediatric cancer research as a career. Since 2005, St. Baldrick's has funded 24 Fellows across the country.

History

On March 17, 2000, reinsurance executives Tim Kenny, John Bender and Enda McDonnell turned their industry's St. Patrick's Day party into a benefit for kids with cancer. The three planned to raise "$17,000 on the 17th," recruiting 17 colleagues to raise $1,000 each to be shorn. Instead, the first St. Baldrick's event raised over $104,000!

The event had a life of its own and quickly grew into the world’s largest volunteer-driven fundraising program for childhood cancer research! The Foundation now funds more in childhood cancer research grants than any organization except the U.S. government. Since 2000, events have taken place in 28 countries and 50 US states, raising over $87 million. More than 144,000 volunteers-- including over 12,000 women-- have shaved their heads in solidarity of children with cancer, while requesting donations of support from friends and family – each one becoming a walking billboard for the cause!

At a St. Baldrick's event, something amazing happens. People who normally shy away from the very thought of childhood cancer find themselves compelled to support this cause after looking into the face of these brave children who are beaming as their friends and family members proudly display their newly shorn heads. Volunteers and donors see it can be fun to support a serious cause. Young cancer patients and survivors see how many people care. And researchers see St. Baldrick's funds helping to find cures!

Commitment to the Mission

Since the first St. Baldrick’s event, five principles have directed us in our journey to Conquer Kids’ Cancer:

Integrity– Our awareness of the great trust you place in us as stewards of the funds you raise and as partners with you in the fight against childhood cancer – guides us every day.

Efficiency– Our commitment to always operate in the most cost-effective manner possible so that the greatest number of dollars raised goes directly to fund cancer research.

Transparency– Our pledge to be completely open with you understanding that it is only through your support of St. Baldrick’s that we are able to continue our vital mission.

Pioneering Spirit– Our unique approach to fundraising is bold and daring, the same qualities we look for in the doctors and researchers dedicated to finding the cure.

Sense of Fun– Our head-shaving events are fun and people come back year after year, joining together to have a great time while supporting a very serious cause.

Types of Grants

The St. Baldrick’s Foundation works with leaders in the childhood cancer research community to determine the highest priorities for the types of grants to fund. Currently these are:

Research grants are focused on finding new and better cures for childhood cancer.

St. Baldrick’s Fellows are new doctors training to specialize in pediatric oncology research, funded for 2-3 years. From 2005 to 2009, 35 St. Baldrick’s Fellows have been funded.

St. Baldrick’s Scholars are pursuing exciting research, funded for 3 years or more. Because grant funds are so scarce, it is difficult for those early in their careers to compete with more established researchers. These grants keep new researchers focused on childhood cancer. From 2008-2009, 20 St. Baldrick's Scholars have been funded.

Infrastructure grants help institutions treat more kids on clinical trials (their best hope for a cure), or provide resources to make more research possible.

Multi-institution grants include the cooperative research and laboratories of the 200-member Children’s Oncology Group, as well as consortiums of institutions working on pediatric brain tumors, neuroblastoma, and bone marrow transplants for childhood cancer patients.

Foreign beneficiaries receive funds raised by St. Baldrick’s events held in their countries.

Where The Money Goes

2009 recipients to date include:

United States:

   * Phoenix Children's Hospital, Phoenix, AZ
   * Jonathan Jacques Children's Cancer Center, Long Beach, CA
   * Miller Children's Hospital, Long Beach, CA
   * Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA
   * University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA
   * Children's Hospital Central California, Madera, CA
   * Children's Hospital & Research Center, Oakland, CA
   * University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
   * University of Colorado at Denver, Aurora, CO
   * Yale University, New Haven, CT
   * University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
   * Nemours Children's Clinic, Jacksonville, FL
   * Miller School of Medicine of the University of Miami, Miami, FL
   * St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital of Tampa, Tampa, FL
   * Emory University, Atlanta, GA
   * Mountain States Tumor Institute, Boise, ID
   * John H. Stroger Hospital of Cook County, Chicago, IL
   * Northwestern University, Chicago Campus, Chicago, IL
   * Rush Medical Center, Chicago, IL
   * University of Chicago, Chicago, IL
   * University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL
   * Riley Children's Hospital, Indianapolis, IN
   * Norton Healthcare, Louisville, KY
   * Tulane University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA
   * Children’s Hospital Boston, Boston, MA
   * Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA
   * Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD
   * University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
   * Children's Hospital of Michigan, Detroit, MI
   * University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, Minneapolis, MN
   * Washington University, St. Louis, MO
   * Mission Hospitals, Inc., Asheville, NC
   * University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC
   * Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC
   * Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC
   * Hitchcock Foundation, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, NH
   * Hackensack University Medical Center, Hackensack, NJ
   * University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM
   * Children's Center for Cancer & Blood Diseases, Las Vegas, NV
   * Albany Medical College, Albany, NY
   * Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, NY
   * Health Research Incorporated, Roswell Park Cancer Institute Division, Buffalo, NY
   * Feinstein Institute of Medical Research, New Hyde Park, NY
   * Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY
   * Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY
   * New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY
   * SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY
   * Cincinnati Hospital Children's Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH
   * Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH
   * Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital, Cleveland, OH
   * Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH
   * Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR
   * Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA
   * University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA
   * Greenville Hospital System, Greenville, SC
   * St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN
   * Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN
   * Cook Children's Medical Center, Fort Worth, TX
   * Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
   * University of Texas, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
   * Vannie E. Cook Jr. Children’s Cancer Clinic, McAllen, TX
   * University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT
   * Children's Hospital and Regional Medical Center, Seattle, WA
   * Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA
   * University of Washington, Seattle, WA
   * Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI
   * University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI
   * University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI
   * University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA
   * Children's Hospital of the King's Daughters, Norfolk, VA
   * Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA

National:

   * Children's Oncology Group (Over 200 Institutions)
   * Pediatric Blood and Marrow Transplant Consortium
   * Pediatric Brain Tumor Consortium Foundation

International:

   * P.A.L.S. Childhood Cancer Care Endowment, Paget, BERMUDA
   * Childhood Cancer Foundation Candlelighters Canada, Toronto, CANADA
   * Children's Cancer Foundation, Hong Kong, CHINA
   * Children's Cancer Association of Japan, Toyko, JAPAN
   * Children’s Leukaemia Research Project (CLRP), Ireland, UNITED KINGDOM
   * CLIC Sargent, London, UNITED KINGDOM

Famous Volunteers

The following celebrities have shown support for the St. Baldrick's Foundation over the years:

• Jay Leno - Jay Leno has attended the North Hollywood St. Baldrick's event, lending support to the cause and local fire fighters of Los Angeles, CA who jointly host this annual event with LAPD.
• Michael Douglas
• Jackie Chan
• Moira Kelly, Hilarie Burton and Lee Norris (One Tree Hill)
• David Blaine
• Miss USA, Rachel Smith - Rachel showed her support for childhood cancer research by volunteering at the Jim Brady's event in New York City in March 2008. Rachel served as the event's MC, took photos with shavees and was an honorary barber that night.
• Steve Wilkos of The Steve Wilkos Show (Steve joined in support of the foundation during the Steve Wilkos Show and HeadBlade Summer Tour to Benefit St. Baldrick's)
• Danneel Harris
• The Trading Spaces team
• Rapper Bow Wow attended the McMullan's Irish Pub event in Las Vegas, NV, shaving local radio host Cat Thomas' head.
• Miss Virginia Tara Wheeler Volunteered and had Her Head Shaved for the Foundation

External links

• Official site
• St. Baldrick's Foundation - Official Facebook Page
• St. Baldrick's Foundation- Official Twitter
• St. Baldrick's Foundation- Official YouTube Channel
• St. Baldrick's Foundation- Official Flickr Page
• Give.org report from the BBB