Pinky Swear Foundation

TO PROVIDE FINANCIAL AND EMOTIONAL SUPPORT TO FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN BATTLING CANCER.

FAMILY SUPPORT-THE HARDSHIPS INFLICTED ON FAMILIES BECAUSE OF CHILDHOOD CANCER ARE OFTEN NOT QUANTIFIABLE. THE FINANCIAL BURDEN OF INCREASED EXPENSES - OFTEN WHILE INCOME IS DECREASED DUE TO REDUCED WORK HOURS, LOST JOBS, OR UNPAID, EXTENDED LEAVE - CAN BE OVERWHELMING. PINKY SWEAR FOUNDATION'S FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE, FAMILY EXPERIENCE, AND ORANGE ENVELOPE PROGRAM PROVIDE IMMEDIATE HELP AND PRICELESS STRESS RELIEF TO FAMILIES IN NEED. SINCE 2003, PINKY SWEAR FOUNDATION HAS SUPPORTED FAMILIES' QUALITY-OF-LIFE WITH DIRECT FINANCIAL AID FOR BASIC NEEDS, AND THROUGH EXPERIENCES THAT CREATE EMOTIONAL SUPPORT, INCLUDING: STABLE HOUSING (RENT AND MORTGAGE PAYMENTS), RELIABLE TRANSPORTATION (AUTO PAYMENTS, REPAIRS AND GAS CARDS), GROCERIES (FOOD ON THE TABLE FOR KIDS AND FAMILIES), PAYMENTS FOR RENT, MORTGAGE, AUTO, UTILITY, GAS AND GROCERY, AND OTHER BASIC NEEDS, MEMORABLE EXPERIENCES (WORRY-FREE, QUALITY TIME TOGETHER ON WEEKEND GETAWAYS AND FUN EVENTS), AND CONVENIENT, STOCKED FOOD PANTRIES IN HOSPITALS (ALLOWS PARENTS TO STAY WITH THEIR SICK CHILD AND REDUCE EXPENSES). DURING THE YEAR, 1,519 FAMILIES WERE SUPPORTED AMONG ALL PROGRAMS. 1,030 ORANGE ENVELOPES WERE DISTRIBUTED WITH 826 FAMILIES ASSISTED WITH ALL-STAR FUND. IN ADDITION, NEARLY 300 INDIVIDUALS WERE SERVED IN FAMILY EXPERIENCES, AND NEARLY 7,000 INDIVIDUALS WERE PROVIDED ACCESS TO THE FOUNDATION'S PANTRY.

EDUCATION/AWARENESS-THE FINANCIAL AND EMOTIONAL IMPACTS OF A CHILDHOOD CANCER DIAGNOSIS ON A FAMILY ARE TREMENDOUS AND OFTEN OVERWHELMING. PINKY SWEAR IS PASSIONATELY COMMITTED TO INCREASING THE AWARENESS AND UNDERSTANDING OF CHILDHOOD CANCER AND ITS IMPACT ON PATIENT FAMILIES THROUGH TELLING THE STORIES OF THE FAMILIES WE HELP. BY SHARING STORIES, VIDEOS AND PRINTED MATERIALS FEATURING PINKY SWEAR ALL-STARS (KIDS WITH CANCER), THE FINANCIAL AND EMOTIONAL HARDSHIPS REAL FAMILIES FACE BECOME TANGIBLE AND RELATABLE. A MIX OF MARKETING CHANNELS INCLUDING SOCIAL MEDIA, WEB, EMAIL ADVERTISING, TELEVISION AND PUBLIC RELATIONS ARE UTILIZED TO DEMONSTRATE THE IMPACT PINKY SWEAR HAS ON OUR PATIENT FAMILIES AND HOW TO HELP. THROUGH THE EDUCATION OF THE PUBLIC AND INTERESTED PARTIES, PINKY SWEAR SHEDS LIGHT ON THE HARD FACTS OF CHILDHOOD CANCER. THROUGHOUT 2021, MORE THAN 2,500 LETTERS OF ENCOURAGEMENT WERE CREATED AT VARIOUS EVENTS, 800 MEDIA MENTIONS AROUND THE COUNTRY, AND MORE THAN 25,000 SOCIAL MEDIA FOLLOWERS CONTINUED TO ENGAGE WITH EDUCATIONAL CONTENT. IN ADDITION, THE FOUNDATION ALSO HAD MORE THAN 30,000 UNIQUE EMAIL PARTICIPANTS TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE MISSION AND THE IMPACT IT HAS ON THE COMMUNITY.

STUDENT LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT-THE EXPONENTIAL IMPACT OF THE PINKY SWEAR STORY IS FUELED BY THE SELFLESS ACT 9-YEAR OLD MITCH CHEPOKAS PERFORMED AS A PROMISE WITH HIS FATHER. PINKY SWEAR FOUNDATION ENCOURAGES PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT OF YOUNG LEADERS THROUGH GOAL SETTING AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP, WHILE HELPING KIDS WITH CANCER. AS AMBASSADORS OF PINKY SWEAR FOUNDATION, STUDENTS LEARN ABOUT COMMUNITY SERVICE, DEVELOP LEADERSHIP SKILLS, AND BECOME CHANGE MAKERS AND ADVOCATES IN THEIR COMMUNITIES. THE PINKY SWEAR YOUTH LEADERSHIP COUNCIL, PINKY SWEAR PACK COLLEGE PROGRAM AND OTHER STUDENT DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES EMBRACE THE SERVANT-LEADERSHIP MENTALITY INSPIRED BY THE ORIGINAL PINKY SWEAR. DURING 2021, THERE WERE 80 KIDS INVOLVED IN YOUTH LEADERSHIP COUNCIL AND PINKY SWEAR CLUBS IN MINNESOTA AND NORTH CAROLINA. THESE KIDS ARE INVOLVED IN THE YLC CURRICULUM ALONG WITH LEMONADE STANDS, RESTAURANT GIVEBACK NIGHTS, ONLINE FUNDRAISING, KIDS TRIATHALON, KID CHEF EVENT, VIDEO AND MEDIA INTERVIEWS, AND LETTERS OF ENCOURAGEMENT. ADDITIONALLY, MORE THAN 1,200 COLLEGE STUDENTS, IN 150 PACKS, JOINING ACROSS THE COUNTRY PARTICIPATED AS BRAND AMBASSADORS TO INCREASE AWARENESS FOR PINKY SWEAR FOUNDATION'S MISSION AS PART OF THE PINKY SWEAR PACK PROGRAM.