P.O. Box 434
Valley City, Ohio 44280
330-483-3232
www.cassidyshopefoundation.org
OUR MISSION:
To bring awareness to the world that childhood cancer exists. To let people know that it is totally different than adult cancers and must be treated and researched that way.
ABOUT US:
We take gifts to the children at Akron Children’s Hospital throughout the year through our "Love, Cassidy" program. We host an annual "Cassidy's Hope Child" fundraiser, to help with finances for one family each year. Our Hope Child is selected by the hospital. Throughout the year, we hold fundraisers for Cassidy’s Hope Foundation, hoping to donate to several research facilities. Our newest program is our ”From the Heart” program. This program consists of various outside companies supporting our cause by donating their services such as; cleaning, cooking, etc.
As our foundation grows, we hope to be able to distribute several grants each year to research.
Cassidy's Hope Foundaiton is a 501(c)(3)
nonprofit organization.
Please contact us if you know of a family
diagnosed with childhood cancer.
We would love to help.
Contact us:
Cassidy's Hope Foundation
Valley City, OH 44280
Pam Czech, President
From the HearT.doc
CLICK ON RIGHT CORNER TO OPEN
This foundation is not only to honor my sweet angel, Cassidy Erin Jackson, but also to carry on her spirit, love, inspiration, and most of all, hope, that one day a cure will
be found.
My name is Pamela Czech. I’m Cassidy’'s mother. She was my oldest of four natural children and one stepdaughter. Cassidy was twelve years old when she received her Angel wings. When Cassidy went to Heaven, her sister Nicole
was eleven, brother Cody was seven, sister Emily was
two, and step-sister Tiffany was nineteen. Cassidy also left a very kind and loving step-father, my husband, Butch. Cassidy has not only shown us how to be better people,
she has inspired us and others, that she has never even
met , to reach out, help others and be part of the cure
that we pray will be found soon.
Cassidy’s journey started in July 2004.
She was a very talented and intelligent girl. Cassidy enjoyed, and was very good at, gymnastics. She competed for almost 5 years. She had just started piano lessons 6 months before her diagnoses. She was playing fast-pitch softball that summer also.
Her grades were always outstanding. She had many friends, was always popular and kind to others. Cassidy always made me proud.
In July, her shoulder started to bother her. We massaged it, put ice on it and hoped it would heal. After a few days, we went to the doctor. We took her to a chiropractor, hoping he would fix it. Her left shoulder and arm soon started to simply “not work right”. We took her to the emergency room- no answers.
Finally her doctor sent us to an orthopedic specialist.
We got in the next day. An MRI was given and our nightmares began. They saw a tumor inside the top of her spinal cord. We were told to go directly to Akron Children’s Hospital. They were expecting us- Cassidy and me.
I was more afraid than Cassidy at this point. This was
July 30, 2004.
On August 3, 2004 she had her first surgery; which took
5-1/2 hours. At that time, they let us know it definitely was cancer- but they think they got it all.
They named it Anaplastic Ependymoma.
We were told that radiation therapy was her next step.
She was back on her feet in 2 days. The radiation was scheduled and we started our new life. She went through 25 treatments, Monday through Friday.
Cassidy got so sick- throwing up to, from, and sometimes during her treatments. But she never gave up or complained. Upon finishing her treatments, we celebrated. Two days after her last treatment she fell. Her legs just simply gave out. We rushed back to the clinic at Akron Children’s Hospital. Her tumor had grown back- larger this time. Another surgery was planned. On November 2, 2004, her second surgery was performed. This time, the tumor had formed a balloon-like coating.
The doctors drained it, but couldn’t scrape the outer tube because it was actually attached to the interior of her spinal cord. On December 5, 2004 she had another surgery to stop the draining of her spinal fluid. It was actually draining outside her neck. She ended up getting a shunt inside her spinal cord to drain the fluid that kept forming. Finally, after tests and a long hospital stay, we were able to go home on December 23, 2004 in a wheel chair that lasted until the rest of her days. She, in the meantime, was starting chemotherapy. Her hair starting falling out when we got home, which was pretty traumatic for her and myself.
On the morning of December 24, 2004 around 1:00 a.m., we rushed her back to the hospital for a fever. That evening, she had a seizure and was rushed to the PICU.
Her stay there lasted a little over two months.
Cassidy pulled through, as many of the doctors didn’t think she would.
That was one sign of how amazing she was. During that time she had a VP shunt installed from her brain down to her stomach to relieve the pressure in her brain. A pain pump filled with dilaudid installed into her stomach with lots of physical therapy.
Cassidy came home on February 28, 2005. She was doing great, we thought. She went through physical therapy to learn to walk again. She pushed herself rigorously. Trips to the clinic every other week, was the only time spent at the hospital. In September 2005, our family went to Disney World with the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Cassidy was able to walk a little with a cane but needed the wheel chair most of the time. Still, not complaining, we had a wonderful summer. She finished 5th grade with a tutor the year before and almost completed the 6th grade on-line.
The night we got home from Disney, she came down with a fever. The next day we were back at the hospital. Another MRI, the tumor had grown. She became very weak and sick from infections. Four different chemo's later, they sent us home. We went back and forth to the hospital constantly. That lasted until April of 2006. Finally, it was decided to keep her home, where she belonged.
On April 29, 2006 she lost her battle at home with her family.
Cassidy was such an inspiration to me. I know by starting this foundation, it was just simply right! This is actually Cassidy working through me. She is the one who showed me that my problems weren’t a fraction as bad as what these children can endure. Cancer has changed my life and any life touched by it. This foundation is for all of you who are going through, have gone through, and will go through what we have. God bless you and I hope our foundation can make a difference in your lives.
Our Love, Cassidy program is something that comes from our hearts (inspired by Cassidy - always giving). Each holiday, we bring gifts that were bought, handmade, or donated to our organization - to the kids at Akron Children's Hospital in Akron, Ohio. Currently the gifts are small but they are very special. We try to be a little creative with the gifts. Every item given to these special children, has a lot of thought behind it. Right now we are giving to the Childhood Cancer Unit, the Oncology Clinic, and the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit.
With your help, we were able to make Christmas 2009 and 2010 a little brighter for the hospitalized children and their families. We donated $1,000 worth of gasoline cards, $500 in café cards, $500 worth of new release DVD’s and $500 worth of PS3 games to the hospital. We made handmade scarves and skull caps for the children and donated keepsake ornaments for the children to make for their parents. We were able to decorate each room on the oncology floor with Christmas trees complete with lights and ornaments. If you have current DVD’s or PS3 games that your family is no longer using, please consider donating them to Akron Children’s Hospital. You can call our office at 330-483-3232 and we will be happy to arrange pick up and delivery.
For the 2008-2010 Christmas season, we handmade fleece scarves (for boys and girls) and purchased special holiday ornaments that the children could record a special message into for their parents. We also stuffed some yummy candy in their bags. We plan to make scarves each year for the kids since it was such a big hit. Donations of fleece would be accepted anytime throughout the year.
We hope that these small tokens to our little heroes battling for their lives will make a small difference in their lives. I know from experience with my Cassidy that each kind gesture and show of compassion meant so much to her. Thank you Cassidy, for your continued inspiration to me and so many!
Thank you.
If you belong to a group or club that would like to make baskets, stockings
or other gifts for the hospitalized children, email Scottie Parker at scottie_cassidyshopefoundation.org
or Sharyl Gangle at sharyl_cassidyshopefoundation.org
"From the Heart" is a program consisting of but not limited to gifts donated and purchased by business owners, groups or individuals, and Cassidy’s Hope Foundation to ease the burden of running a household on a daily basis during such a stressful time: house cleaning gift certificates, gasoline gift cards, pre-made dinners, movie rental gift cards, calling cards, etc. for families of children diagnosed with cancer.
This is a newly organized division and it is still growing.
Our goal is to be able to help these families with other items that may aid in the needs of the child diagnosed such as but not limited to; household expenses such as mortgage or rent and utilities, house reconstruction for handicapped children. As a large percent of children with cancer end up in wheel chairs due to treatments that deteriorate their bones/muscles and cause long lasting side effects.
Cassidy's Hope Foundation helps families year round. That is why we need the help of our supporters throughout the year for items listed above.
Thank you!
Corporate Sponsorship would be a great blessing for our cause. For Cassidy's Hope to provide the items and help our families need in difficult times of taking care of a child fighting a MONSTER disease like Childhood Cancer
If you know a family with a child who has cancer and currently in treatment. Please give us a call our fill out form and
either email it to us or mail. Thank You.
From the Heart Application.pdf
Watch for our upcoming EVENTS in 2012
Thank You to all who supported Cassidy's Hope Foundation during the year 2011 and previous years. We could not do it without you!! We are Blessed!!
BOWLING FOR HOPE 2011
MORE COMING SOON....
PAM CZECH
PRESIDENT AND FOUNDER
Cassidy's Mom
"From the Heart:" Program
pam_cassidyshopefoundation.org
216.571.2119 CELL
330.483.3232 OFFICE
330.483.3232 FAX
(call first so we can turn on fax)
BUTCH CZECH
VICE PRESIDENT
216.571.2118
JANICE BAUMANN
SECRETARY AND VOLUNTEERS
janice_cassidyhopefoundation.org
330.483.3232 Office
JENNIFER DIXON
EVENTS AND FUNDRAISERS
jennifer_cassidyshopefoundation.org
440.212.9029 CELL
SCOTTIE PARKER
Cassidy's Godfather
"LOVE CASSIDY"
scottie_cassidyshopefoundation.org
SHARYL GANGLE
sharyl_cassidyshopefoundation.org
JANETTE KAMPS
Social Media and Website
janette_cassidyshopefoundation.org
440.364.2320 CELL
Types of Children's Cancer
There are three overall kinds of children’s cancer:
Leukemias—Cancer of the Blood:
Bone marrow is a factory where our blood is made deep inside our bones. It makes red blood cells (which carry oxygen and nutrients through the body), white blood cells (which fight germs and
infections) and platelets (which help stop bleeding).
Leukemia is a cancer of the blood. Leukemia cells are sick immune blood cells that do not work
properly and crowd out healthy blood cells. Leukemias are the most common childhood cancers.
Types of leukemia include acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and acute myeloid leukemia
(AML). •Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) •Acute Mylogenous Leukemia (AML)
Lymphomas—Cancer of the Immune System:
The body has a defense system, the immune system. The immune system finds cells that are
not healthy or cells that do not belong in the body and destroys them. The immune system stores
fighter cells, called lymphocytes, in lymphoid tissues in the body.
Lymphoma is a cancer of the immune system and lymphoid tissues. The sick cells do not work
properly to protect the body and they crowd out healthy cells of the immune system. Types of lymphomas include Hodgkin disease (or Hodgkin lymphoma) and non-Hodgkin lymphoma. •Hodgkin Disease •Lymphoma (non-Hodgkin)
Solid Tumors (sarcomas)—Cancer of the Bone, Organs or Tissues:
A solid tumor is a lump of sick cells stuck together. Tumors can develop in many parts of the body including the brain, kidneys, liver and bones. These sick cells crowd out healthy cells and keep
them from doing their job. Types of solid tumor cancers include neuroblastoma, Ewing Sarcoma
and Wilms Tumors. •Brain Tumors
•Ewing Sarcoma
•Germ Cell Tumors
•Hepatoblastoma
•Kidney/Wilms Tumor
•Melanoma
•Neuroblastoma
•Osteosarcoma
•Retinoblastoma
•Rhabdomyosarcoma
•Soft tissue sarcoma
•Thyroid Cancer
If you would like to make a monetary donation by mail.
Please mail a check payable to:
CASSIDY'S HOPE FOUNDATION
_
P.O. BOX 434
VALLEY CITY, OHIO 44280
ATTN: PAM
CHF is a 501(c3) Non Profit Organization
We will send you a receipt by mail for you records.
Thank you and God Bless
If you would like to donate through PAY PAL the fee is 2.5% of your donation. If you would like to add that fee back in, please add 2.5% of your donation.
ex. $100 x 2.5% = $2.50 Total donation would be $102.50
•Donations incur a 5% FirstGiving fee for investing into online giving.
•Our credit card merchant fees are 2.5%
Sponsorship options
Cassidy's Hope Foundation is very grateful for the local businesses that help
CHF. With their generous hearts and donations we are able to continue Cassidy's dream to help children with childhood cancer and their families in Ohio.
We also continue to bring awareness that childhood cancer exist and is researched
and treated different than adult cancers. See Video
1. Monetary Donations can be mailed to:
Cassidy's Hope Foundation OR
Attn: Pam
2. If you business has a product(s) or service(s) to donate to CHF please contact
the CHF office at 330-483-3232 or Contact Us here.
Check out the Love Cassidy or From the Heart to see what we do with those donations.
Cassidy's Hope Foundaiton is a 501 (c3) Non Profit Organization.
100% of all donations go to the foundation.
All Board, Committee and Volunteers donate 100%.
If you have any questions please contact us AT 330-483-3232
We accept donations any time of the year.
Join our list of major donors:
Crane Foundation of Woman & Children
(Crane Aerospace in Elyria, Ohio)
The Crane Fund for Widows and Children makes contributions to charitable organizations that provide direct assistance to underserved populations in the communities where Crane Co. operates. The Crane Fund for Widows and Children touches the lives of many who live in the areas where Crane and its subsidiaries do business, supporting agencies, local United Ways, and school and scholarship funds in the United States and Canada. For more information, please contact Crane Fund for Widows and Children.
cfwc_craneco.com
Country Maids
Strongsville and Akron, Ohio
15300 Pearl Rd Ste 120,
Strongsville, OH 44136
440-238-8877
The Cleveland Browns
Cleveland, Ohio
www.ClevelandBrowns.com
Starbuck’s Corporation
Andover, MA
www.starbucks.com
Norris Brothers Co., Inc.
Cleveland, OH
Fremar Industries Inc
2808 Westway Drive
Brunswick, OH 44212-5656
Phone: (330) 220-3700
www.CassidysHopeFoundation.org also visit us on Facebook
Because… We care about kids with cancer!
Northfield VFW Post 6768 Charities, Inc.
Northfield, OH
Brunswick City Schools
Brunswick, OH
Welcome Wagon Club of Medina
Medina, OH
Kohl’s Department Stores
Medina and Strongsville, OH
Precision Straightening Co.
visit our friends
CaringBridge provides free websites that connect people experiencing a significant health challenge to family and friends, making each health journey easier. Powered by generous donors, CaringBridge websites offer a personal and private space to communicate and show support, saving time and emotional energy when health matters most.
I am pleased to announce that CaringBridge has added our link to our website under the Alliance organizations List.
Volunteer Application.pdf
From the HearT.pdf
