Volunteer blogs

Peter describes it like this: “Many of us have done this: You’re not feeling well, and you don’t know why. So, you look up your symptoms on WebMD to see what’s up.” 

Peter was seventeen years old when he typed in his list of issues. He could never have guessed what would happen next.

Tresa is one of our new JoyRx Mentors this year as part of the JoyRx Mentorship program, where mentors help seriously ill kids elevate their mood through laughter and play. This trusted companionship and kindship is a cornerstone of the program — and that sense of community is an important value for Tresa as an individual.

We are thrilled to announce that JoyRx Mentorship has supported over 100 matches as we reach the end of our 2023-2024 fiscal year. Launched in 1999, JoyRx Mentorship is a crucial program for JoyRx, fostering companionship and friendship for children experiencing treatment and hospitalizations.

It’s Volunteer Appreciation Month! Founded to celebrate current volunteers and encourage others to join volunteering efforts, this month of gratitude highlights the importance of giving back to the community.

As a PMHE survivor, fifteen-year-old Aaron knows the transformative power of music during difficult moments. That’s why he’s dedicated to giving back to kids like him through the gift of song.

For JoyRx Music Volunteer Elaina, giving back to the community is a meaningful way to bring Joy to others. At just fifteen years old, Elaina is committed to creating what she calls “a positive domino effect” through her love of music, sharing personalized songs she writes for the children we serve.

April is Volunteer Appreciation Month and we at JoyRx, the mission delivery of Children’s Cancer Association, are so grateful for our volunteers. We wouldn’t be able to do our healing without the dedication and kindness of our amazing volunteers.

Are you looking for a way to volunteer in your community and have a direct impact on families in the hospital setting?

The holiday season can be a source of great Joy for families — and one mother is dedicated to giving back to the community by hosting an annual toy drive for JoyRx Mentorship.

Thirteen-year-old Evan Goldstein is a young author with a heart of gold and a mission to bring more Joy to kids in need. Evan celebrated his bar mitzvah at the end of October and is supporting JoyRx, the mission delivery of Children’s Cancer Association, as part of his service project.

Ardavan Tabrizian, president, of Delta Sigma Phi, University of Oregon Chapter, shares inspiration of Joy from their 2022 5K Fundraiser, garnering over $20,000 to support JoyRx, the mission delivery of Children’s Cancer Association.

The 2nd / 3rd grade classroom at Resurrection Catholic Primary School (RCPS), located in Tualatin, Oregon, committed to spread Joy for their 2021 – 2022 service project by supporting JoyRx, the mission delivery of Children’s Cancer Association.

Children’s Cancer Association (CCA) Young Professionals Board hosted their annual Joie Rocks last Saturday, which matched this year’s Wonderball theme: Joie de Vivre.

Beloved MLS Soccer team, Portland Timbers, and NWSL Portland Thorns FC, partnered with Children’s Cancer Association (CCA) to provide three Timber’s fans facing serious illness with an extra dose of Joy and a break from treatment at the hospital.

Olivia and Kimberlee are kindred spirits despite being years apart in age. They love art, dancing, and share a passion for the lemonade from McMenamins. Olivia fondly thinks of Kimberlee’s son as a nephew of her own. They’ve also been through a lot together, for seven years, Kimberlee was Olivia’s Chemo Pal.

Volunteers are the unsung heroes of any nonprofit, but for Children’s Cancer Association (CCA), volunteers and specifically our program interns, have a lasting impact on the children and families served. Mariah is one such intern, currently working with the Chemo Pal Mentor Program.

Children’s Cancer Association’s 2,800+ amazing volunteers invest an estimated 14,147 hours of their time in our programs and events each year. Volunteers are the heart and soul of our organization: they mentor children, share their musical talent, staff community events, host toy drives, and serve on our leadership board.

Tom, like many 17-year-olds, is a senior in high school, ready and excited to start his first year of college in September. Unlike many 17-year-olds, Tom was diagnosed with osteosarcoma, a form of bone cancer, at the age of 11. Missing school, multiple surgeries, and facing the difficult decision whether or not to keep his leg were just a few of the challenges that he would face during his treatment.

MIT and the Center for Excellence in Education recognized him as one of the top 80 young scientists in the world at the Research Science Institute (RSI) and he placed internationally in Chemistry and Materials Science four times from 2015-2018 at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair. He spoke at TEDXYouth, met President Obama at the White House, and the MIT-Lincoln Laboratory even named a planet after him. An extraordinary list of awards and credentials for anyone, but especially impressive considering that Arnob Das has only recently graduated high school.

If you belong to a corporate or community group that engages in volunteer opportunities, we have many ways in which your team can help. Our volunteer groups make an immeasurable impact on the children and teens we serve. Learn more about the opportunities below.

Andrea Corradini likes to say she discovered CCA by “happy accident.” Some 15 years ago as a Nike employee, she stumbled upon a CCA Gala in-progress at the Tiger Woods Center on the Nike Campus. She asked to join the party, somebody gave her a chair, and the rest is history – or we should say, herstory.

Brutally honest and openly passionate, former Chemo Pal George Yioulos, doesn’t hold back when talking about the people he loves. His gregarious personality can be jarring to some, but he has the knack for making everyone feel like a close friend, and it’s clear that he is genuinely kind and caring.

Self-professed Kids Cancer Hero CS Sheffield has been a Children’s Cancer Association Ambassador Board Member since 2010 and is currently Co-Chair. That’s about the same time he became Twitter sensation @SheffStation. What CS has achieved for CCA in the eight years since then is nothing short of remarkable.

In 2007, Karen’s life changed dramatically when her granddaughter, Lauren, was diagnosed with T-Cell Leukemia. Karen witnessed firsthand the pain and hardship her granddaughter faced, but there was one thing which helped them all get through it: Music.

Continuously surprising and astounding us with their generosity, volunteers are the backbone of the Children’s Cancer Association (CCA), helping our programs to run smoothly and providing top-notch event experiences.

The hardships of cancer are not limited to the physical treatment. Cancer also affects a person’s social life, emotional wellbeing and financial stability.

Wendy is an enthusiastic volunteer in the Children’s Cancer Association’s Chemo Pal Mentor Program. When she retired in 2014, volunteering was a priority and working directly with people facing cancer was near and dear to her heart.

The holidays are a time for reflection, gratefulness, and family. While many families with kids facing serious illness focused on their child’s health, we at the Children’s Cancer Association (CCA) turned our attention to their happiness.

When Bill Grange walks into the Children’s Cancer Association (CCA), he greets just about everyone in the office on a first name basis. He’s easy-going, understanding, and a great conversationalist. He loves his job as a Portland realtor and finds joy in golfing, music, gardening, and his family. He’s also a CCA Chemo Pal extraordinaire, having been matched with five Chemo Pals over the past eleven years.

The holidays are a time for reflection, gratefulness, and family. While many families with kids facing serious illness focused on their child’s health, we at the Children’s Cancer Association (CCA) turned our attention to their happiness.