As September concludes and Childhood Cancer Awareness Month comes to a close, Kate Amato Foundation (KAF) is shining a light on the power of kindness and the urgency of research, aiming to raise an additional $75,000 by November 30, 2025, to hit the $1 million milestone in total grant funding at some of the nation’s leading pediatric cancer research centers. At the same time, the Foundation remains committed to Kate’s Kindness Project, which delivered care packages to Wolfson Children’s Hospital and Nemours Children’s Health in September – a tradition since 2020 that brings comfort and hope to young patients, their families and healthcare heroes. Together, these efforts reflect Kate’s legacy: Uplifting children today while funding the life-saving research that will change their tomorrow.

So Close to $1 Million: Join the Fight Against Childhood Cancer

With just $75,000 left to raise, Kate Amato Foundation is on the brink of a remarkable impact in the fight against pediatric cancer, advocating for children everywhere: $1 million in grants awarded to some of the nation’s most innovative pediatric research centers. Their annual grant announcement day is on December 10, 2025, Kate’s birthday, and every dollar donated to the One Million, One Mission campaign directly fuels cutting-edge pediatric cancer research, giving hope to children and families facing the toughest battles of their lives. By joining this mission, supporters can help close the gap and bring lifesaving progress closer to reality.

$775,000 Awarded to Leading Research Labs

As of December 2024, KAF awarded $775,000 in grants to support pioneering scientists and research labs dedicated to finding safer, more effective treatments for children with cancer, including Duke University, Dana Farber Cancer Institute at Harvard Medical School, UCLA, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), The University of Colorado, Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Children’s Cancer Research Hospital, and The University of Buffalo and Roswel Park Comprehensive Cancer Center. This year, KAF aims to distribute $225,000 to reach the $1 million milestone to honor what would have been Kate’s 21st birthday.

“As Kate’s parents, we witnessed firsthand how desperately children and families need better answers,” said Lisa and Jeff Amato, founders of Kate Amato Foundation. “Each grant represents not just funding, but an investment in hope, in brighter outcomes, and in the possibility of a future where kids don’t have to face the same fight Kate did.”

Children Deserve More: The Funding Shortfall in Pediatric Cancer Research*

• 1 in 260 children develop cancer.
• Cancer is the leading cause of death by disease in children.
• 42 children are diagnosed with cancer every day.
• Only 4% of federal cancer research funding is dedicated to pediatric cancers.
• Americans spend more on Starbucks in three days than we invest in pediatric cancer in an entire year.
• Many child cancer treatments are decades old.
• 95% of childhood cancer survivors develop long-term health problems.
• 250 children lose their lives to cancer every day.