Kate’s Kindness in September

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (September 23, 2021) – Kate Amato Foundation is once again honoring Childhood Cancer Awareness Month this September by delivering comfort and smiles through Kate’s Kindness Project, which provides immediate direct support to local children hospitalized with cancer and has added healthcare heroes amidst the COVID-19 conditions.

Kate Amato Foundation (KAF) added the Kate’s Kindness Project to their initiatives in 2020 in response to COVID-19. Each year, the foundation holds two signature events, the KATE KUP Triples Tennis Tournament and the KATE KLASSIC Golf Tournament to raise funds to support their mission of finding safer, smarter, and more effective treatments for children with cancer. Like most events in 2020, their fundraising events were sidelined. And sadly, the same events were postponed again in 2021 due to local spikes in hospitalizations and growing concerns for children related to COVID-19. However, while the foundation has been unable to safely hold their events, they continue spreading Kate’s Kindness to those who need it most.

Kate’s Kindness Project supports local children and families fighting cancer and, new this year, healthcare heroes caring for children at Wolfson’s Children’s Hospital. As a gesture of kindness and encouragement, the foundation delivers care packages filled with comfort items, room décor and gift cards. In 2020, 55 care packages were delivered, as well as four gaming systems and a boatload of toys.

“This year we are delivering 75 care packages and wish list items for the Oncology Floor, including a doll house and play kitchen for the kids as well as a new coffee machine, sweet treats, and pampering products for the staff. We’re thrilled to show our gratitude to the nurses and therapists who care for these children and families year-round,” said Lisa and Jeff Amato, Kate’s parents, and founders of KAF. “We know how dedicated they are and how hard they work to provide comfort and encouragement during painful cancer battles; we wanted them to feel all that love in return.”

Lisa and Jeff lost their daughter Kate Amato at the young age of 11 in November of 2016, after a long and difficult battle with cancer. She is the inspiration for the Foundation. Kate’s bright smile, strength and grace captured the hearts of thousands of residents in the local community and around the world. Through her illness, Kate’s parents discovered how severely underfunded research is for pediatric cancer and witnessed first-hand the brutal effects of outdated, toxic treatments. To honor Kate’s life and continue the fight for other children, the Kate Amato Foundation was formed.

“It has been heart breaking to postpone our fundraising events because they are crucial for us to fund research for pediatric cancer, but we have been humbled by the continued support we are receiving through individual fundraisers and donations.“ said Lisa. “Cancer is hard enough, but throughout the pandemic, the additional restrictions, isolation, fears, and uncertainty are making it even harder on these families and caregivers. We are grateful to continue to share some of Kate’s Kindness and light during someone’s darkest hours.”

Since 2018, the foundation has helped fund $325,000 in grants to support nine cutting edge pediatric cancer research projects at some of the leading Immunotherapy and Cancer Genomics labs in the country including: Duke University, Baylor College of Medicine, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute/Harvard Medical School.

To donate to the Kate Amato Foundation or learn more, visit KateAmatoFoundation.org.

About Kate Amato Foundation
Cancer is the leading cause of death by disease in children. For those who survive, the side effects of treatment can cause severe long-term health problems. To honor Kate’s life and continue the fight for other children, Kate Amato Foundation is dedicated to finding safer, smarter, and more effective treatments for children with cancer. Their vision is to fund innovative pediatric cancer research that accelerates the pace of progress and saves young lives. Connect with us via Facebook and Instagram