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The Caroline Symmes Children’s Cancer Endowment for Pediatric Cancer Research was created by David and Libby Symmes in memory of their daughter. Caroline was diagnosed with Wilms Tumor Disease a month before her fourth birthday. This type of cancer has an extremely high cure rate. But quickly, David and Libby learned that it didn’t matter the cure rate, that each cancer or tumor was unique to a child’s body, and that Caroline’s tumor was very aggressive. Over a 16 month period and after numerous treatments ranging from surgeries, chemotherapy, radiation and a stem cell transplant, Caroline passed away at the age of 5.

Our mission is to raise crucial funds to support cutting edge research by leading pediatric oncologists around the country as they create targeted drugs, less toxic therapies, and brighter outcomes for critically ill children.

Currently all donations, through fundraisers, partnerships and individual donors, goes towards two Endowment funds, and yearly vetted organizations whose mission aligns with ours. The initial fund supports researchers and the Precision Genomics team at Riley Children’s Health. Our second endowed fund supports researchers in a specific research lab at Riley Children’s Health, and they are searching for therapies and cures for all childhood cancers. Our Teen Board members, on a yearly basis, researches, interviews and selects to give a one-time donation to one or two organizations gaining prominence with their recent efforts on pediatric cancer research.

At the beginning of 2019, we sent out applications searching for high school students around Central Indiana who wanted to become involved with the Endowment by joining the inaugural Teen Board. We were overwhelmed when we received over 50 applications. Since then, each year we receive a high number of applications of very well-deserving high school students, who want to replace the graduating seniors and make a difference. After review of applications and interviews, the Endowment Leadership chooses new additions, while keeping the Teen Board to a size of 20-25 students. The representation has averaged between seven and ten surrounding high schools.

The Teen Board's key goals are to individually create peer-to-peer fundraising efforts; develop events, such as their signature event Day of Hope that the full board implements; marketing their efforts through social media avenues and selling Endowment merchandise.

Meet our current Teen Board here.

Our donations come from several sources: fundraisers, partnerships and individual donations.

We would love to have you host a fundraiser – big or small! You can view past fundraisers here. For help creating a fundraiser, contact us through the Stay Connected Form at the top of this page.

As of late 2020, we have raised $3.3 million specifically for the Precision Genomics Program and the research of pediatric Non-CNS Solid tumors at Riley Hospital for Children through our original endowed fund. As of late 2023, we additionally raised $1.5 million for the newly established fund, which will be used to research all types of childhood cancers at Riley Hospital for Children.