Our Impact
Our Endowment has contributed to two endowed funds through Riley Children’s Health. The original endowed fund, now named, Caroline Symmes Chair in Pediatric Cancer Research, supports our Endowed Chair, in perpetuity, and the precision genomics program. The second fund, established in early 2021, Caroline Symmes Endowment for Pediatric Cancer Research at Riley Hospital for Children at Indiana University Health, is used to research all types of childhood cancers, which is essential since cancer remains the #1 cause of death by disease for kids in America.
Dr. Karen E. Pollok is our Endowed Chair. You can learn more about her lab here.
In early March of 2023, we celebrated the dedication of the Caroline Symmes Laboratory located in the Herman B Wells Center for Pediatric Research within the Department of Pediatrics at Indiana University School of Medicine.
In 2023-2024, the Endowment’s Teen Board raised over $100,000 through their signature event Day of Hope, school fundraisers, merchandise sales and with support from their families and friends. This group of young adults has taken our mission to new heights. After diligent research and interviews, they selected to give a one-time donation of $25,000 each to AMPATH and Oncoheroes Biosciences, who are both gaining prominence with their recent efforts in pediatric cancer research.
Each year an estimated 400,000+ new cases of cancer affect children worldwide. That is over 1,000 new kids affected every day. And despite this fact, less than 4% of the federal government’s total funding for cancer research is dedicated to pediatric cancers each year. This is why our Endowment and our Endowment’s Teen Board are working so hard to raise crucial funds for researchers.
