About the Foundation

Pediatric Cancer Foundation, known as the Maxwell Leeds Pediatric Tumor Foundation until well after 1982, was founded in 1970 by grateful parents whose son underwent surgery at Babies Hospital, New York Presbyterian Medical Center. (This hospital is now known as Children's Hospital of New York-Presbyterian.) These grateful parents established the Foundation after realizing that malignant pediatric tumors were extremely prevalent and that children afflicted in this way needed treatment with the most advanced medical techniques.

The Foundation started simply and utilized the services of devoted volunteers to perform every aspect of fund raising. The first group of Directors were the parents' family, neighbors and friends, but in a relatively short period of time the membership expanded rapidly to over 40 committed individuals who gave their expertise, time, and support to achieve outstanding goals in basic and clinical research as well as in the care and treatment of children with cancer.

The first event raised $5,000; however, from 1970-1982 approximately $500,000 was raised. Of the three fellowships grants awarded during that time, one was given to the now renowned pediatric surgeon, Dr. Charles Stolar.

Today PCF has grown to include support for children and their families afflicted with all types of cancer. Three decades of support has enabled the foundation to purchase state-of-the-art equipment, support research projects and bring exceptional fellows to both the surgical and oncology departments.

The many hours spent by our caring membership (which consists of over 200 volunteers) enables us to raise significant funds when hospital financial problems threaten to impede further progress.

This year we have committed approximately three quarters of a million dollars in programs, research and equipment. In an effort to meet these commitments, we stage annual events including our opening Luncheon, Gala Benefit, Journal, Walkathon and Sportsathon. Starting with the year 2000, we held our first annual corporate baseball fundraiser, and in 2001 we added a Bikeathon. Keeping pace with our growth, community efforts in creating our many satellite events have added additional resources and friends as well as dollars.

We hold the hands of children and their families with the hope that our efforts will help eradicate the number one non-accidental killer of children. We started as a grassroots, down-home organization that started by doing its own licking and stamping on the dining room tables of its members. Today we have grown into our own and now support five major hospitals in the tri-state area, including their satellite outreach programs. With the inclusion of advanced technological equipment that we support, our doctors are in communication with hospitals both nationally as well as on an international level. In this new millennium, we look forward to our continued efforts at growth and advancement in this field, to not only cure but to provide a normal life for children with cancer.