Pinky Swear Foundation

You feel the higher cost of goods all around. Imagine having a child who has just been diagnosed with cancer. The weight of housing, food, and transportation costs becomes overwhelming fast. Read more on our blog >> https://hubs.la/Q02G_txP0



Childhood cancer sucks. It can be really hard to know how to help. Our founder Mitch made it easy when he made the pinky promise years ago: help families with everyday expenses so they can focus on what matters most - their child. There are so many ways you can help outside of a donation. Here are four more:

5. Employee Giving. Check your company for a match to help twice as many families!
6. Grants. Some companies offer grants to non-profits. Consider nominating Pinky Swear.
7. United Way. Designate Pinky Swear as your charity of choice!
8. Donor Advised Funds. Support kids with cancer through yours today!

No matter how you give or how much you give, you are helping kids with cancer and their families. Learn more here:
https://bit.ly/4cRl0lo

Do good on Amazon Prime Day! Purchase to-go meals and snacks off of our Pinky Swear Foundation Amazon Wishlist so families don't have to leave their child's side to get something to eat. You can help stock our pantries here: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/C5JIZ9RRW61P?ref_=wl_share




During Sage's treatment with the three years ahead of them, his mom Betsey was able to work some from the hospital. His dad, not so much. He wanted to be there for his son and for Betsey, but he carried the insurance for the family. “I explained that he was serving his family by working,” said Betsey. “But there were times when he just had to be with us, and we took the hit financially. It was a constant dilemma. Every day, I would look out of the window at the hospital at all the people driving to work and think, why us, why are we here?"

Read Sage's full story here: https://hubs.la/Q02DqsNK0



Donating to help kids with cancer is obvious, but did you know there are many ways to give back? Here are a few to start:

1. Monthly Giving. You can set it, and forget it while helping families with housing, food, and transportation for as little as $1 a month.

2. Endowment Fund. A fund that grows and never goes away, so we don't have to worry about not being able to support families.

3. Keeper Society. Leave a legacy by making us a beneficiary of your estate.

4. Stock Donation. Transfer shares of publicly traded company's stock to help kids with cancer!

No matter how you give or how much you give, you can provide relief and more time spent with their child facing cancer because of your support. Learn more here:

https://bit.ly/4cApv41

🏒 Celebrate! The MN Wild Foundation has been a loyal fan of helping kids with cancer, which makes us a HUGE fan of them. Thank you to the MN Wild and all of you for your support.



All-Star Sage was considered high risk upon diagnosis. Because of this, he had three long years of treatment ahead and an immediate two-week hospital stay. Betsey was forced to take time off of work to be there with him.

Luckily, Sage's body responded well to the first round of chemo and the impact was immediate. His leg pain went away as quickly as it had come on. After one month, his cancer cells were down to almost nothing and he was officially in remission.

“It was kind of crazy” explained Betsey. “I remember very distinctly, one night in the hospital, my husband and I whispering, I said that I felt that there was a bigger meaning behind this. We were crying and agreed that that better had be the case. We chose to stay in a positive mindset from the beginning. It was the only way to get through this.”

Bigger meaning indeed. Betsey has written a book about their experience to help other families and kids navigate a childhood cancer diagnosis. You can find it here: https://hubs.la/Q02Dq6x80



Northwestern Mutual - Twin Cities has been a huge supporter of helping kids with cancer and their families. Last weekend, they hosted their second Fun Run event and raised more than $30,000. 🥰



Hear reflections from our Executive Director, Erica, as her son turns 10 soon. The same age that our founder Mitch was when he was diagnosed with cancer over 20 years ago. Read the blog here: https://bit.ly/3RQbaIk

Last week, the generous team from Scheels in Eden Prairie Minnesota brought in 144 pounds of pantry drive items to be delivered to our two Minnesota hospital Pinky Swear Pantry locations!

Learn more about how these pantries help families facing childhood cancer here: https://pinkyswear.org/childhood-cancer-food-pantries



Raise your hand if you participated in the Northwestern Mutual - Twin Cities Fun Run that took place this weekend in Bloomington! 🙋You can learn about it with Lacey Kraft and KSTP-TV if you missed it. https://bit.ly/3RMzRWk

We are so grateful for their commitment to helping kids with cancer and their families. Thanks to everyone who came out for some fun!

INTERVIEW: Get Messy for Cancer fun run in Bloomington The second-ever Get Messy for Cancer fun run was held at Lake Park in Bloomington to help fundraise money for families battling cancer.

Before All-Star Sage was diagnosed with leukemia in 2022, his parents started noticing some strange symptoms.

He started with a continuous cold-like virus with an elevated white blood cell count, then broken blood vessels on his torso and weight loss. Finally, he experienced leg pain so intense that he was screaming with pain. When Tylenol had no impact, his mom Betsey took Sage back into the pediatrician. After drawing blood again, this time the doctor sent them to the ER to see a hematologist for further testing.

At that point, cancer never crossed Betsey’s mind although she was concerned enough to tell Sage's dad Forrest to return the piece of equipment he had borrowed to do work on the garage floor in the house they were buying, and to meet them at the hospital.

Read Sage's full story here: https://hubs.la/Q02Dp_bY0



Special thanks to C.H. Robinson for making it possible for all of us to make TWICE the impact. Because of you, families can fill their tanks and get their child to treatment without worrying about the cost of gas. https://hubs.la/Q02DDTrQ0

You supported kids with cancer and their families by filling a tank! Because of you, families can fill their tanks and get their child to treatment without worrying about the cost of gas. https://hubs.la/Q02DF86s0

Today is the LAST DAY to help TWICE as many families with your donation. Fill a tank for a family facing childhood cancer so they don’t have to stress about getting to and from treatment. https://hubs.la/Q02DDZjv0

We need your help! Because of your support, families facing childhood cancer can fill their cars with gas to get their child to an appointment or treatment crucial to their cancer journey. Fill a tank today! https://hubs.la/Q02DyPF40

PS: You can help TWICE as many families right now thanks to a generous MATCH from C.H. Robinson.

You’ve been a loyal supporter of helping kids with cancer and their families. Can you support a family for less than a dollar a day?

Monthly donations are easy. You can set it and forget it (while helping families pay housing payments, fill their tanks with gas, and put food on the table.) It is a win-win!

We only need 16 more generous donors to step up and become a Pinky Partner today. Will you be one of them?

Can't become one right now? No worries. Share this post with your network! Every bit helps.

Pinky Swear Foundation wants to celebrate our Mission Partners from 2023 who are featured in our 2023 Annual Report. These folks care about kids with cancer and their families, allowing us to say ‘yes’ to even more each year. Please take a moment to share your thanks in the comments!

Interested in joining this list of supporters? Head to our website to learn more: https://hubs.la/Q02Drl7G0



24 Foundation, C.H. Robinson, Dean Snyder Construction, E.A. Sween Company, Geneva Capital LLC, Hy-Vee, KLN Family Brands, Marsh McLennan Agency - Private Client Services, Northwestern Mutual - Twin Cities, Moores Vegas - a benefit for the Pinky Swear Foundation, The Tony Robbins Foundation

“It is difficult to watch him struggle. He doesn’t speak very much, and he has an asymmetric gait. He has more anxiety over things that he used to love. He loves his baby brother and his cat. He has a sweet soul.” All-Star Greyson's mom Cynthia

Greyson’s biggest challenges come from the removal of the tumor from his temporal lobe. He struggles with decision-making and the family is still trying to work out their schedules with his therapy appointments.

Transportation is a hidden cost of childhood cancer. You can support families like Greyson's who navigate appointments for the health and well-being of their child on top of work and other life obligations. Donate now to help other families like Greyson's here: https://bit.ly/3VL7hXP

Live in Minnesota and enjoy poker? Please join Sandy Lederfine for a 10th Anniversary Pinky Swear Charity Event at Canterbury Park benefitting kids with cancer and their families July 21 at 11 AM.

Learn more here: https://pinkyswear.org/childhood-cancer-events



Three days left for your gift to be DOUBLED thanks to a MATCH from C.H. Robinson. Fill a tank for a family facing childhood cancer so they don’t have to stress about getting to and from treatment. https://hubs.la/Q02z1c550

Join this growing list of Pinky Partners who support kids with cancer monthly. You can help a family with housing, food and transportation during a childhood cancer diagnosis for less than $1 a day! Help us reach our goal of 18 more Pinky Partners by the end of June. Sign up now: https://hubs.la/Q02Ct3mm0

Between a rock and a hard place. Cancer forces families to make tough decisions between working or being with their child during treatment. Many families facing childhood cancer are already struggling financially. Pinky Swear Foundation offers support to ease the financial burden so families can focus on what matters most - their child. Read the full blog here: https://hubs.ly/Q02CNFyR0

Help TWICE as many families with a gift today. Fill a tank today, and your gift will be DOUBLED thanks to a matching gift from C.H. Robinson, up to $20,000. By doing so, families can focus on what matters most during a childhood cancer diagnosis – their child. https://hubs.la/Q02z12Pn0

One of our values at Pinky Swear Foundation is compassion. Our founder Mitch was the example. He gave all of his savings to families in the hospital rooms next to him as he battled osteosarcoma because he wanted them to have money for Christmas presents. Mitch started it all with his pinky swear promise with his dad to continue to help families facing childhood cancer. We are reminded of his genuine gift often.



For a family facing childhood cancer, the biggest and most important questions revolve around how they are going to care for their child through all of this. For Greyson's family, this meant taking time off in the form of unpaid personal leave, a huge income loss for the family. On top of the brain tumor diagnosis, the number of bills piled up, and everything in their house seemed to be breaking at the same time.

“It’s been a huge loss of income for us, and right now, I am just trying to hold onto the job as long as possible,” said Cynthia. “Everything started stacking up. Our well pump broke, which was the most expensive thing. Then it was the oven, the washing machine twice, and the garage door. It was just one thing after another.”

For Greyson and his family, the Orange Envelope, and All-Star Fund were a huge relief. It meant they could be there for Greyson. You can help other families like Greyson's today: https://bit.ly/3Xb4p7A

Happy Father's Day! Dads, you play such a huge role in your child's lives and overcoming a cancer diagnosis is something that no parent should ever have to go through. We see you and support you today and everyday. 💙



The tank is empty physically and mentally for families facing childhood cancer. 34% of families we served in 2023 traveled two or more hours to their hospital or clinic. Fill a tank for a family facing childhood cancer today to ensure families can get to treatment. Don't forget, you can help TWICE the families with your support until July 31. https://hubs.la/Q02z0_ZH0

Your weekend plans: applying to join Pinky Swear Foundation to help kids with cancer and their families. Apply now >> https://pinkyswear.org/pinky-swear-foundation-jobs

This position is responsible for providing Development team support by implementing exceptional stewardship strategies, conducting prospect research on current and potential key stakeholders, assisting with appeals and campaigns, collaborating on the planning and implementation of PSF events, supporting grant requests and reports, and supporting third-party community fundraising events and activities.

As we might be setting goals and intentions for 2024, families facing childhood cancer are in survival mode or may be hearing "your child has cancer" for the first time. If there is one goal we have in common, it is to help those families with the everyday life expenses so they can focus on their child. Let's say 'yes' to helping even more families in 2024 than 2023. Can we do it?!