Program Sponsorship and Volunteer Opportunities
Candlelighters Childhood Cancer Family Alliance provides emotional, educational and practical support to children with cancer and their families in the 13 counties of the greater Houston area. Candlelighters partners with families and shares their journey as they battle the disease and the tremendous financial burden they inherit immediately upon diagnosis. We offer all of our services free of charge to the families and therefore rely heavily on the generosity of the Houston community. Please visit our website at www.candle.org or contact our office at 713-270-4700 for specific sponsorship or volunteer information.
The Candlelighters Young Professionals Group was created to support the Candlelighters mission to provide emotional, educational and practical assistance to children with cancer and their families. The YP group demonstrates their commitment through fundraising and volunteer activities while offering members social and professional networking opportunities. The Young Professionals Group fundraising events include a Margarita Taste-off in the Spring and a Holiday Party in December. Individuals under the age of 35 are encouraged to join this exciting group. Sponsorship and volunteer opportunities are also available.
Candlelighters Fun Walk is a fun way to raise funds for Children with Cancer and their families. The Candlelighters Fun Walk is in September at Terry Hershey Park. Organize a team of walkers or join our team; but don't miss out on this special walk making a difference for children with cancer and their families. This Fun Walk is a 3 mile walk and all the funds raised will be used to support families at our weekend Family Camp - Camp CLIFF. Volunteers form walk teams and raise funds for Candlelighters. Sponsorship and volunteer opportunities are available.
Camp CLIFF (Children Loved In Families Forever) a unique camp that includes the entire family, providing a weekend away from cancer. Families enjoy a camping experience and an opportunity to spend time away from the hectic routines of hospitals and treatments. Sponsor camp or volunteer to be a camp counselor or help out with games and activities, camp is an entire weekend of fun and special memories at Camp for All in Burton, TX. You will be moved by this life changing experience. Camp is provided at no charge to Candlelighters families. Camp is in October.
Family Fall Festival is a fun event for the entire family with food, fun and games! In 2011, we served over 500 children and their families at the Fall Family Festival. The Candlelighters Fall Family Festival is in October at St. Johns School. Donations are needed for gift cards, prizes, food, beverages, and door prize packages. Volunteers are needed to run booths, face painting, arts and crafts, games, set-up and take-down.
Adopt a Family for the Holidays Program provides hope, support and practical help to families during the holiday season. Sponsor a family or families by providing gifts, a holiday meal, perhaps a spruce tree or holiday wreath. Sponsors are matched to families and personally deliver gifts to their family. Gift cards and monetary donations to Candlelighters are always helpful to make sure no family is overlooked. In 2010, a total of 210 families, or 806 family members were adopted.
Education Fund is available to long term survivors of childhood cancer. The Candlelighters' Scholarship Fund was established to encourage young people who have a history of childhood cancer to pursue an educational and/or career goal. The funds are granted for college education and/or vocational training. In 2011 Candlelighters awarded twelve scholarships at for a total of $10,000 in scholarships. Donations from the community are the backbone of this program.
The Tee It Up Golf Tournament is a fun day of golf. This important fundraiser helps raise awareness of the great need for practical support to childhood cancer families. Join the committee and/or bring a team to play. The date of next year's golf tournament is scheduled for May. Golf sponsorship and volunteer opportunities are available.
Lights of Courage Luncheon is Candlelighters biggest annual fundraising event. Every year, the luncheon honors young people who are lights of courage in their battle with cancer. They also represent all of the thousands of children who have dealt with childhood cancer and are lights of courage and an inspiration to all of us. This year's Luncheon is scheduled for Thursday, April 19th at River Oaks Country Club. Sponsorship and volunteer opportunities are available.
Summer Surprises is held each summer at Texas Childrens and MD Anderson Hospitals. Volunteers deliver gifts to children in the hospital or at the clinic. The event includes handing out gifts and sweets to all of the childhood cancer patients and their siblings. It brings some "holiday" cheer in the middle of summer to children undergoing treatment at the cancer centers. Our Summer Surprises volunteers conduct a toy drive and/or purchase toys for the program, wrap the gifts and label them, deliver the gifts to Texas Children's Cancer Clinic and hospital and host a party at MD Anderson and distribute toys. Sponsorship and volunteer opportunities are available for July / August 2012.
The Parent Consultant Program was developed to directly meet the needs of families at the treatment centers and to inform them of potential resources and help through Candlelighters. Each Parent Consultant had or has a child with cancer and knows what it is like to be the custodial parent of a child with cancer. The Parent Consultant provides emotional support, educational support and practical support to families being treated at the Texas Medical Center. This unique program consists of four parent consultants serving childhood cancer families at MD Anderson Cancer Center Pediatrics and Texas Children's Cancer Center. Donations and grants from the community are the backbone of this Candlelighters program. Candlelighters is always looking for sponsors to help with our services: Parking Passes, Meal Passes, Toiletry bags, Grocery Gift Certificates, Gas Gift Certificates, Drug Store Gift Cards, Pharmacy Cards, Funeral Assistance and our Candlelighters Parent Support Group Meetings.
No family has to face childhood cancer alone. A childhood cancer diagnosis is devastating to families. Treatment requires months and sometimes years of therapy with many children who relapse facing five or more years of treatment. Even with insurance coverage, unexpected non-medical expenses add additional stress and hardship to the family budget. This is why Candlelighters focuses on practical, emotional, and educational needs of children with cancer and their families. Houston-area Candlelighters families are eligible for our services, with priority given to families in need.
