When a community comes together around a shared cause, incredible things can happen. Through Cookies for Kids’ Cancer City-Wide Bake Sales, businesses, schools, families and volunteers unite to fund childhood cancer research that leads to better treatment options for kids battling cancer.
A City-Wide Bake Sale is a community-wide fundraising movement. On the same weekend, people throughout an entire city or region come together to host bake sales and other creative fundraisers in their homes, schools, workplaces, businesses and neighborhoods. Each event may look a little different, but everyone is working toward the same goal: raising funds for pediatric cancer research.
What makes City-Wide Bake Sales so powerful is that anyone can take part. Kids can decorate treats and run stands with their families. Teens can organize school fundraisers and promote campaigns online. Adults can coordinate events, secure sponsorships and partner with local businesses. That mix of involvement is what turns a simple bake sale into a real community movement and a meaningful source of funding for research into new, less toxic treatments for children with cancer.
One of the best examples is the Charlotte City-Wide Bake Sale. Nearly 20 years ago, Amy Christenbury organized a small bake sale while her son, Grier, was undergoing treatment for Stage 4 neuroblastoma (NB). That single effort has grown into a beloved community tradition and Charlotte-area supporters have since raised more than $1.3 million for childhood cancer research.
Why it matters:
Childhood cancer is still the leading disease-related cause of death among children in the U.S., yet it receives only a small fraction of overall cancer research funding. Many treatments used today were originally developed for adults and can cause serious long-term side effects in kids. Since 2008, Cookies for Kids’ Cancer has granted $25 million toward developing safer, more effective therapies, funding made possible by community fundraisers like these.
Start a City-Wide Bake Sale in your community
Every City-Wide Bake Sale starts with one person who wants to make a difference — a parent, teacher, student or business owner. Cookies for Kids’ Cancer provides the resources and support to help you launch a successful event. To get started, contact Emily at emily@beagoodcookie.org or visit our fundraising page.
