Every research grant funded and every dollar raised is powered by a team dedicated to building meaningful relationships with the supporters who make our mission possible.
Our development team at Cookies for Kids’ Cancer works to engage donors, cultivate partnerships and create opportunities for individuals, foundations, companies and community fundraisers to support childhood cancer research. Our development team brings energy, expertise and heart to every aspect of fundraising, from stewarding donor relationships and securing sponsorships to supporting first-time bakers and guiding seasoned fundraisers.
Keep reading to meet the team behind the fundraising and learn how they help fuel research for new, improved and less toxic treatments for children with cancer.
Linda
As Donor Relations Manager, I focus on making sure our supporters feel seen and appreciated. I send personalized thank-you letters, acknowledgments and impact reports so donors understand exactly how their generosity is making a difference. I also manage our donor data and engagement records and develop strategies to cultivate relationships with both new and longtime supporters, always working to deepen those connections and keep people engaged in our mission.
My path to development wasn’t a straight line! I started with an undergraduate degree in Communication Disorders and spent a few years working with children with language and speech impairments and those on the autism spectrum. That was my first experience in the nonprofit world and it really stuck with me. I went on to get my master’s in nonprofit management with an emphasis in international work. When it came to Cookies for Kids’ Cancer specifically, the decision was personal — my husband is in the medical field and I’m a mom of two, so this cause is close to our hearts.
What I appreciate most about our team is how much everyone genuinely cares. Every single person is truly invested in the mission, and you can feel that in the quality of the work we do together. It makes a real difference and it makes coming to work every day that much more meaningful.
My favorite part of this work is learning about our donors, their stories, what moved them to give and why Cookies for Kids’ Cancer matters to them. Building those relationships has been the best part of this job, hands down. I also love the holiday season. We typically run a holiday campaign and there’s something really special about watching communities come together around a shared cause. It never gets old.
Colleen
I am the Strategic Partnerships & Programs Manager. I work on city-centered events such as the Richmond Brews for Kids’ Cancer, the Chicago and NYC Good Cookie Markets, as well as our Childhood Cancer Awareness Month initiative.
Back in 2007, I was lucky enough to meet a little boy named Liam Witt and sat next to his mom while she was talking about doing a fundraiser to raise money for childhood cancer research. Three months later, I was baking cookies that started Cookies for Kids’ Cancer. Knowing Liam and seeing the power of what we’ve accomplished is what has kept me involved for nearly 20 years.
I absolutely love working with the development team! They’re a “roll up your sleeves, make things happen, stay late and get up early” kind of crowd, and I love them for it. They are the front-facing group that truly makes the magic happen. It’s an honor to work beside them and they inspire me to think bigger. Some of my favorite projects include our Childhood Cancer Awareness Month campaign because it showed the power of the entire team coming together: marketing, development and grassroots to spread the word that September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month and we are just getting started!
I also have to give a shoutout to the Chicago Cookie Market. A co-worker encouraged me to take the lead on the idea and gave me the confidence to bring it to life, and we did! We went into a city that is just starting to get to know us and we put together an event that sold out in days. It allowed me to work with an incredible pastry chef and our marketing team just absolutely knocked the campaign out of the ballpark.
Amy
I am the Community Outreach Coordinator in Charlotte, NC. I love helping people, groups, schools, businesses and clubs plan and implement an event or fundraiser for our organization.
My son Grier and the many children I have met since I heard the words “your son has cancer” have inspired me to get involved in the nonprofit world. Grier was diagnosed with stage 4 neuroblastoma (NB) when he was a little over two and a half. I didn’t know anything about that disease at the time, so I did lots of research on the internet trying to find the best treatment options for him.
He ended up being treated at our home hospital in Charlotte, NC, and had a team in NYC at Memorial Sloan Kettering as well. While we were there, we met a lot of families that were battling neuroblastoma from all over the country. One person I met was Liam’s mom, Gretchen. She had just had the infamous 96,000 bake sale and I started reading her blog. Our boys were the same age and were diagnosed a month apart.
She mentioned her upcoming birthday in one of her blogs after the bake sale. Her wish was for people to have a bake sale for Cookies for Kids’ Cancer. I thought that was an easy thing to do, especially since Grier was NED (no evidence of disease) at the time and we were so grateful and hopeful for the future. We had a bake sale in our front yard in Charlotte and it was very successful. Our family and friends were so helpful as well as some of the local bakeries. Fast-forward, a college friend also held a bake sale in Morehead City.
Grier relapsed soon after that bake sale in my yard and friends asked what they could do to help. I asked them to have a bake sale. That bake sale is now an annual event in the Charlotte area and has grown to other locations around the city, including in South Carolina. This year will mark the 19th year — it is a tradition of funding childhood cancer research that happens the first Saturday in December each year. It has become a favorite holiday tradition for me and many others and has made a tremendous impact on research for children.
My note to the world: It is fun to be a good cookie. Try it. Get your school involved or a sports team. It does not have to be a fancy event to make a difference; a small front-yard bake sale can make a big difference. I promise.
Emily
I’m the Community Engagement Senior Coordinator, and in this role I help build and maintain our grassroots relationships, including overseeing our runDisney program. I also support auction efforts for signature events and assist with donor cultivation.
When I was fifteen, I started volunteering for an education-based nonprofit, and this really changed my perspective on what I wanted for a career. I grew a strong passion for helping kids and families through nonprofit experiences and volunteering, especially during Co-op at Drexel, where I worked at Ronald McDonald House.
I love being part of the development team and having the opportunity to connect with so many different individuals who believe in and support our mission. It’s incredible to see how every act of support, whether it’s hosting a bake sale, registering to run with Team Good Cookie or finding another creative way to fundraise, can add up to make such a meaningful impact. Whether it’s a child donating a portion of their summer allowance or someone getting their company to match their gift, every contribution matters. Seeing all of these efforts come together is such a powerful reminder that when we each do our part, we truly can make a difference for children and families affected by pediatric cancer.
Sara
I am the Community Outreach Coordinator in Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania. My role is about turning local connections into meaningful impact. I build relationships with schools, businesses, families and community groups across the Lehigh Valley and surrounding areas. I execute fundraising initiatives such as bake sales, sporting events and tabling opportunities.
I was a teacher for 12 years prior to this career. Our son Ben is a two-time childhood cancer survivor of Wilms tumor. I felt a natural progression to continue my fundraising and awareness efforts as time went on. I wanted to turn my personal experiences into purpose. This allows me to be a part of the solution rather than a bystander to my circumstances. I really do believe that together we can make a difference in the lives of children affected by cancer.
My favorite event will always be the event hosted with the help of my son Ben and our family and friends called The #superheroesforbenny Stand. It is an example of what research can do and how coming together to raise funding can make a meaningful impact in a smaller community. It feels like a symbol of hope and gratitude and a true grassroots initiative. Childhood cancer doesn’t have a face or a name until it is yours or someone you know. I want to change that.
Shane
I work in development as a Business Engagement and Programs Coordinator, where my role focuses on partnerships, sponsorships, donor stewardship and grant support, along with corporate cookie sales and logistics. A big part of what I do is managing relationships with companies and helping coordinate orders, especially around campaigns and holiday gifting. Since we’re a small team, I also get to stay involved in a variety of projects across the organization.
I initially came to Cookies for Kids’ Cancer as an intern while studying Communication Studies with a concentration in Public Relations. I had the opportunity to work across different areas of the organization during that time, and I gradually transitioned into working more closely with the development team. That experience allowed me to build my skills in outreach, partnerships and relationship management, and ultimately led to me joining full-time in a development role.
What I enjoy most about development is building relationships and seeing how those connections turn into meaningful support for the mission. It’s rewarding to work with partners over time and watch their involvement grow. A few standout experiences for me have been local events in Richmond, like the Richmond City-Wide Bake Sale and Brews for Kids’ Cancer, as well as the Chefs for Kids’ Cancer event in New York. Each one brings the community together in a different way and really shows the impact of the work we’re doing.
I really appreciate how close-knit and collaborative the team is. Everyone is genuinely invested in both the mission and each other, which makes a big difference in how we work day to day. It creates an environment where you feel supported and trusted, and where everyone is working toward the same goal.
One thing that stands out to me is how impactful the mission can be through something so simple. Using cookies as a way to bring people together and raise awareness for pediatric cancer is both unique and powerful. It’s a reminder that small actions, when combined, can make a meaningful difference.
The work of our development team is powered by people who believe every child deserves better, safer treatments. Whether you give, fundraise, volunteer, attend an event or help spread the word, there are many ways to make a difference. Join us in supporting pediatric cancer research and help make new, improved and less toxic treatments possible for kids everywhere. Visit cookiesforkidscancer.org to find a way to get involved today.
