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2012-2013 Objectives

Kids Beating Cancer’s objective is to be the resource so that no child diagnosed with cancer, leukemia or related life threatening diseases will ever be denied treatment regardless of ability to pay. Kids Beating Cancer’s goal is to guarantee access to transplantation by eliminating the financial barriers so that every child can receive this life-saving treatment when they need it. 

1. “Fund the Match” – In the long journey from diagnosis, to donor identification, to receiving a life-saving transplant, Kids Beating Cancer is the first step towards a cure. Kids Beating Cancer provides financial assistance for medical expenses not covered by Medicaid or Insurance, allowing families to proceed with life-saving treatment for their child.

2. “My Room” – Provide a ‘safe, fun, place’ while in the hospital during a child’s transplant. A customized, themed hospital room decorated according to each child’s preference, such as Disney Princess, Hello Kitty, or Toy Story with bedding, games, and toys corresponding with the theme and other age appropriate items.

3. With expertise supported by its dedicated Medical Advisory Board, Kids Beating Cancer will continue to be a trusted resource to children and families, educating and helping them deal with questions and concerns as they proceed through the step-by-step process of transplantation.

4. “Kids need to feel like Kids,” to enhance and inspire children from diagnosis to survivorship, Kids Beating Cancer provides fun activities and resources during treatment and beyond.

Long Range Objectives

To be the resource so that no child diagnosed with cancer, leukemia or related life-threatening diseases would ever be denied treatment regardless of ability to pay; and to ensure access to transplantation by eliminating the financial barriers so every child can receive this life-saving treatment, when they need it.

New Decade. New Trajectories.

1. Galvanize support in the community, the region and beyond to make the Kids Beating Cancer Pediatric Marrow Transplant Center at Florida Hospital for Children the leader in marrow and blood stem cell transplantation in the Southeast.

2. Guarantee and ensure that no child will ever be denied treatment regardless of race, ethnicity, or ability to pay; and all children will have access to transplantation by eliminating the financial barriers to receiving this life-saving treatment when they need it.

Impact Statement

Since June of 2011, 13 children received marrow and cord blood transplants, funding cost not covered by insurance or Medicaid at the Kids Beating Cancer Pediatric Transplant Center at Florida Hospital for Children, 1,000 new marrow donors were added to the National Marrow Registry resulting in monthly matches for patients who would die without a transplant, and over 200 children and their families participated in our support programs and services.

Recognition

Marker  “Margaret Guedes: A mother’s endless love,” Orange Appeal Magazine May/June 2012 issue 
Marker  “Generosity Heals 2012” honored at Florida Hospital Annual Board Dinner January 2012
Marker  “Generosity Heals 2011” honored at Florida Hospital for Children grand opening May 2011
Marker  Best of Orlando article: “Home Grown Charities,” Orlando Magazine, August 2007 issue
Marker  “Always Giving… Never Giving Up” article in Central Florida Doctor Magazine, July 2007 issue
Marker  America’s Charity Top Flight Award 2007
Marker  America’s Charity Top Agency Superstar 2007
Marker  “Amazing Mother” article in Lifestyles Magazine, May 2007 issue
Marker  America’s Charity Award 2006
Marker  “Kids Beating Cancer: Making Miracles One Donor At A Time” article, Lifestyles Magazine, September 2006 issue
Marker  Kids Beating Cancer's Founder and CEO received the impressive 2004 Community Honoree Award from the National Speaking of Women's Health Foundation. This award was presented at the 2004 Orlando Convention on August 14, 2004 at the Orlando Convention Center.
Marker  Kids Beating Cancer (KBC) received a $13,000 "Helping Kids Shine" Grant from the Walt Disney World Corporation in 2004, and from 1997-2001 received Walt Disney World Corporation Community Service Awards, including the "Judges Choice Award" twice, the “Special Judges Award” once, and the "Special Health Services " Award twice, totaling $76,000 donated along with the community service awards. These awards are given to organizations they feel have made significant contributions to the community, surpassing their goals and expectations.
Marker  KBC has met the strict requirements to be accepted as one of America’s Charities for the State of Florida for the past 7 years.
Marker  KBC’s CEO and founder Margaret Guedes received the 2002 Southeastern and National America's Charities Community Leadership Awards for exemplary service to her community and the charitable community at large.

Achievements

Marker  In 1994 KBC met the stringent qualifications to be contracted with the National Marrow Donor Program as the first Marrow Donor Recruitment Group of its kind for the State of Florida after recruiting, registering and funding the tissue typing tests for 1,000 new donors. 
Marker  In 1994 KBC met the stringent qualifications to be contracted with the National Marrow Donor Program as the first Marrow Donor Recruitment Group of its kind for the State of Florida after recruiting, registering and funding the tissue typing lab tests for 1,000 new donors. Now, 17 years later, KBC continues to be a contracted Marrow Donor Recruitment Center for the Be The Match Registry (new name, same Donor Registry) testing thousands of new donors every year.
Marker  KBC has tissue typed (DNA) over 37,000 volunteers.
Marker  Margaret Guedes, a Central Floridian of the Year runner-up for her passion