Executive Director And Founder
CurrentConnecting Champions is a national nonprofit that asks kids and young adults with cancer, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” and pairs them with a mentor in that field who can help achieve a brighter future.I founded the organization when I was 19, in memory of my friend Lauren, who had been diagnosed when we were in high school.Our evidence-based, outcomes-driven approach has received international acclaim. We have helped hundreds of young people across the U.S. better survive the cancer journey, psychosocially and vocationally. We give them the resources they need to envision life beyond the disease by exploring career paths, acquiring skills/knowledge, or simply feeling like a kid again.Through our virtual and in-person programs, we’ve paired 3- to 26-year-olds (during treatment and survivorship) with a diverse network of mentors from over 100 career paths such as NASA engineering, various trades, entrepreneurship, and even ghost hunting. Our mentors are there every step of the way. With a Connecting Champions mentor by their side, our participants report:- We make the child healthier (98%)- They’ve learned new skills from their mentor (92%)- They’ve learned how to solve problems (97%) - They want to be like their mentor when they’re older (100%)We have partnered with dozens of hospital systems in the U.S., as well as nonprofits and insurance companies. Demand for our services has increased 6x during the pandemic (as has our budget), and we have met the need.
