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We would like to thank our donors, sponsors, board of directors, executive director, and our amazing volunteers for all of the support that has been given to the Payton Wright Foundation. 2020 was a difficult year for all of us, but thanks to donors like you, we continue to assist families when they need it most. The families we are helping are not only fighting for their child’s life, but also dealing with the financial burden associated with both cancer and, more recently, COVID-19.
We are proud to say that 91% of our expenses in 2020 were directed to programs for families. Thanks to you, we continue to operate with zero debt.
Patrick and I know the emotional and financial toll that cancer can take on a family; we lived it first-hand with our daughter, Payton. We want to allow families to focus on the health of their child. We assist families, both locally and nationally, and would not be able to do so without the generosity of supporters like you. Your compassion is our inspiration. Thank you! You have made a real difference in the lives of the families we assist. We wish you well and please stay safe.
Our Sincere Gratitude,
Holly and Patrick Wright
Our Sincere Gratitude,
Holly and Patrick Wright
When a child is diagnosed with brain cancer, he/she usually requires weekly or daily treatments such as chemotherapy, radiation, and/or proton therapy. Often the hospital is not close to the family’s home, which causes challenges with transportation and work obligations. In many cases, at least one parent has to either take a leave from work or quit his/her job.
Without that income, families struggle to pay their household bills while being at the hospital. We work to help ease this burden on families so they can keep their focus on their sick child. Cancer does not discriminate against age, race, or socioeconomic status. The Payton Wright Foundation works through social workers in hospitals and treatment facilities to identify those families in need of support.
Raiden was born prematurely but worked hard to catch up to his age group. When he was two-years-old he started having an eye problem. Doctors dismissed it but his mom, who had worked in the ER for years, fought to get him an MRI. Raiden was diagnosed with stage 4 ETMR. He was immediately flown to Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital where surgery was done to remove 90% of the tumor. Raiden suffered some setbacks from the surgery and as a result, was disabled. His tumor started to grow post-surgery so his mom found a new protocol from a hospital in another state, and worked to get it implemented at JHAC for her son.
Raiden developed pneumonia from the chemotherapy and had to discontinue. We are happy to say that Raiden recently started proton therapy and his tumor has shown no signs of growth since then. His family is overwhelmed with appreciation to The Payton Wright Foundation for helping pay their bills during this time. His mom has not been able to go back to work since his diagnosis and said:
The Payton Wright Foundation thanks our generous and committed donors, sponsors, vendors, contributors, volunteers, fundraisers, and friends who have helped us through the most difficult year. 2020 presented many unique fundraising challenges, but because of you, we were able to continue assisting families and allowing them to be with their children at the most critical times. It is a true gift to have so many individuals, companies, and families supporting our mission that will make a lasting impact on the families we serve.
Thank you to Mark & Cindy Pentecost for their continued support of our families. Their matching gift helped us continue financial assistance to families while numerous fundraising events were canceled. Their commitment to philanthropy is unparalleled.
Thank you to Tony Brunk for his donation of PPE to a local cancer hospital with COVID-19 sterilization. His donation will help hundreds of patients with cancer for years to come.
Thank you to the White Family Foundation for the grant to help Tampa Bay families caring for a child with brain cancer. Our local families are lucky to have your continued support.
Thank you to all of the individual donors to the Sarasota Community Foundation’s Giving Challenge whose gifts were matched by It Works Gives Back Foundation, CBIZ and The Patterson Foundation.
Thank you to Tampa Bay Brewing Company who developed the fantastic beer “Beautiful Minds” to promote our Foundation and for giving $1 back for every pint sold. It was unique fundraisers like this that sustained us and allowed us to continue to pay household bills for families.
Our 1st Annual Putt-Putt for Payton was an enormous success. Thank you to the sponsors, players, donors, and volunteers that came out for a fun-filled evening.
Thank you to the ladies who lovingly crocheted and knitted hats and blankets for children in the hospital.
Without community funding, The Payton Wright Foundation would not exist. We appreciate the continued support from our sponsors, donors, and volunteers.
Partner Hospitals
Children’s Hospital of Michigan
Medical University of South Carolina
Children’s Hospitals & Clinics of Minnesota
Children’s Hospital of Orange County
Emory Proton Therapy Center
Louisville School of Medicine
Children's Hospital of Orange County
Levine Children's Hospital - Atrium Health
St. Louis Children's Hospital
Children’s at Erlanger
Hospice of Mountain Grove
Mayo Clinic
Stony Brook Cancer Center
Driscoll Children’s Hospital
Arkansas Children’s Hospital
Doernbecher Children’s Hospital
Children’s Hospital of Richmond
Orlando Health Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children
UF Health/Shand’s Children’s Hospital
Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta
The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia
Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center
Duke Pediatric Brain Tumor Center
Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital
Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital
University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
Wolfson’s Children’s Hospital
Texas Children’s Hospital
Virginia Commonwealth University Children’s Hospital of Richmond
Children’s Hospital Colorado
Nicklaus Children’s Hospital
Palmetto Health
VCU Children’s Hospital of Richmond
Nationwide Children’s Hospital
St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital
The 2020 Payton Wright Foundation Board of Directors
Patrick Wright (Chair) | Holly Wright (Vice Chair)
Cole Collins (Secretary) | Kym Berceau | Steve Cavanaugh
Jack Collins, Jr. | Eric Fleming | Jordan Fleming
Keith Mercier | Robert Morelli, M.D. | Brian Porter
Jay Riley | Robert Sket
Staff
Meg Lokey (Executive Director)
