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Explore ASK Childhood Cancer Foundation's nonprofit financials & annual reports. Transparency through our 501c3 lookup & financial statements. Donate with confidence: Platinum Guidestar Candid transparency rating and four-star Charity Navigator rating. OUR FINANCIALS FINANCIALS Your Support Truly Matters. When you get involved with ASK, you’re making life better for kids with cancer and their families across Virginia. Take a look at our latest Annual Report to meet some of ASK’s families and see the impact of your generosity in action! Read Our Annual Report Where Your Support Goes We know that a big part of earning your trust is being 100% transparent about how your gifts are used to impact our kids and families. Thank you for your generosity and ongoing commitment to supporting them! 77 cents of every dollar goes to fund ASK programs and services that directly support families of pediatric cancer patients and survivors across Virginia. FY24 REVENUE $4,264,760 FY24 EXPENSES $3,792,798 FY24 PROGRAMS $2,911,329 Reports & Documents Past Annual Reports ASK Form 990

Nurturing childhood cancer families in Richmond, Virginia with engaging events! Our educational and social events are offered to ​families with patients, survivors, and siblings enrolled with ASK, and are always free to attend. PROGRAM EVENTS RICHMOND REGION EVENTS Richmond Region The following educational and social events are offered to families with patients, survivors and siblings enrolled with ASK in and around Richmond . ASK program events are always free to attend! Our Upcoming Events: Sign Up Preschool Playdate Date: February 7 Time: 3:00 PM - 4:30 PM Place: Romp N Roll 11541 Busy St, Richmond, VA 23236, USA Join us for an exciting afternoon of play at Romp n' Roll! All preschool-aged (2-4 years old) ASK kids and their siblings are invited. Sign Up Parent Outing- Escape Room Date: February 20 Time: 5:45 PM - 8:00 PM Place: Maggiano's Little Italy & Red Room Escape Rooms 11800 W Broad St, Richmond, VA 23233, USA Why do the kids have all the fun?! We invite the parents and guardians to join us for an evening of cracking codes and making a break for it at Red Door Escape Room! After dinner at Maggiano's Little Italy, we will walk over to our Escape Room location! Back to Events Overview COVID-19 Policy: ASK social events and programs are now open to families with a child currently in active treatment. To keep our immunocompromised populations as safe as possible, indoor mask requirements will be decided based upon the CDC Covid-19 Community Level for the locality in which the event will take place, and will be disclosed prior to each event. For the full policy, click here.

Emotional and financial support for families of children with cancer in Virginia. Discover community resources and meet the team who will help ease the journey. Financial Assistance Everyday Relief & Resources In Clinic Support Mental & Emotional Wellbeing Bereavement Support FAMILY SUPPORT SUPPORT We understand how isolating a cancer diagnosis can be. We are here with you every step of the way. As we always say, once an ASK family, always an ASK family. New to ASK? Fill out our Enrollment Form to officially join the ASK community! Enrollment Form/Forma de Inscripción Financial Assistance Everyday Relief & Resources In Clinic Support Mental & Emotional Wellbeing Bereavement Support Financial Assistance A childhood cancer diagnosis can be devastating for families, financially as well as emotionally. Expenses during treatment can overwhelm an otherwise financially secure family. ASK is here to help. Qualified families may apply for help paying non-medical (housing, utilities, transportation) bills. We offer financial assistance to families being treated at: Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU Children’s Hospital of the King’s Daughters UVA Children’s Hospital Carilion Children’s Inova Schar Cancer Institute Children’s National Fredericksburg Apply Now Aplica Aqui We are proud to support families across Virginia in their cancer journey. As a proud partner of Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU for nearly 50 years, we are proud of the following resources and support families can expect while receiving care in the ASK Hematology/Oncology Clinic at CHoR. We hope to expand this support to our other treatment center partners across the state in the future. Everyday Relief & Resources Dayana Bjorkman Bilingual Community Coordinator (Spanish/English) Get In Touch Jenna Cline Family Support Coordinator Get In Touch Meet Dayana & Jenna They talk with families to see what can make their experience less stressful, often connecting families with financial support and community resources. How they help The challenges that come with a childhood cancer diagnosis can look a little different for everyone. Dayana and Jenna provide the level of support that works with your needs, such as: providing assistance with non-medical expenses, like gas and grocery gift cards checking in regularly to offer a kind word or a listening ear offering a pick-me-up surprise when your child or their siblings feel down inviting families to ASK social events connecting you with community partners for everyday needs, such a s a free oil change * Managing your household, bills, and daily responsibilities does not stop after your child’s diagnosis. Dayana and Jenna are there to help alleviate some of that stress for you and your family. ASK also encourages families to check in with their hospital social worker, too, to see what other organizations may be able to help. *Free oil changes are currently only available for families in active treatment. Contact Jenna Cline for more information. In Clinic Support Meet Katie ASK Child Life Specialist, Katie Barber (also known as “Miss Katie” to our kids!) is one of the first people you will meet while in clinic. She is here to ease your child’s anxiety as they receive treatment in the ASK Clinic. How She Helps Katie uses medical play to teach kids about what they are going through, like accessing their port. What looks like play is really a clever way to help kids feel less stressed at clinic! This helps them understand what the doctors and nurses are doing to make it less scary. Katie can also help by: providing fun distractions like crafts, games, and playing with toys encouraging your child to do an art project or engage in pretend play to help them express their feelings teaching your child how to find their voice and speak up for what makes them comfortable ASK is proud to fund this child life position at Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU. Katie Barber Child Life Specialist Get In Touch Take the Virtual Tour! Mental & Emotional Wellbeing Rev. Rich Catlett, BCC Chaplain Get In Touch Managing the emotional impacts of a cancer diagnosis is an important part of caring for your child and family. ASK provides funding to Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU to support mental health services for patients, siblings and parents. How We Help The psychology team can help families with a wide range of topics, from pill swallowing and needle phobia to parenting tips to managing ADHD. Mental health support services include: Assessments Individual & Family Therapy Coping Skills & Support Parent Training Pain & Symptom Management Meet Rich ASK Chaplain, Rich Catlett, is available wherever your child is along their treatment journey in the Children’s Hospital of Richmond. Chaplains support families with a strong religious faith as well as those who don’t claim any religion. How He Helps Spiritual support can vary widely, including prayer, addressing concerns about death and after life, dealing with a loss of faith, or discussing ways to use spirituality for strength. Whatever your beliefs, Rich listens to your concerns and helps you process what you are going through. ASK is proud to fund this chaplain position at the Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU. Bereavement Support Ev en with the best doctors and medicines, the heartbreaking reality is that some children lose their fight to cancer. We feel your heartache and mourn the loss of your child. Our chapla in and su pport team will be with you throughout your grief and moments of remembrance, as much as you need us to be. ASK financial assistance is available to help with funeral services, and connect you with community grief and loss resources that can help your family process your loss. If you need a break from ASK after you've lost your child, that's okay and completely normal. Know that our community is ready and waiting with open arms to welcome you back, when you're ready. Because once an ASK family, always an ASK family. “Kim has been incredible since day one explaining services and offering/providing support to our family. Kim makes us feel so welcomed and supported.”

Medulloblastoma (muh-dul-o-blas-TOE-muh) is a very big word with a heavy meaning for a very little boy.  While Joseph, a baseball lover, is busy learning terms like “home run,” “grand slam,” and “fastball,” his parents, Becky and James, are learning about this fast-growing, cancerous brain tumor. At just 13 months old, Joseph was diagnosed with medulloblastoma, and life for him and his parents changed in an instant. Before his diagnosis, Joseph had been sick often. After four visits to the doctor in a single week, he vomited one morning, and his parents rushed him to St. Mary’s for a CT scan. That’s when the tumor appeared. Instead of hitting “home run hits!” as Joseph adorably says it, this little baseball fan was now undergoing brain surgery to remove the tumor and relieve fluid buildup in his brain. Doctors caught it early, but the tumor was fast-moving. Joseph immediately started three rounds of chemotherapy, and an intense stem cell transplant, spending almost a month in the hospital. Despite Joseph’s intense treatment, he remained “a bright light to anyone and everyone he came across,” his dad James shares. His mom, Becky said, “You’d never know what he’s been through,” smiling as she spoke. Joseph not only fought through treatment, but he also graduated from physical, occupational, and speech therapy. But Joseph and his family didn’t fight alone. From the very first round of chemo, ASK was there to lend a helping hand. A call came to Becky asking if the family needed anything, and it wasn’t just words. “Other organizations are wonderful, but ASK is different,” she says. ASK stepped in with financial support that helped the family cover their mortgage after Becky had to step away from work to focus on Joseph’s health. Through the Adopt-a-Family program, ASK also made Christmas magical for Joseph, providing gifts from the family’s wish list thanks to community partners. Beyond family support, ASK offers connection through program events. The family attended ASK Night at the Diamond and participated in the ASK 5K & Fun Walk, where “ Ferocious Joseph and Lil' J's Brigade ” became one of the largest teams in Walk history and helped raise funds for other children and families in Virginia facing childhood cancer. More than that, ASK gave Joseph’s family a community–a circle of people who understood the unique challenges of childhood cancer. “They get the little things. They understand. They connect us with people who live right here in our community. You don’t feel alone,” Becky shared. Two-year-old Joseph is thriving now. His future is bright, filled with dance moves to the “Mickey’s Hot Dog” song, and “home run hits” as spring approaches. His parents reflect on their journey with gratitude–for the skilled doctors and nurses at the hospital, for their decision to stay close to home, and for the unwavering support of ASK. “It can happen to anybody,” James says. “But childhood cancer isn’t always a death sentence. Our kids are stronger than we are. Life changes in an instant, but you also discover kindness, compassion, and the good that’s still in the world. ASK reminds us every day that we don’t walk this journey alone.”

According to her mom, Leanne, four-year-old Talitha “just loves life.” She can be quiet around strangers, but she’s simply taking it all in, noticing the world around her. Talitha has a contagious laugh and a love for singing, whether she’s making up songs on the spot, singing worship songs from church, or joining in with her favorite princess movies. She’s full of sunshine wherever she goes. With a summer birthday, it’s no surprise that Talitha is happiest outside. She enjoys visiting splash parks, swimming pools, and spending afternoons at the playground with her little sister. But Talitha hasn’t always had carefree days filled with sunshine and songs. In April 2024, her energy was suddenly drained, her tiny body bruised, and a rash appeared. Her parents knew something was wrong, especially when Talitha was too tired to walk by the time they reached the ER. Doctors immediately admitted her to Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU where tests came back, and the numbers were “off the charts.” Within a day of arriving at CHoR, Talitha underwent surgery to place a port, a small device that helps deliver chemotherapy. Soon after, at just two years old, she was diagnosed with B-cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. Although her numbers placed her in the high-risk category, Talitha’s body responded quickly to treatment. She wasn’t in remission yet, but the doctors had a plan: two and a half years of treatment, set to finish in August 2026. The first eight months were grueling—ten inpatient stays, constant chemo, lumbar punctures, and isolation from the outside world. Things she loved, like playgrounds, libraries, and church, were suddenly off-limits. Instead, hospital rooms filled with Disney movies became her little kingdom. Though they were isolated, Talitha’s family was never alone. Between their church family, grandparents, friends, and the ASK Childhood Cancer Foundation, they were wrapped in support. Through ASK staff and events, they found community, joy, and relief in ways they never expected, including a sense of normalcy. “Programs allowed Talitha to experience fun life events in safe ways especially during that first year when treatment was so intense. Being able to participate in the pool party, the Christmas party, the fall festival, and even receiving gifts for Christmas so we didn't have to worry about that while she was undergoing really tough treatments helped keep a sense of normalcy and community when things were kind of tough,” shared Leanne. At Christmas, when Talitha’s counts were low and shopping felt impossible, ASK’s Adopt-a-Family program stepped in—lifting a weight Leanne didn’t even realize she was carrying. Financially, the family has managed, thanks in part to ASK’s support with household needs and repairs. But more than the financial help, it’s the emotional and spiritual encouragement that has carried them through. As Leanne says, "There could be a sense of hopelessness, but ASK helps us feel understood and supported. People say, 'I can't imagine how you are doing this,' and without our faith we wouldn't be able to. It's a long road, but we are not walking it alone." Through it all, Talitha remains full of curiosity and sunshine. She enjoys playing “Clinic” with her little sister, pretending to be doctors and nurses and making the hospital world feel less scary. She is in maintenance treatment, a lower-intensity phase, taking daily oral medication and monthly chemo. Life isn’t back to normal yet, but it’s closer. Talitha can finally play with other children, continue to spread cheer through song, go on outings, and live the little moments most families take for granted.  “The road ahead will have challenges—more treatments, more appointments, more days of fatigue,” explains Leanne. “But we are so grateful that it will also have joy and laughter, and all of our friends at ASK. We cannot say thank you enough!”

At just four years old, Conor's imagination knows no bounds, and, like many children his age, he loves superheroes — Spider-Man (Spidey) being his favorite — and villains! He’s a big fan of playing video games with his dad and being outside where he can run and play. Conor approaches every day with a sense of wonder and adventure, and he’s never met a human or animal that he hasn’t tried to befriend. When Conor was diagnosed with Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia (a rare subtype of AML) in February 2025 at just three years old, his parents, Sarah and Scott, felt their world collapse. He had battled RSV and lingering illnesses, then bruising led to bloodwork that revealed shocking results. Within hours, the family was sent to the Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU, and Conor began treatment just two days later. From the very beginning, ASK showed up in ways Sarah and Scott never imagined. Katie Barber, ASK’s Child Life Specialist at the ASK Clinic within the Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU, was the first to meet Conor and his family. When he was scared, she pulled out a Nintendo Switch and made him laugh. ASK Chaplain Rich Catlett stopped by during inpatient stays, offering much-needed encouragement. When his port was difficult to access, ASK staff found ways to distract him so his bravery could shine. But ASK went far beyond the hospital walls. They helped cover bills when Sarah had to step away from work, provided food and gas cards, and even answered Scott’s wish to give Conor a safe space outdoors. ASK connected the family with Hope RVA, which landscaped the backyard and built Conor his very own playset. Today, the first thing Conor does every morning is run outside to play. “ They’ve wrapped us in their arms. Whatever you might need, ASK is there to figure out how to get it. They’re so proactive, and you don’t have to search for help. They show up and remind you you’re not alone. ” -Sarah, ASK Kid Conor's mom After nine long months of treatment and countless trips to the ASK Clinic at the Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU, Conor completed his last treatment on Friday, October 24th, and will ring the end-of-treatment bell with all of his family, friends, nursing staff, doctors, and ASK staff there to celebrate this monumental moment. By the end of this fall, Conor will hopefully join our ASK First STEP (Socialization Through Enriched Play) Preschool Program at First Baptist Church, just for ASK kids and siblings. The ASK First STEP Preschool Program is a specialized class where our teachers look for both typical developmental milestones and late effects from treatment to help our kiddos get the best start possible and feel prepared for a successful kindergarten experience, with skills like sharing, listening, focusing, and cooperating. Conor’s world has changed, but it is still full of joy. He still loves Mario, villains from The Nightmare Before Christmas , and playing Spidey with his boundless imagination. He can’t yet return to playgrounds or museums, but thanks to ASK, he has a backyard kingdom to explore. His parents are in awe not only of their community but also of ASK’s early, steady presence: “Until you need their services, you can’t imagine the depth of what they do. They walk this journey with you in ways you don’t expect.” For now, Conor keeps playing, keeps laughing, and keeps proving what his parents already know: kids are resilient, joy is stronger than fear, and no family has to fight alone when ASK is by their side.