ASK Childhood Cancer Foundation is a Virginia-based nonprofit dedicated to making life better for children with cancer and their families through financial assistance, educational support, and opportunities for community and connection. We're here to make life a little better. better. Your generosity means kids like Spencer don't have to face cancer or serious blood disorders alone. Give Today Spencer, 10 Medulloblastoma How we help our families: Community & Connection Facing cancer can be an isolating experience. ASK helps children and families build meaningful connections with a community that truly understands their journey. Connect With Us Educational Support Childhood cancer doesn’t just disrupt a child’s health, it disrupts their education during treatment and long after treatment ends. On average, kids miss 43 days of school during their first year of treatment. See How We Help Family Support Half of all families facing childhood cancer experience severe financial hardship. ASK believes no family should ever have to choose between keeping the lights on and staying by their sick child’s bedside. Access Resources 6-7 children are diagnosed with cancer every week in Virginia. Let’s give them a hand and help make life better any way we can. How to Get Involved > Stay Connected with ASK Sign up for updates on all things ASK! You'll hear from us regularly with opportunities for you to give , volunteer , or advocate for children with cancer. You'll also receive monthly stories to meet the inspiring children and families your generosity is helping to support. Sign Up for Updates

Volunteer with ASK Childhood Cancer Foundation! Sign up and make a difference for kids with cancer through community engagement at our annual events and seasonal volunteer opportunities. VOLUNTEER Your Time Thank you for your interest in supporting ASK with your time and helping hands! We rely on volunteers to help make our fundraising events and program socials run smoothly, to support our organization with donation drives and fundraising, to raise awareness, and to help engage our community in a variety of ways. Interested in volunteering with ASK? Fill out our sign-up form below and we'll reach out to you with upcoming opportunities to get involved! Get Started Volunteer FAQs 01 What are your volunteer opportunities? Volunteer needs vary throughout the year and include helping at our fundraising events like the ASK 5K & Fun Walk, wrapping gifts for the holidays or handing out school supplies. Sign up here to volunteer and we'll email you with all our upcoming volunteer opportunities! 02 How old do I have to be to volunteer? We ask that volunteers are 16 years or older to volunteer at an ASK event. Younger volunteers are welcome but must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. 03 Why should I volunteer? By volunteering your time, energy and expertise with ASK, you are helping to make life better for children with cancer or a serious blood disorder and their families right here in our community. Volunteers lending a helping hand make all of our ASK Events possible. Program events such as the Holiday Party, Fall Festival, and our Kourageous Kids party are great for volunteers who wish to have direct interaction with our ASK families and kids. Fundraising events like the Donut Run, ASK Walk, and the Annual Gala are fun events that require all hands on deck to make the event successful and enjoyable for all. Sign up to be a part of our incredible volunteer crew and you will receive the quarterly newsletter with upcoming volunteer opportunities! 04 Can I get school community service hours for volunteering? Absolutely! Following your volunteer shift, just check in with the ASK staff member in attendance to sign off on your hours. You can also contact one of our two volunteer program leads: Jess Harris, Program Events Coordinator, at jharris@askccf.org or Jessica Sop, Special Events Coordinator, at jsop@askccf.org 05 How can I volunteer with kids in the hospital or the ASK Hematology/Oncology Clinic? The ASK Hematology/Oncology Clinic is located in the Children’s Pavilion at Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU (CHoR). To volunteer at the clinic or any other inpatient or outpatient areas of the hospital, you must apply through CHoR. More information to volunteer through CHoR can be found at https://www.chrichmond.org/about-us/volunteer. 06 What about volunteering with a group? We welcome groups to join us as volunteers at our an annual 5K events – The ASK 5K & Fun Walk (includes Donut Dash) in the spring. Depending on the size of the group, there are some other volunteer opportunities throughout the year at our large program socials and events. 07 What are other ways to get involved with ASK? Along with volunteering, you can make a difference with ASK in many ways, including participating in our fundraising events, starting a community fundraiser or donation drive, or advocating and raising awareness in the community! Visit our Get Involved page for more information. "I have loved being a part of ASK because you can see the immediate impact of your time, energy and donations and the change we are making for children locally." - Meghan Dickey Hale, ASK Ambassador Committee Chair Get More Involved There are lots of ways you can help make life better for children with cancer and their families. Learn how else you can get involved with ASK below! Learn More

Welcome to ASK Childhood Cancer Foundation, where compassion meets dedication. Get to know the heart and soul behind our mission as you meet the ASK team – a group of passionate individuals committed to making a difference in the lives of children fighting cancer. OUR PEOPLE PEOPLE A community of care you can count on. ASK Staff Leadership Team Amy Godkin Executive Director agodkin@askccf.org ext. 102 Lindsey Jennings, CFRE, MNS Director of Philanthropy ljennings@askccf.org Kimberly Stroud, MSW Director of Programs kstroud@askccf.org ext. 106 Doug Wootten Director of Finance and Operations dwootten@askccf.org Program Team Alma Morgan, M.Ed. Associate Director of Education amorgan@askccf.org ext. 117 Jennifer O'Ferrall Education Program Manager joferrall@askccf.org Michelle Jarnagin-Johnson Young Adult Support Coordinator mjohnson@askccf.org ext. 107 Jess Harris Program Events Coordinator jharris@askccf.org ext. 115 Olivia Mangini, MPH Program and Impact Coordinator omangini@askccf.org ext. 104 Dayana Bjorkman Bilingual Community Coordinator (Spanish/English) dbjorkman@askccf.org ext. 133 Jenna Cline Family Support Coordinator jcline@askccf.org ext. 110 Katie Barber Child Life Specialist kbarber@askccf.org ext. 109 Children's Hospital of Richmond at VCU Rev. Rich Catlett, BCC Chaplain rcatlett@askccf.org Children's Hospital of Richmond at VCU Jon Longenecker Education Support Navigator jlongenecker@askccf.org ext. 113 Children's Hospital of Richmond at VCU Amy Fender, M.Ed. Education Support Navigator afender@askccf.org ext. 119 Carilion Children's Grant Pavlik, M.Ed. Education Support Navigator gpavlik@askccf.org ext. 118 Children's Hospital of The King's Daughters Lisa Meares, M.Ed. Education Support Navigator lmeares@askccf.org ext. 122 Inova Schar Cancer Institute Vanessa Wagener, M.Ed. Bilingual Education Support Navigator vwagener@askccf.org ext. 132 Inova Schar Cancer Institute Natalie Duncan, MAT Education Support Navigator nduncan@askccf.org ext. 123 UVA Health Children's Susan Newell ASK First STEP Preschool Teacher snewell@askccf.org Tammy Long Fredericksburg Community Coordinator tlong@askccf.org ext. 126 Beanie Mackenzie Richmond Tutor bmackenzie@askccf.org Sue Brooks Fredericksburg Tutor sbrooks@askccf.org Jane Gordon Richmond Tutor Development & Marketing Team Hanna Gardner Associate Director of Marketing hgardner@askccf.org ext. 125 Kelsey Olszewski Associate Director of Development kolszewski@askccf.org ext. 105 Candra Parker, MBA, CFRE, GPC Grants Manager cparker@askccf.org ext. 128 Destiny Lee Marketing Content Manager dlee@askccf.org ext. 111 Jessica Sop Senior Special Events Coordinator jsop@askccf.org ext. 129 Claire Baugh Marketing Content Coordinator cbaugh@askccf.org ext. 124 Bonnie Carroll Development Data Coordinator bcarroll@askccf.org ext. 116 Emma Heinze Development and Events Coordinator eheinze@askccf.org Administration Bailey Harlow Advocacy Coordinator bharlow@askccf.org Jasmine Patron Staff Accountant jpatron@askccf.org Amy L. Williams HR Manager awilliams@askccf.org ext. 120 ASK Board of Directors Meg Garner President VPM Media Corp. Kim Keno Vice President Capital One Jeff McMahan Secretary & Parliamentarian Midtown GC, PLLC John Pfisterer Treasurer SuperNet, Inc. Mike Davi EmJayDee, LLC Makisa George Berkshire Hathaway Fred Hagerman Langley Federal Credit Union Kate Keefer Pfizer Greg Neel First Citizens Bank Darry Newbill Deloitte Kesha Oates Anthem Talon Rice Kaiban Consulting Rob Stinnett Terumo Aortic Connis Tennessee Community Volunteer Steve McCoy Patient First Pro Bono General Counsel Join the Team As we aim to grow our impact, we also need to grow our team. Click below to learn about our open positions! Learn More

For 13-year-old Orlando, a perfect day includes building LEGO sets, watching his favorite action movies, or walking his dog, Houdini. But no matter where his day takes him, Orlando’s big heart and willingness to help others always shine through. In school, Orlando was always on the move, often playing multiple sports in a single season. When he wasn’t running up and down the basketball court, he was diving into the pool for swim practice. He loved the energy and excitement of basketball, while swimming offered him a chance to relax in the calming water. After basketball practice one Sunday afternoon, Orlando came home complaining of a headache. His family assumed it was dehydration from the July heat, but over the next two weeks, his symptoms worsened. After a trip to the emergency room, a CT scan showed diffuse midline glioma (DMG), a rare brain tumor in the middle of the brain. As treatment became part of everyday life, Orlando faced new challenges trying to stay connected to school and his classmates. That's when ASK's Education Support Navigator, Lisa Meares, stepped in to help him stay connected to his education. In fifth grade, he shared with Lisa that many classmates didn’t know about his diagnosis. With the family’s support, Lisa visited his classroom to help his peers understand his experience and how to be supportive friends during treatment. During the lesson, Orlando sat right where he was most comfortable—with his peers. But he never shied away from sharing about his own experience and how he was feeling. When Orlando transitioned to middle school the following year, Lisa was there again, helping his new classmates understand his diagnosis and supporting him as he entered sixth grade. Behind the scenes, Lisa also helped Orlando’s family. Between doctor’s appointments, treatment, school forms, and deadlines, his mom, Veronica, found herself juggling more than she ever expected. Lisa eased that burden by coordinating Orlando’s 504 plan, classroom accommodations, and homebound instruction, helping ensure nothing fell through the cracks. “All I do is send [the school forms] to her, and she really stays on top of everything,” Veronica shared. “She’ll remind me [about] homebound renewal is coming up...and will check with the school if [she doesn’t] hear from them...She really takes that off my back, and that is great.” ​ Three years after his diagnosis, much about Orlando’s life has changed, but who he is inside remains the same. “He has a very good heart. He loves to help others,” Veronica shared with pride. “He’s always doing anything that he can do that will help others.” Despite his diagnosis, Orlando continued finding ways to help others. During a clinical trial, he agreed to additional blood draws that could help researchers learn more and potentially help other children facing cancer. “If it is to help others, I’m good for it,” he says.

When Michaela reflects on her journey with childhood cancer, she doesn’t just see a past medical diagnosis—she sees her superpower. Diagnosed with a nephroblastoma (a tumor in her left kidney) in late 2007 when she was just 18 months old, Michaela underwent surgery to remove her kidney followed by six months of chemotherapy. In June 2008, she rang the bell, marking the completion of active treatment. While she was too young to remember ringing that bell, her journey with ASK Childhood Cancer Foundation was only just beginning. Growing up as an "ASK Kid," Michaela found a second home through ASK's summer camps, holiday events, and education support programs. Whether it was eating s'mores late at night at camp, laughing with staff members like Miss Alma and Miss Jane, or receiving support in school through education plans, ASK was always by her side. "It’s a home away from home," Michaela shares. "I’m so proud to be an ASK Kid and to have graduated out of the program in a sense, because it’s such a beautiful organization. I’ll forever talk about ASK." Today, Michaela is a thriving junior at North Carolina A&T State University, majoring in Biology with ambitious plans for the future. She aspires to attend dental school to become an orthodontist, with a passion for opening a practice that serves all patients, including children in underserved communities and those with special needs. Driven by her personal experience and love for her family, she has also conducted undergraduate research at UNC Chapel Hill on cell cycle dynamics, focusing her academic passion on cancer and cardiovascular disease research. As a young adult survivor, Michaela’s journey hasn’t been without its challenges. She has navigated the late effects of treatment, learned to advocate for herself in fast-paced college courses by utilizing academic accommodations, and overcome deep personal loss, including the passing of her father when she was 15. Yet, through every obstacle, Michaela remains remarkably optimistic, grounded in her faith, and determined to give back. Now coming full circle, Michaela returns to volunteer at ASK events and summer programs. She hopes to inspire the next generation of ASK Kids currently in treatment, serving as a bright reminder of what the future holds. "I remember being in their shoes and looking up to people who had survived," Michaela says. "Volunteering gives a whole new sense of hope because they get to see people who overcame what they’re going through." When she’s not studying, researching, or volunteering, Michaela loves traveling, trying new foods, shopping, and spending quality time with her family and friends. Michaela’s resilience, big heart, and determination remind us why we do what we do at ASK. We could not be prouder of the brilliant, caring leader she has become!

Eight-year-old Brynlee loves nothing more than playing outside, cruising around in toy cars with her sister, squeezing her favorite squishy fidgets, and adding to her ever-growing Play-Doh collection. "We seem to come home with [a new tub of Play-Doh] every time we go somewhere," Brynlee’s mom, Katie, laughs. Described by her family as strong, courageous, resilient, loving, caring, and delightfully sassy, Brynlee is as creative as she is spirited. She rarely misses a chance to play alongside her sister or jump headfirst into her next big adventure. But in June 2025, Brynlee came down with what seemed like a typical childhood illness. When her symptoms lingered for nearly two weeks without getting better, her parents, Katie and David, grew concerned. After several visits and basic tests, they decided to take her to the emergency room, hoping to get answers. At the time, Katie and David thought they might learn Brynlee had something like mono. Instead, that visit ultimately led to Brynlee’s diagnosis with pineoblastoma, a rare brain tumor. In a single day, Brynlee and her family were thrust into a new reality of treatments, hospital visits, and uncertainty. But they weren't walking this path alone. ASK Education Support Navigator Amy Fender stepped in right away to help guide the way. She took the time to truly get to know the family, ensuring they had immediate access to vital resources when they needed them most. “ASK is one of the only organizations we’ve seen that really stepped up to help financially with the bills parents have,” David shares. Beyond financial assistance, Amy provided direct educational support to help ease Brynlee’s transition at school. She led an in-service classroom presentation for Brynlee and her classmates, helping her peers understand what Brynlee was going through and why she would be missing class during treatment. The presentation surrounded Brynlee with empathy, understanding, and encouragement from her friends and teachers. As Amy got to know Brynlee and her family, her support extended far beyond clinic walls and the classroom. When an opportunity arose for the family to attend a special Virginia Tech basketball game, Amy immediately jumped in and helped connect them with the experience. For ASK Dad David, a Virginia Tech alumnus, the trip offered a priceless moment of connection and joy. "It was really cool to be able to take my kids back to Tech, show them around, and experience that together," he says. After months of bravery and treatment, Brynlee recently finished chemotherapy and radiation. Now, her resilient spirit is in full swing as she gets back to doing what she does best—playing outside and being a kid. Whether she's adding another creation to her ever-growing Play-Doh collection, squeezing one of her favorite fidget toys, or climbing every piece of equipment at the playground, she's embracing every moment. Reflecting on their journey, Katie and David are deeply grateful for the community that rallied around them. "You never think you'll be in that position until you are," David says. "It's meant a lot for us to see people give back."