Caught Caring: Joan Cusack, Cookies for Kids' Cancer and Glad

Pediatric cancer is the leading cause of death by disease for children under the age of 18, killing more kids than asthma, diabetes, cystic fibrosis and AIDS combined. Each day, 36 children will be diagnosed. There has not been a new drug developed specifically for pediatric cancer treatment in nearly 20 years, and survival rates for pediatric cancers continue to lag behind most adult cancers.

Ron Smits/London Ent/Splash News Online

The numbers alarm the mom in all of us — including Joan Cusack, herself a mom-of-two. To that end, she has partnered with Cookies for Kids’ Cancer, a national non-profit organization committed to raising funds for pediatric cancer research.

How they go about accomplishing their goal is straightforward, simple, and something you’ve probably already done: They bake!

Organize, plan and promote a bake sale for your office or at a high-traffic location in your neighborhood, and don’t forget to recruit your friends and co-workers! Then register your sale with Cookies for Kids’ Cancer, and when it’s over send your profits to their headquarters in New Jersey.

It’s an easy, grassroots effort having a direct impact on the fight against pediatric cancer and now that impact can be doubled. During the months of November and December, the Glad Products Company will match all funds raised by Cookies for Kids’ Cancer up to $100,000.

What’s more, since sellers rely on Glad products to keep their treats fresh and delicious the company has also agreed to provide a free package of GladWare for each registered bake sale.

Cookies for Kids’ Cancer does a great job of walking you  through a four-step process for ensuring that your sale will be a success, providing tools like a sample press release, a permission to use location letter, and even a donation jar sign. If you’re looking for baking inspiration, peruse their selection of recipes and menu ideas; If you’re hopeless in the kitchen but hopeful that organization can make a difference, you can also make a secure monetary donation by clicking here.

Joan — who will take part in the Cookie Stop bake sale in New York City on Nov. 10 — is mom to Dylan John, 12, and Miles, 9, with husband Dick Burke.

– Missy

Comments

Jessica on October 22nd, 2009

Pediatric cancer is this horrible monster many people try to ignore becuse it’s too painful to think about. It’s wonderful to see people fighting for these children. A huge thank you to the wonderful doc’s that have made this fight their life. We know a wonderful little boy who was taken away from his family at the age of 7 from a malignant brain tumor. We love you and think about you every day!

french gigi on October 22nd, 2009

two thumbs up!!!
as a mom who lost a child to leukemia, any efforts being made to raise money for awareness or research is a blessing.

noam on October 22nd, 2009

i’m happy to see pediatric cancer research is being promoted. really great organizations, like the pediatric brain tumor foundation, are working on a shoestring budget, if that…

one curiousity question though-when the article says cancer is the leading cause of children under 18, do they mean in the united states, or worldwide? i always (perhaps naively) assumed it was hiv/aids.

Cabe's Mama on October 23rd, 2009

Awesome, Awesome, Awesome!!!!!

Thank you, Joan Cusack and Glad, for taking on this cause!!! The pediatric community NEEDS some celebrity power to get more awareness going. I would love to see pediatric cancer get HALF the press that breast cancer gets. This is a great start!!!

Rebecca Wright on October 23rd, 2009

Cancer is the leading cause of death by disease for children 15 and under in the US.

Search the info. It will horrify you, and do know that the most seemingly healthy child can be hit by it, with the cancer often undiscovered until it is stage iv.

I know this because my precious 5-year-old godson has been fighting neuroblastoma for 2.5 years. In December of 2006, he was (we thought) healthy as an ox. Eight weeks later, he was in the PICU.

PLEASE — Don’t turn away from this. We have been fighting hard for some national recognition and sponsorship. It’s now Gladware and Joan Cusack for me all the way!!!!