About The Foundation

BACKGROUND

On July 26, 2006, The Bryce Michael Anderson Memorial Foundation (hereafter "The Bryce Foundation") was incorporated as a Virginia nonprofit and nonstock corporation. The Foundation is organized and operated in accordance with the rules and regulations governing tax-exempt organizations described in section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. On August 22, 2007, the IRS formally recognized The Bryce Foundation as being exempt from Federal income tax under section 501(c)(3).  Contributions to the Foundation are deductible under section 170 of the Code.

MISSION

The mission of The Bryce Foundation is to provide assistance to research efforts on behalf of children suffering from cancer and support for their families.

• We support research efforts aimed at the prevention, early detection and treatment of cancers.
• We support parental education, advocacy, and financial assistance.

The creation of a non-profit charitable foundation allows us to provide direct programs to assist children with cancer and their families and work with worthy charities to accomplish our mission.

PROGRAMS:                                                                                                                                                                           

HEALTHY MEALS

Ensuring proper nutrition during cancer battles is very important for patients and their families.  We also know from experience how stale hospital food can taste after just a few days.  In September 2007, The Bryce Foundation initiated its Healthy Meals Program at Georgetown University Hospital.  Since then, we have provided $1,000 worth of Whole Foods gift cards each quarter to pediatric oncology patients and their families.  We have received many wonderful thank you notes from families affirming how much they value the Healthy Meals Program.  

The Whole Foods Market in Georgetown is under one mile from the Hospital.  With lengthy hospitalization stays, it is nice, when able, for parents to get out for some fresh air while they walk (or drive) to the Whole Foods to get some healthy food for themselves (and their child when eligible and able).

The Healthy Meals cards are delivered to inpatient families at the discretion of the staff social worker.  The cards come with a personalized note from the Bryce Foundation.  This program provides a nice way to show families the love and the support of the community from whom they are separated during long hospital stays.

Special thanks goes to Dr. Aziza Shad and Mary Lane, MSW, at Georgetown for their help to set up and administer this worthwhile program.

Here's What the Parents are saying about the Healthy Meal Program:

"We thank you so much for your generous contributions.  Whole Foods is a fabulous place, and healthy eating is important to us.  We also appreciate your prayers....  May God bless you and the work you do for others in need - we will keep your efforts in our prayers."

Letter from a Parent at Georgetown University Hospital, May 2008

"Thank you so much for the $50 Whole Food gift card you gave us.  Our daughter was recently diagnosed with leukemia.  The gift card was a great blessing."

Letter from a Parent at Georgetown University Hospital, April 2008

"I am the mother of a two-year old suffering from ALL Leukemia.  Thank you so much for your food gift card and the understanding you have shown during this difficult time."

Letter from a Parent at Georgetown University Hospital, March 2008

"I wanted to say thank you so much for the Whole Foods card.... [Our son] was hospitalized for over a week and when we got out, we were able to finally get some real good and healthy food in us."

Letter from Parent at Georgetown University Hospital, January 2008

THE EXTRA MILE NURSING AWARD

The Bryce Foundation recognizes the importance of superior nursing care for pediatric oncology patients.  In 2008, The Bryce Foundation initiated "The Extra Mile" pediatric oncology nursing award at Johns Hopkins University Hospital (JHUH).  This annual award is intended to recognize and inspire excellence in pediatric oncology nursing.  Patient and parent nominations are carefully evaluated and selected by professional pediatric oncology staff at JHUH. On an annual basis, The Bryce Foundation provides a $1,000 award to each of four pediatric oncology nurses selected for their excellence in compassionate care.

Congratulations to this year's winners of the "Extra Mile" Nursing Awards!  The winners are:

Hetal Patel

Katie Griffin

Rebecca Perry

Susan Harbold

On Thursday, May 8, 2008, at a luncheon in honor of National Nurses Week at JHUH, James and Emily Anderson, parents of Bryce and board members of the Foundation, presented awards of $1,000 to each of the nurses mentioned above. They also had the opportunity to share some of Bryce's story and their experiences as parents during their son's treatment course in the hospital.

The nurses were nominated by family members of pediatric cancer patients being treated at JHUH, and selected by the JHUH Berman Institute of Bioethics.

Special thanks goes to Lisa Fratino, Nurse Manager, Pediatric Oncology, JHUH, and Stephanie Davis, MSW at JHUH, both of whom helped implement this award program at the Hospital.

What Nurses are saying about the "Extra Mile"

Nursing Award which recognizes excellence in pediatric oncology:

"I cannot begin to express to you how special it was to receive the excellence in nursing award from 'Brycey's foundation.'  It is truly an honor and I am grateful to you both for all the time and effort you put into creating this award.  I believe that it is a testament of God's love and grace in your lives that you have been able to turn your painful past experiences into future hope for others.  Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your generosity, vision and courage.  I am excited to see all the wonderful things that will come from the BRYCE Foundation.  Thank you again!"

Letter from a nursing award recepient at Johns Hopkins University Hospital. May 2008

(This nurse called Bryce one of his nicknames, "Brycey."  Genuine doting on children with cancer is like soothing music to parents' ears.)

"Thank you so much for your generosity to Pediatric Oncology Nursing through the Bryce Foundation.  I am honored to be a recipient of the "Go the Extra Mile" award.  The Bryce Foundation is such a wonderful way to celebrate the life of Bryce while supporting Pediatric Oncology, as well as the patients and families affected.  As a nurse, I feel truly blessed to have the opportunity to work with amazing patients and dedicated families such as yourself."

Letter from a nursing award recipient at Johns Hopkins University Hospital, May 2008

"Just wanted to thank you once again for ... the "Extra Mile Award' for nursing excellence.  It is such a wonderful tribute to the memory of Bryce and hopefully will inspire Pediatric Oncology nurses to continue to go "that extra mile" for years to come.  I was deeply honored to be one of the first recipients of this award.  I wish the best for... the Bryce Foundation...."

Letter from a nursing award recipient at Johns Hopkins University Hospital, May 2008

Future Plans

 The Bryce Foundation will continue its policy of measured growth.  As financial circumstances permit, our plan is to expand our existing Healthy Meals and Nursing Award programs.  We are confident that we can replicate our successful programs at Georgetown University Hospital and Johns Hopkins University Hospital to additional local area hospitals.

Consistent with our mission, we also plan to explore other creative programs to assist pediatric cancer patients and their families.