Giant Food hosts kick-off of pediatric cancer fundraising campaign

For the first time since 2019, Giant Food hosted its annual pediatric cancer fundraising kick-off in-person August 1, at Giant Food headquarters in Landover, MD. Store managers, 2023 Campaign Ambassadors, oncology researchers and leaders from Johns Hopkins Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center and CCF came together to support this important campaign.

Each year, CCF is invited to identify a local cancer fighter to help act as the “face” of the campaign. This year, CCF was honored to have Ambassador Cameron Corno and her family accept the invitation. Parents Stewi and Andrew shared the family’s harrowing journey. Cameron serves this year along with Johns Hopkins Ambassadors J.J. Nixon and Kate Rimel.

CCF was joined by CCF Board Secretary Terry McGowan, Vice Chair Lindley Bucci and Board member John Carver. John’s daughter, Juliana Carver, served as CCF’s Giant Food Ambassador in 2015 during her years-long battle with cancer. It is for heroes like Juliana that we all do our part to ensure the success of this campaign.

A portion of donations raised during the campaign directly funds the Giant Food CCF NextGen Award. Created in 2013, the grant is intended to assist young investigators with both their research and career advancement in Pediatric Oncology. The 2020 NextGen Awardee, R. Taylor Sundby, M.D., from the National Cancer Institute, shared how the NextGen Award impacted his research.

Starting Friday, August 11, Giant Food will launch its 19th annual Pediatric Cancer Campaign fundraising program, aiming to raise $2M. This campaign will run for eight weeks, including September’s Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. Since the program’s inception in 2005, Giant Food has raised over $31 million for pediatric cancer research. Last year, shoppers’ generosity contributed to raising $2.2M.

During the campaign, Giant customers can participate by purchasing a $5 coupon book at their local store. Aside from the book’s $100 value of coupons, the book highlights the amazing young Ambassadors’ stories.

Both in-store and online shoppers using Giant Delivers and Pickup can make a $1, $3, or $5 donation at checkout. Additionally, in-store shoppers may also choose to round up their checkout total. Individual Giant stores looking to increase donations are also holding raffles and hosting other activities.

100% of the proceeds raised from the Giant Food Pediatric Cancer Campaign support Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center and The Children’s Cancer Foundation, Inc. (CCF).

CCF is grateful to Board member Terry McGowan, Director of Food Safety and Quality Assurance at Giant Food, Felis Andrade, Director of External Communications Community Relations, Ira Kress, President, Giant Food Eastern Division and the entire Giant Food team for their loyal and generous support.