Eight-year-old Grace Chen of Sunnyvale wanted to use her golf skills for good, so she started a sponsorship program to support childhood leukemia. Grace asked relatives, friends, and neighbors to pledge a few dollars for every birdie she scored in competition. Luckily for Packard Children’s Hospital, Grace is a great shot.
Last year, Grace played in two world junior golf championships and numerous regional and local tournaments, scoring birdies along the way. The Ping and Amy Chao Family Foundation also matched every donation she received. By year end, Grace had raised $3,000 to support research and care for children suffering from Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (ALL).
Leukemia is the most common childhood cancer, affecting more than 3,500 children in the U.S. each year. Grace directed her gift to support the work of Packard pediatric oncologist Gary Dahl, MD, whose cutting-edge research includes leading clinical trials for new drugs and therapies.
Supporters like Grace are an important part of the Packard story. Her efforts help to advance our programs, and also spread the word throughout the community about the specialized care we provide. If you have an idea for raising money like Grace, we would love to help. Learn how you can host your own third-party fundraiser, or contact us to get started.