The Children's Cancer Center is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing children who have cancer or chronic blood disorders and their families with the educational, emotional, and financial assistance necessary to cope with their life-threatening illnesses.
History:
The Children's Cancer Center, Inc. was founded in 1974 after Mac and Cecile Burnett lost their daughter, Helen, to Leukemia. In 1976, Dr. Janifer M. Judisch, one of only three hematology/oncology physicians in the state of Florida, arrived at the University of South Florida (USF) College of Medicine and established the Center for Children with Cancer and Bleeding Disorders.Dr. Judisch and the Burnetts envisioned an organization to help alleviate the stress of coping with a child's life-threatening disease by providing educational, psychosocial and financial support. The philosophy of our original founders is that the entire family is diagnosed, not just the child; therefore, our programs and services are designed to address the needs of all family members affected.
When H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute (Moffitt) opened its doors in 1986, the Children's Cancer Center moved from the University of South Florida Medical Clinics to the pediatric ward at Moffitt. The Center became the support organization for all pediatric hematology/oncology patients and their families.
With the close of the pediatric program at Moffitt in 1995, the Children's Cancer Center's Board of Directors voted to expand its services to all children receiving treatment for cancer or chronic blood disorders in the Tampa Bay area and became a freestanding 501(c)3 support organization.
