Newsletters

2025 Named Scholarship Cohort

The Named Scholarship Reception is one of our favorite nights of the year. Scholarship donors meet the scholars whose lives they’ve changed and hear about the extraordinary things they are achieving thanks to their financial support. The scholars have the opportunity to articulate their gratitude to their specific donors and share how much being a Valerie Fund kid has meant in their lives. Their stories of courage and determination inspire and literally bring the room to tears.

On International Childhood Cancer Day, and we can't think of a better way to raise awareness than sharing this beautiful story from Valerie Fund patient and scholarship recipient Gillian. At the scholarship reception, Gillian shared, “Cancer gave me a deeper perspective on how to appreciate the world around me. I see my friends lose their limbs and their lives to the same disease I survived. While I grieve for them, they have taught me to love each moment that I walk on this earth.”

The Valerie Fund was able to minimize the isolation Gillian felt while undergoing cancer treatment, providing her with a VIGO robot that allowed her to attend school virtually, move around the school, and even eat lunch with her friends.

Her cancer journey has forever impacted Gillian's life, but she has been able to face each day with joy and love.

Patient stories are ones of perseverance, determination, and the value of the community support they’ve received through their Valerie Fund Children’s Center. In 2024, The Valerie Fund awarded $624,000 in scholarships to 128 Valerie Fund patients, with 43 Named Scholarships. The commitment of the donors to the Named Scholarship program has a profound impact on patients’ lives. The Valerie Fund is so proud to be able to support this group of scholars and help them achieve their dreams.