Community Impact · Charity in Bloom

NNCCF: Our First Charity in Bloom Partner

Our very first Charity in Bloom partnership wrapped up at the end of September, and thanks to the generosity of our community, we raised $1,125 for the Northern Nevada Children’s Cancer Foundation. With a matching grant from the William N. Pennington Foundation, that impact is doubled, turning flowers into real, tangible support for families facing childhood cancer in Northern Nevada.

But the number is only the beginning. When Tony and I visited the Foundation, we walked in expecting to learn. We weren’t prepared for how deeply we would feel it.

Their walls tell you everything you need to know. Photos of children who have been part of their programs. Faces full of joy, strength, and hope. A dedicated wall honoring scholarship recipients, kids and young adults who have fought harder than most people ever will and are now chasing their dreams. Displays recognizing donors, community partners, fundraisers, and even legislators who advocate for these families. Every inch of space speaks to courage, love, and an entire community standing behind these kids.

           

      The Foundation makes it a point to let every sibling know they matter, that they’re part of this journey, and they are not forgotten. It’s a quiet but powerful message: you’re loved, too, and you deserve comfort through this, just as much as your brother or sister.       

      Then there are the handmade blankets donated by people in our community. These blankets are given to newly diagnosed patients: something soft, warm, and personal to hold onto during long hospital stays instead of the thin, sterile blankets from the hospital. It’s a hug from someone they might never meet but who cares enough to try to make their days just a little easier.   

   

      During our visit, the NNCCF team was also preparing for their 2nd Annual Gold Ribbon Gala, a completely sold-out event. Seeing the auction items being organized, every single one donated by community members and businesses,  reminded us just how much Northern Nevada shows up. We’re a small region with a big heart. And honestly, it made me think: if this is what we can do together in just one moment, imagine what more we could do. (But that’s a conversation for another day.)    

NNCCF’s mission is clear, heartfelt, and deeply lived out:

Mission:

To enhance the quality of life for children with cancer and their families by providing financial assistance and compassionate support programs, all while advocating for increased research funds and raising public awareness.

Their Goals:

• Alleviate the financial burden and emotional strain that comes with childhood cancer.
• Enhance and expand public awareness of childhood cancer.
• Promote research to find a cure.
• Be proactive in assisting families throughout the treatment journey by connecting them with local, regional, and national resources.   

      You don’t have to look far to see these principles in action. Every staff member we met embodied that mission: empathetic, quick to support, and dedicated to making families feel seen, heard, and held. Their response team is exactly what you’d hope for in a moment of crisis: fast, capable, and compassionate. It’s clear why so many families trust them.       

       NNCCF helps any child or young adult aged 0–25 in Northern Nevada with a confirmed cancer diagnosis. Their support is immediate, meaningful, and truly life-changing.       

      If you know a family impacted by childhood cancer, please share this resource with them:
https://www.nvchildrenscancer.org/how-we-help/family-assistance-fund/    

      You could be opening the door to help they didn’t know existed.