About Candlelighters
Cancer is a disease that can affect anyone no matter how young. Families with children diagnosed with cancer often feel overwhelmed and don’t know where to turn. Candlelighters Childhood Cancer Foundation of Nevada is a non-profit organization that makes sure that no child or family has to fight this disease alone.
History
Chartered in 1978, Candelighters was founded by two families, each of whom had a child being treated for cancer. They believed that families could find strength, knowledge and comfort by banding together during difficult times. They wanted to use their experience and resources to lessen the burden of families they knew would follow. Since that time, Candlelighters has assisted over 2,000 families.
Who We Serve
- Children with cancer
- Survivors of childhood cancer
- Parents of children who are being or have been treated for cancer
- Bereaved families
- Immediate and extended family members
- Health care professionals
- Educators
Recognizing the various needs of individuals and families, we offer our support and services to every family, without regard to economics, race, religion, choice of physician(s) or health care facilities. Our clients are birth to 21 years of age.
Childhood Cancer Facts
- Each school day, 46 children are diagnosed with cancer.
- One in 330 children will develop cancer by age 20.
- Each year in the U.S. over 12,600 children are diagnosed with cancer.
- Although the 5 year survival rate is steadily increasing, one quarter of children diagnosed with cancer will die 5 years from the time of diagnosis.
- Cancer remains the number one disease killer of America's children - more than Cystic Fibrosis, Muscular Dystrophy, Asthma and AIDS combined.
- 80% of children have metastatic disease at time of diagnosis as compared to only 20% of adults.
- There are currently more than 270,000 childhood cancer survivors in the U.S.
- Late effects of childhood cancer treatment are common in survivors, and approximately one-third are moderate to severe.
Our Staff
- Melissa Cipriano – Executive Director
- Sue Collins Waltermeyer** - Child Life Specialist
- Danielle Munao – Lead Family Services Coordinator
- Jacki York – Family Services Coordinator
- Lisa Czarny – Development/Volunteer Coordinator
- Carrie Anne Lewis*** - Special Events Coordinator
- Christine Tonn – Accountant
Our Board Of Directors
- Rick McGough - President
- Lisa Santwer - 1st VP
- Catherine Laska - 2nd VP**
- Gail Boyle - Treasurer
- Chris Jensvold - Secretary
- Chris Campbell - Trustee
- Melody Duhe' - Trustee
- Scott Gragson - Trustee†
- Paul Hamilton - Trustee
- Vincent Schettler - (Past President)Trustee†
- Phil Misura***
- Brian Esposito***
- Monica Hall
Our Advisory Board
- Kendall Tenney
- Mike Nay*
- Mark Grenier
* Childhood Cancer Survivor
** Parent of Childhood Cancer Survivor
*** Relative of a loved one affected by cancer
† Cancer Survivor