Page 1 - 2019-2020 SWifty Impact Report

“We were inspired
by young Michael’s
courage, toughness
Dear Friend of Swifty, and passion fighting such
a devastating disease and
2020 has been quite a year, hasn’t wanted to participate in
it? If you are looking for some good helping him achieve
news, some encouraging progress, tales his ‘Master Plan’.”
of people working together, then keep Jeannine and Kevin Pfau
reading Swifty’s 2019–2020 Impact Report!

Swifty invested a record 2.2 million dollars in strategic grants in
2019. Amazing, right? A combination of an infrastructure grant, “While I didn’t know Mikey
personally, I know
recurrent medulloblastoma research and Tissue Navigators at many whose lives
our Centers of Excellence make up those investments. Read all were personally
about it on page 6. touched by him.
I like supporting
Heading into our seventh year, the Foundation has matured an organization
in ways we could never have imagined and we realized it that works in
was time to make some leadership changes to support our my community
growth and continue our impact. Page 5 highlights our new so diligently to
impact real change
“leadership look.” in the world.”
We used the time of shelter-in-place to really solidify Gift from Ben Ryan
a Child’s Tissue Navigator role. Zoom meetings (gotta love ‘em!)
are being held every two weeks and the team has really coalesced
over these months of training, new hire onboardings, and database
building. Weill Cornell, our 5th Center of Excellence, has been a “I’ve seen the impact
great addition to the team. The biggest news for Gift from working with Swifty has
a Child is our new partnership with the Children’s Oncology Group. had on friends and
board members,
Together we are working to advance post-mortem tissue collection even impacting
in a big way…more on that on page 3. their career
choices. They
I’m excited for you to read of the huge strides Swifty has made are making
this past year. I often find myself wondering if Michael could ever a difference
have imagined where his “Master Plan”, his best buddies, cousins, in the lives of
sister, brother and our generous donors would take his dream of children with
“letting no other child go through what he did”? Frankly, brain cancer and
I can’t believe the reach that we’ve had, and I know beyond! “
it wasn’t through our efforts alone…we’ve had Linda Cusack
a special young man guiding us at every turn.
Thank you, Mikey!

Thank you, our supporters, for making a
difference for the most vulnerable cancer
patients and the families who love them.

Patti
Michael’s Mom