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Dean Crowe: Philanthropy alone cannot shoulder the weight of childhood cancer research

Dean Crowe/LinkedIn

Feb 8, 2025, 16:35

Dean Crowe: Philanthropy alone cannot shoulder the weight of childhood cancer research

Dean Crowe, Founder and CEO at the Rally Foundation for Childhood Cancer Research, posted on LinkedIn:

“So this happened and I was almost yelling, ‘No! That’s not true!’

Last week my Congressman, Richard McCormick, during an interview with Pamela Brown on CNN said that childhood cancer research can withstand a pause in federal funding because it is funded mostly by private philanthropy. That’s just not true.

As the founder and CEO of the Rally Foundation for Childhood Cancer Research for the past 20 years, I am deeply immersed in this work and, frankly, his statement misses the mark.

Yes, philanthropy plays a crucial role in advancing childhood cancer research. But make no mistake: philanthropy alone cannot shoulder the weight of this fight. To make real progress against the leading disease killer of children in America, we need strong and sustained federal investment.

Over the past two decades, Rally Foundation has granted more than $35 million in dual peer-reviewed research funding, with half of those projects advancing to federal funding. But our impact doesn’t stop there.

Rally has also spearheaded advocacy efforts in Washington, D.C., helping secure over $223 million in federal funds for cancers that affect children, adolescents and young adults through the United States Department of Defense Department of Defense Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs in addition to the National Cancer Institute (NCI) budget for pediatric cancer research of $250 million.

While private philanthropy ignites innovation, federal funding is what sustains it and moves the needle.

Congressman McCormick, I would welcome the opportunity to speak with you about how we can work together to ensure that childhood cancer research receives the robust federal commitment it deserves. Only through partnership and investment can we change the future for kids fighting this devastating disease.”