Paco Arango is an international film director, producer, and philanthropist, best known for his unwavering dedication to improving the lives of children and adolescents with cancer. He is the founder and president of Fundación Aladina, one of Spain’s most influential pediatric oncology foundations, and a leading voice in integrating compassion, psychosocial care, and dignity into childhood cancer treatment.
For more than twenty-five years, Arango has accompanied young patients through every stage of their cancer journey sharing moments of joy, resilience, and, at times, profound loss. These deeply human experiences shaped not only his philanthropic mission but also his creative work, giving rise to a unique model in which art, advocacy, and oncology intersect.
A Transformative Contribution to Pediatric Oncology
Under Paco Arango’s leadership, Fundación Aladina has funded and implemented major healthcare infrastructure projects, including one of Europe’s most advanced pediatric bone marrow transplant units in Madrid. Beyond infrastructure, the foundation provides comprehensive psychosocial, emotional, and practical support programs across numerous hospitals, ensuring that families receive care that extends beyond medical treatment alone.
The foundation’s impact also reaches beyond Spain. Fundación Aladina has supported pediatric oncology services in conflict-affected regions such as Armenia, Ukraine, Lebanon, and Jordan, addressing urgent needs in settings where childhood cancer care is often severely under-resourced. In recognition of this humanitarian work, Paco Arango and the foundation’s CEO, Ishtar Espejo, received the Yvonne Award for Humanitarian Work in 2025.
In 2023, Fundación Aladina became a member of the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC), marking a significant step in its international engagement and reinforcing its role in global childhood cancer control initiatives.
Cinema as a Tool for Healing and Advocacy
Paco Arango has uniquely combined his career in filmmaking with philanthropy by dedicating several of his films entirely to charitable causes. Productions such as Maktub, Lo Que de Verdad Importa, Los Rodríguez y el Más Allá, and Mi Otro Jon were conceived as 100% charity projects, with all proceeds donated to support children with cancer.
Through cinema, Arango has amplified public awareness of pediatric oncology while channeling creative success directly into tangible support for patients and families. His most recent initiative, Casa Aladina, is envisioned as Europe’s first comprehensive day-support center for children with cancer and their families, extending holistic care beyond the hospital environment and redefining survivorship support.
A Very Personal Book: Faith, Hope, and Lived Experience
In his book, If You Don’t Believe in God, I’ll Give You His Phone Number, Paco Arango presents a deeply personal memoir rooted in faith, hope, and decades of close companionship with pediatric oncology patients. The book recounts real experiences—some joyful, some painful, and others seemingly miraculous that Arango witnessed both inside and outside hospital walls.
For years, he hesitated to share these stories, concerned they might be met with disbelief. Over time, he came to understand that these moments were not meant to be kept private, but rather shared as signs of hope available to anyone willing to open themselves to faith. In the narrative, Arango refers to God as “the Mister,” inviting readers into an intimate, accessible understanding of spirituality grounded in everyday life.
The book brings together authentic testimonies that transcend fiction, encouraging readers to explore the possibility of a personal relationship with God and to recognize the unexpected transformations that can arise from faith.
A Book With a Charitable Mission
In alignment with Paco Arango’s longstanding philanthropic commitment, all proceeds from the book are donated in full to Fundación Aladina. This initiative directly supports the foundation’s ongoing work to improve quality of life for children and adolescents with cancer and to provide comprehensive support for their families.
By linking personal storytelling with concrete action, the book reinforces the idea that lived experience can be a powerful driver of awareness, solidarity, and resource mobilization in pediatric oncology.
Bridging Literature, Advocacy, and Pediatric Oncology
The release of If You Don’t Believe in God, I’ll Give You His Phone Number highlights the growing intersection between literature, advocacy, and healthcare. Personal testimonies such as Arango’s contribute to broader conversations about cancer care that extend beyond clinical outcomes, emphasizing the essential role of emotional, social, and spiritual support throughout treatment pathways.
Through compassion, sustained presence, and innovative fundraising, Paco Arango has built a model of pediatric cancer support centered on dignity, resilience, and hope—demonstrating how storytelling can serve not only as reflection, but as a catalyst for meaningful change in oncology care.
Paco Arango Recognized among The 100 Most Influential People in Oncology in 2025
Availability
The book is now available for purchase through the following direct link:
https://bit.ly/4rp8qks
Readers are encouraged to engage with the work and share their reflections, contributing to ongoing dialogue around compassion-driven approaches in pediatric oncology.
Written by Nare Hovhannisyan, MD