A gift from one of America’s top toymakers is bolstering City of Hope’s compassionate care for a most vulnerable group of patients — children with cancer.
The Bandai Foundation Pediatric Cancer Fund, established through a significant grant from the Bandai Foundation, fortifies a host of programs that support pediatric patients before, during and after their treatment.
 Wendy Landier meets with Chris Brown as part of services in the Childhood Cancer Survivorship Program. (Photo by Alicia Di Rado) |
“Since 1995, the Bandai Foundation has been dedicated to enhancing the lives of children and their families,” said Colleen Sherfey, senior director of marketing at Bandai America. “As a proud contributor to City of Hope, we help children thrive. Helping kids play is what we do best.”
Headquartered in Cypress, Calif., Bandai America has a long record of success bringing hit Japanese toy franchises and trends to the United States. It is a part of the world’s third-largest entertainment company, Namco Bandai. The toy company has popularized such brands as Power Rangers, Ben 10, Dragonball Z and Tamagotchi. The Bandai Foundation gives to programs across the nation that support the health and welfare of children in need and that provide imaginative play.
Bandai’s gift will help fund City of Hope’s Cancer Survivorship Clinic, which offers annual comprehensive exams with follow-up care to survivors of childhood cancer, allowing physicians to anticipate and quickly treat potential long-term complications of cancer treatment.
The fund also will benefit several supportive-care programs for pediatric patients. These programs address the psychological, social and spiritual needs of children in treatment.
For instance, child-life specialists guide young patients who need to understand and cope with the disease they or their parents face, while music and art therapy help alleviate anxiety and pain. School reintegration specialists ensure that patients stay up with coursework while in treatment and can seamlessly return to school afterward. And aid for transportation helps families take their children to critical medical appointments.
