In the fall of 2019, Nick and Heather Baker's youngest child Barrett ("Bear") was diagnosed with hepatoblastoma, a rare liver cancer. Bear endured over 2 years of chemotherapy and 8 surgeries, including a liver transplant, to help him reach remission. His resiliency is a source of inspiration for the family and their legion of friends.
In 2021, Nick and Heather joined with the Cancer Support Community to establish The Bear Fund to provide navigation resource services and financial assistance so every child can Fight Cancer Like a Bear.
The Need for The Bear Fund
9,550 children in the United States under the age of 15 will be diagnosed with cancer in 2025, and after accidents, cancer is the second leading cause of death in children ages 1 to 14.
The average cost associated with childhood cancer is $833,000 for one child and one diagnosis (The Economic Impact of Childhood Cancer)
25% of families lose more than 40% of their annual household income as a result of childhood cancer non-treatment expenses (lost hours of work, job, additional childcare). (2024 ACS Facts and Figures Report.)
Parents report worsening of their own health 6 to 18 months following their child’s diagnosis. (2024 Coalition Against Childhood Cancer)
Other Ways to Show Your Support
Run, bike, climb, walk, BBQ, or host a special event for a fantastic cause. Reach out, and we can help you or your company set up a giving page to support the amazing work of The Bear Fund.
Boldyn chose their company holiday party to launch a giving campaign to celebrate the work of the Bear Fund and to offer employees the chance to donate individually along with their corporate match. The campaign raised over $20,000 for the Fund over the course of one month.
Thank you to Tim.
Tim chose The Bear Fund as the recipient for his fundraiser to run the Livermore Valley Half Marathon. He raised over $8,000, which will directly impact pediatric patients and their families.
"If you grew up with any source of privilege in your life or are simply looking to give back, I’d encourage you to find ways to help folks in your community in any way, shape, or form. Not only will it help a ton of people in desperate need, it will also fill you with a sense of purpose and gratitude that’s fulfilling and infectious, fueling similar initiatives across your circle."
– Tim
The Impact of The Bear Fund
1000+ Families Supported
Over 1,000 children & families have received grants, including 402 Hispanic and Latino families.
$1.2 Million Raised
Since the program began, The Bear Fund has raised more than $1.2 million to support pediatric cancer patients and their families directly.
100% Acceptance
Certified applications have a 100% acceptance rate, and funds processed within 48 hours.
Grants for Special Circumstances
The Bear Fund also awards grants for families facing special circumstances related to their child’s cancer care that typically have higher costs. Since the start of The Bear Fund, we've awarded over $56,000 to families to help ease the financial burden of special circumstances.
Here are a few ways families have applied their grant awards:
Extended lodging for treatment
Travel to distant treatment centers
Mortgage payments to keep a family from losing their home during treatment
Room decorations for a child entering hospice care
Funeral expenses
Share a Message of Thanks
Has your family received support through The Bear Fund grant? We’d love to hear how it helped you. Stories like yours can help us keep the fund going.
I wanted to thank you so very much from the bottom of my heart for this gift card! It’s going to be so helpful for my daughters and I to purchase groceries and other things that they are in need of. Your generosity truly made my week! Thank you so much!
A thankful parent
I wanted to take a moment to thank The Bear Fund. Thank you for being there for this family in our time of need. Things are really hard right now, I'm not able to work right now because of the care my son needs plus all the hospital visits and just my family as a whole. You all stepped in and made sure our rent and utilities were paid and we appreciate it so very much!
A grateful family
Carla is a 17-year-old cancer patient who was admitted to the hospital last fall due to a relapse of her leukemia, necessitating a bone marrow transplant (BMT).
Carla and her family (mother, father and 10-year old sibling) relocated to Los Angeles for Carla to receive the BMT. Carla faced multiple complications from the treatment, making it impossible for her mother to work. Her mother spent time between Carla's bedside and caring for Carla's sibling while Carla's father took odd jobs.
Through support from The Bear Fund, CSC was able to help them put food on the table, buy a meal from our cafeteria, and meet other basic needs.
A social worker at Children's Hospital Los Angeles
I want to personally thank the Bear Fund for the very generous gift. We live over 150 miles away from CHLA so it will definitely help with lodging and expenses. Thank you so much.
A thankful family
Voices of The Bear Fund
Duration: 4 min
Help Kids Like Emma
Emma was 13 when she was diagnosed with a brain tumor. She traveled 100 miles roundtrip from her home in Ohio for 30 treatment visits at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center. The Bear Fund helped Emma’s family afford gas so she could get…
Support The Bear Fund
Your support makes it possible to provide pediatric services for children like Emma and for other families across the country.
