The Story of Kier's Kidz
Kier’s Kidz is a 501(c)(3) NJ nonprofit whose primary mission is to help children
and young adults with cancer
and young adults with cancer
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The Story of Kier's Kidz
Kiersten Hickman-Perfetti lost her life at age twenty-two to alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma, a rare form of pediatric cancer. While fighting her own cancer for three-and-a-half years, Kier helped younger children and adolescents who were being treated for cancer in The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia as much as she could. Kier would spend time talking to, playing with and encouraging younger children and adolescents. Helping these children became a major focus of the last years of Kier's life. A year before she died, Kier came up with the idea of Kier's Kidz and set into motion with the help of her parents the development of this NJ nonprofit.
Kier's Kidz then is the legacy of love and hope that Kier left for children, adolescents and young adults with cancer, a legacy that she asked all of us to carry on for her after she died.
For several years after Kier died, Kier's Kidz raised money for other nonprofits that helped children with cancer. In 2012 Kier's Kidz became a 501(c)(3) federal-designated NJ nonprofit, and since then we have been able to directly fund children, adolescents and young adults and their families.
Kier's Kidz then is the legacy of love and hope that Kier left for children, adolescents and young adults with cancer, a legacy that she asked all of us to carry on for her after she died.
For several years after Kier died, Kier's Kidz raised money for other nonprofits that helped children with cancer. In 2012 Kier's Kidz became a 501(c)(3) federal-designated NJ nonprofit, and since then we have been able to directly fund children, adolescents and young adults and their families.
Our Mission
Our primary missions since 2012 have been to help children, adolescents and young adults with cancer, to fund cancer treatment and research, and to provide different types of support to cancer patients from infancy to age 29.
We help by offering financial support for living expenses in cases of verified need. Typically, we help pay expenses up to $500. We can also identify other national and NJ nonprofits and other resources that may be supportive.
We help fund the DNA sequencing of a child's or adolescent’s cancer at the Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey. This sequencing takes place at the onset of treatment so that the best-known treatment options for a particular child and that child's cancer are utilized. This approach to pediatric cancer treatment is called the Precision Medicine Approach. Because this treatment method is specific to the patient, we hope and expect that the child or adolescent will experience better outcomes and have fewer short- and long-term treatment side effects.
We have recently begun to fund the research of the Childhood Cancer Therapy Development Institute. That nonprofit focuses on finding more effective treatments and cures for rare pediatric cancers, such as rhabdomyosarcoma which took Kiersten’s life. We also intend to help with aspects of that research under the supervision of Dr. Charles Keller, the founder and chair of CCTDI.
Kier's Kidz plans to continue to help children, adolescent and young adults with cancer by raising money through its end-of-the-year donor campaign and through a myriad of other events and activities. If you want to help us with our events, or you have an idea for an event, please email us at kierskidz@me.com. We would love to hear from you.
We help by offering financial support for living expenses in cases of verified need. Typically, we help pay expenses up to $500. We can also identify other national and NJ nonprofits and other resources that may be supportive.
We help fund the DNA sequencing of a child's or adolescent’s cancer at the Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey. This sequencing takes place at the onset of treatment so that the best-known treatment options for a particular child and that child's cancer are utilized. This approach to pediatric cancer treatment is called the Precision Medicine Approach. Because this treatment method is specific to the patient, we hope and expect that the child or adolescent will experience better outcomes and have fewer short- and long-term treatment side effects.
We have recently begun to fund the research of the Childhood Cancer Therapy Development Institute. That nonprofit focuses on finding more effective treatments and cures for rare pediatric cancers, such as rhabdomyosarcoma which took Kiersten’s life. We also intend to help with aspects of that research under the supervision of Dr. Charles Keller, the founder and chair of CCTDI.
Kier's Kidz plans to continue to help children, adolescent and young adults with cancer by raising money through its end-of-the-year donor campaign and through a myriad of other events and activities. If you want to help us with our events, or you have an idea for an event, please email us at kierskidz@me.com. We would love to hear from you.
OUr Song
Every cool community has its own song. That’s part of what makes it cool. So, we thought we’d write a song to celebrate the intention of every Kier’s Kid, young and old. And here it is:
The Kier's Kidz Song
© Larry Perfetti
2008
There’s something special about everyone,
And there’s something special about having fun;
There’s something special about helping out,
So, we’re gonna have fun, help out and shout:
We’re Kier’s Kidz, sing it loud;
We’re Kier’s Kidz and we’re proud;
We’re Kier’s Kidz and we’ll always be:
So, if you need some help, just call on me
(and me!) (and me!) (and me!)
That’s us!
Kier's Kidz!
(Sing the last five lines again.)
2008
There’s something special about everyone,
And there’s something special about having fun;
There’s something special about helping out,
So, we’re gonna have fun, help out and shout:
We’re Kier’s Kidz, sing it loud;
We’re Kier’s Kidz and we’re proud;
We’re Kier’s Kidz and we’ll always be:
So, if you need some help, just call on me
(and me!) (and me!) (and me!)
That’s us!
Kier's Kidz!
(Sing the last five lines again.)
PLEASE SUPPORT THE KIER'S KIDZ MISSION
You can help kids and young adults with cancer by making a donation to our NJ nonprofit by visiting our Donate page. You can also send us a check at Kier's Kidz, 214 Cleveland Avenue, Highland Park, NJ 08904-1804.
Additionally, you can contribute, at no cost to you, when you make a purchase at Amazon. In order to do so, enter this address on your web browser: www.smile.amazon.com. This Amazon is the same Amazon you are using right now. When the page opens, you’ll be asked to sign in. Do so, then click the button that reads, “Sign in using our secure server.” You’ll be asked to designate a charity to receive your support. Please designate "Kier's Kidz" as the nonprofit you would like to receive a donation from Amazon whenever you make a purchase. Amazon will send Kier's Kidz without cost to you .5% of the purchase you've made. After the first time you set up this page, go to smile.amazon.com and .5% of any eligible purchase you make will automatically be credited to your favorite NJ nonprofit, Kier's Kidz.
Thanks for your interest in helping children, adolescents and young adults with cancer through Kier's Kidz. We really appreciate your help and support.
Kier would be so thankful, too.
Additionally, you can contribute, at no cost to you, when you make a purchase at Amazon. In order to do so, enter this address on your web browser: www.smile.amazon.com. This Amazon is the same Amazon you are using right now. When the page opens, you’ll be asked to sign in. Do so, then click the button that reads, “Sign in using our secure server.” You’ll be asked to designate a charity to receive your support. Please designate "Kier's Kidz" as the nonprofit you would like to receive a donation from Amazon whenever you make a purchase. Amazon will send Kier's Kidz without cost to you .5% of the purchase you've made. After the first time you set up this page, go to smile.amazon.com and .5% of any eligible purchase you make will automatically be credited to your favorite NJ nonprofit, Kier's Kidz.
Thanks for your interest in helping children, adolescents and young adults with cancer through Kier's Kidz. We really appreciate your help and support.
Kier would be so thankful, too.
