RALLY FOUNDATION INC

Every two minutes, a child is diagnosed with cancer. At Rally we know that statistic is more than just a number. That statistic represents children who are living, breathing and fighting for their lives. We rally to find better treatments with fewer long-term side effects, so all kids fighting the cancer beast can get back to being kids.

Traditional childhood and adolescent cancer treatments are often harsh and come with a long list of side effects that can stick around even after reaching remission. By funding cancer research specifically for kids and teens, we hope to discover new and better treatments with fewer harmful side effects and, ultimately, cures.

Childhood cancer remains the leading cause of death by disease for children in America, yet the National Institutes of Health allocates less than 4% of its funding to childhood cancer. Research for childhood cancer relies heavily on private donations. Organizations like Rally exist to fill the gap. Rally specializes in providing seed money for the next great discovery. Rally invests early--utilizing a dual peer review process that supports research at all stages, from the initial idea to clinical trials--and continues to invest as projects make progress.

Rally continues to raise awareness about childhood cancer and advocates on the national level to increase federal funding for childhood cancer research. Rally also provides emergency financial assistance, resource referrals and opportunities for support and engagement to local families with children fighting cancer.

Our ultimate mission is to raise funds for childhood cancer research, but it’s so much bigger than just us. With every step Rally takes, there’s a child behind it, a family behind it and an entire community behind it helping us truly make a difference. And together, our efforts ARE making a difference.

Rally has two signature events throughout the year to raise funds. Rally On the Runway is held in Atlanta, Nashville and Pensacola. The Delta Double Play is held in Atlanta. Rally has many ongoing fundraising campaigns such as the Rally Fit program for athletes, the 4 Quarters 4 Research campaign for schools and the Community Partners program for local businesses. Rally is always seeking new ways to raise awareness within the community and increase opportunities for fundraising. Rally empowers volunteers and businesses to join together in the fight against childhood cancer.

Through a competitive dual peer review process, Rally Foundation supports all types of childhood cancer research including, but not limited to, science at the bench (very early research), innovative studies, clinical trials, targeted therapies, DNA studies and survivorship studies. Rally Foundation also funds second, third and fourth-year fellows. In an effort to streamline the grant process, Rally Foundation vets and co-funds research with other childhood cancer organizations to gather insight into approaches that have proven successful.

Rally has taken the lead on the national level to advocate for additional federal funding from the Department of Defense Medical Research Program. To date, Rally has secured $29 million in new research grants for cancers in children, adolescents and young adults.

Rally's belief in transparency, accountability and efficiency means that we work hard to maintain low administrative and fundraising costs in order to fund more research for childhood cancer. According to independently audited financials, Rally operates at 94% efficiency.

Rally received the Independent Charities Seal of Excellence for meeting the highest standards of public accountability, program effectiveness and cost-effectiveness. Of the more than one million charities operating in the United States today, it is estimated that fewer than 50,000, or five percent, meet or exceed these standards. Of those, fewer than 2,000 have been awarded the Seal of Excellence.

Childhood cancer researchers from across the country apply for grants from Rally annually. Every Rally Grant awarded is scrutinized and vetted by the Rally Medical Advisory Board, comprised of the top childhood cancer researchers and pediatric oncologists in North America. Each grant application goes through our dual peer-review process. We then award grants to the highest scoring applications. We do this because we take every dollar given to Rally seriously. The Rally Medical Advisory Board works hard to make sure every dollar makes the biggest impact possible.

On the national advocacy level, Rally wrote a white paper about the need for cancer research for children, adolescents and young adults within our military. Rally meets with members and staff of the Department of Defense Subcommittee from both the House and Senate to educate them on the need. Rally also orchestrates national call-in and email campaigns to these offices and collects signatures for a sign-on letter of support.

The Delta Double Play has raised over $7.8 million since 2015. Rally On the Runway has raised more than $2.5 million cumulatively in Atlanta, Nashville and Pensacola. The Rally Fit program has involved hundreds of athletes across the country who exercise and compete in honor of our Rally Kids while raising money and receiving professional coaching. Rally's 4 Quarters 4 Research program has grown to include more than 200 elementary, middle and high schools and community groups across 10 states.

Since 2005, Rally has provided over $22 million in childhood cancer research grants and fellowships supporting more than 354 childhood cancer research projects across the country.

Rally has spearheaded community-wide advocacy efforts resulting in $3.1 million in 2017, $6.5 million in 2018 and $7.7 million in 2019 , $7.9Million in 2020, $10.9 million in 2021 for cancer research in children and AYAs through the Department of Defense's Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program.

The Family Emergency Fund has provided over $635,000 in critical financial support to hundreds of families across the country.

While Rally is helping to raise awareness and funds for childhood cancer research, there is much to be done. Childhood cancer is still the number one disease killer of children in the United States and childhood cancer research remains severely underfunded each year. We will continue our efforts to advocate for additional governmental funding for childhood cancer research while privately funding the most promising projects to find better treatments with fewer long-term side effects and, ultimately, cures for all childhood cancers.