TEAM JACK FOUNDATION INC

Funding Pediatric Brain Cancer Research

Atkinson, NE   |  www.teamjackfoundation.org

Mission

The Team Jack Foundation raises money to fund impactful pediatric brain cancer research and works to create national awareness for the disease

Ruling year info

2013

Founder & Board Co-Chair

Andrew Hoffman

Founder & Board Co-Chair

Brianna Hoffman

Main address

PO Box 607 47640 E. HWY 20, Suite 2

Atkinson, NE 68713 USA

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EIN

46-2301134

NTEE code info

Fund Raising and/or Fund Distribution (G12)

IRS filing requirement

This organization is required to file an IRS Form 990 or 990-EZ.

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Communication

Blog

Programs and results

What we aim to solve

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

Each year approximately 4,630 kids are diagnosed with brain tumors. These 4,630 kids are dealing with an abnormal growth in the most sensitive part of their body. This is the part of the body that controls speech, balance, running, jumping, talking, hearing, smelling, loving. It is a disease that is killing kids faster than any other childhood cancer. It is No. 1. While it is true that nearly 30% of all children afflicted by a brain tumor will pass from their disease, it is also true that the remaining 70% that actually survive the disease are often times left with permanent disabilities that they will spend a lifetime trying to overcome or compensate for. Team Jack is working to fund research for better, kinder treatment and to try to find a cure. Treatments are over 30 years old and this must change.

Our programs

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?

Clinical Trials (MEK 162 & TAK 580) with Targeted Agents

Clinical Trials with Targeted Agents (additional contributions to previously committed trials: MEK162 & TAK580): The Team Jack Foundation committed $500,000 to this project in December 2017. The support would ensure the rapid completion of accrual to both, MEK162 and TAK580, protocols, as well as support for the critical analysis of tumor material generated by these trials. This includes not just the standard mutation analysis of the tumor material, but also the identification of secondary pathways of tumor activation and analysis of imaging correlates of tumor response. Finally, due to the release of tumor cell DNA into the blood and possibly cerebrospinal fluid, urine and saliva, termed cell-free circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA), researchers have the possibility of detecting cell-free DNA in these fluids in a non-invasive way to diagnose and profile these tumors for the application of future targeted therapies or monitoring of response, giving them the ability to transform the care of these children.

Principal Investigators: Karen D. Wright, MD/ Scott Armstrong, MD, PhD, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute

MEK162 February 2019 Update:

This study originally had an estimate of 75 patients and now the aim is for over 100 patients and the trial has been extended because of a positive response. While the original trial is taking place at Children's Hospital, other participating treatment sites include: top children’s hospitals in Washington, Oregon, Colorado, Texas, Alabama, Georgia, Minnesota, Missouri, Washington DC, New York and Massachusetts.

TAK 580 February 2019 Update:

Phase 1 recently finished, and phase 2 is starting soon in 18 different consortium sites across the United States, and potentially expanding internationally to Switzerland. There is much excitement about this clinical trial and there is currently a wait list to participate. There are currently 9 patients enrolled with a maximum enrollment of 120 patients. The first 4 additional sites to open will be University of California San Francisco (UCSF), St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago and Children’s National Medical Center in Washington, D.C.

Population(s) Served

The Team Jack Foundation, in partnership Nebraska State Legislature, has committed to a $3 million project for the development of a pediatric brain tumor program at UNMC’s Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center. Board Chair of the Team Jack Foundation, Andrew Hoffman, testified for LB 110, a legislative bill to appropriate funds for pediatric cancer specialists, at the Nebraska State Legislature's Appropriations Committee Hearing at the 2015 legislative session. Included in the appropriation are funds to support two additional pediatric cancer specialists. The funds appropriated by the legislation will be utilized to leverage additional private funding. The Team Jack Foundation has committed to funding $1.5 million over six years to match these funds. Plans are currently underway in the development of this ground breaking program.

Population(s) Served

Through the efforts of the Team Jack Foundation, a multi-disciplinary childhood brain tumor clinic is now functioning in Omaha, Nebraska. In 2013, the Team Jack Foundation, in partnership with the Nebraska State Legislature, agreed to co-fund a $3 million project for the development of a pediatric brain tumor program at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. In addition to the initial $3 million program grant, the Team Jack Foundation has pledged an additional $5 million to the Omaha program, a campaign called the POWER5 Pediatric Brain Cancer Initiative.

As a continuation of the funding to the Nebraska Pediatric Brain Tumor Program, the Team Jack Foundation launched the POWER5 Pediatric Brain Cancer Initiative in 2018. From this campaign, the Team Jack Foundation will invest $5 million into the Nebraska Pediatric Brain Cancer Program, over ten years, beginning in 2019. These dollars will fund key areas:
1. Laboratory & Clinical Research
Funding laboratory research will allow experts to develop new treatments and offer them to patients through clinical trials. In addition, Omaha will be able to host other national clinical trials as well.

2. Pain Management in Cancer
Investing in pain management will help develop a national protocol to help all children fighting cancer better manage pain, especially at end of life. The pain management protocol would include music therapy, massage therapy and more. This type of protocol does not exist for children battling cancer at this time.

3. Education
The education piece of the POWER5 program will help develop expertise here in Nebraska with existing medical professionals. It will allow current professionals an opportunity to further their education to become an expert in the area of pediatric brain cancer.

Population(s) Served

The Team Jack Foundation made a $150,000 commitment to fund a research project focused on Diffuse Instrinsic Pontine Gliomas (DIPG) at Memorial Sloan Kettering in New York. DIPG is the deadliest form of pediatric brain cancer with a 0% survival rate five years after diagnosis. Currently, there is no known treatment specifically for DIPG. Dr. Phillips' lab in recent years has created a treatment that works to reverse tumor cells back into normal cells, but has yet to discover a way to get the treatment into the tumor because of the blood brain barrier. This project will focus on a new drug-delivery method through the blood brain barrier. If successful, this method would lead to new treatments for kids with DIPG and possibly other tumor types as well.

Population(s) Served

In March of 2020, the Team Jack Foundation announced a three-year commitment to fund a Phase 1 Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG) research project at Children's Hospital Orange County, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago. DIPG is the deadliest form of pediatric brain cancer with a 0% survival rate five years after diagnosis. Currently, there is no known treatment specifically for DIPG. This study is titled Heat Shock Protein (HSP) Neo-Antigen Vaccine Plus Checkpoint Blockade for Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG).

The hypothesis of this study is that off-the-shelf heat shock protein (HSP) vaccines containing peptides specific for neo-antigen profiles found in DIPG in combination with checkpoint blockade will be safe and tolerable. Investigators also hypothesize that treatment with this vaccine will result in a targeted immune response to the tumor and provide therapeutic benefit.

The Team Jack funding commitment was the final piece needed to get this project off the ground. Other funders include: Elerding Family Foundation $100,000, We Love Connie Foundation $225,000, RDL Foundation $300,000, for a total of $625,000.

Lead Investigators:
Ashley S. Plant, MD (Principal Investigor), Pediatric Neuro-Oncology Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago
Susan Chi, MD (Co-Principal Investigator), Pediatric Neuro-Oncology Dana-Farber Cancer Institute

Population(s) Served

Where we work

Videos

Our results

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.

Number of research studies funded

This metric is no longer tracked.
Totals By Year
Type of Metric

Context - describing the issue we work on

Direction of Success

Increasing

Our Sustainable Development Goals

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

Learn more about Sustainable Development Goals.

Goals & Strategy

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.

Charting impact

Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.

Funding research that focuses on identifying brain cancer genetic mutations, and then treating those mutations with chemically engineered smart drugs, is a priority. The result will be kinder, gentler, and more successful treatment protocols. In addition to funding research to develop effective drug therapies, the Team Jack Foundation also funds neurosurgical research. A successful brain tumor resection helps set the stage in the fight against brain cancer. One of the best defenses against a brain tumor is a successful neurosurgery.

Since 2013, the Team Jack Foundation has been thankful to be able to contribute to research in a variety of areas. We have committed to-date over $8 million to 8 different projects! Research aims include 5 key areas:

1) Identifying new genetic mutations that are causing brain tumors.
2) Trying to enable the drugs to get through the blood-brain barrier.
3) Clinical trials offering new treatments to kids with brain tumors.
4) Evaluating whether new brain-penetrant molecules are effective in treatment of brain tumors.
5) Helping build and support a pediatric brain tumor program in Nebraska.

Team Jack's objective is to fund research at the top research centers in the world -- fast to find a cure for child brain cancer and ensure that treatments for brain cancer are better for these children. The Team Jack Foundation's strategies are as follows:

1. Create a brain tumor program at UNMC in Nebraska. Improve the quality of brain tumor treatment in the Midwest so that children seen in the Midwest have the same treatment opportunities available to them, as children that are seen at centers of excellence. The first step for this is to hire a pediatric neuro-oncologist.

2. Fund national research programs that assist in making treatment for children less invasive and harsh.

The Team Jack Foundation has raised nearly $7,500,000 since 2013. Due to the structure of the Foundation, including a volunteer CEO, the Foundation is able to operate on low expense, therefore able to fund more research. The Foundation has a low operating budget and is able to leverage local, regional, national relationships to focus more on funding research.

In addition, the Team Jack Foundation works with organizations nationally to leverage research dollars to make a bigger impact. The total disease impact is over $8.5 million.

Accomplishments:
1. Raising nearly $7.5million for research since inception.
2. Board Chair and Co-Founder named the 2016 winner of The NASCAR Foundation's Betty Jane France Humanitarian Award for his efforts in funding child brain cancer.
3. Passing of LB110. The Team Jack Foundation, in partnership Nebraska State Legislature, has committed to a $3 million project for the development of a pediatric brain tumor program at UNMC's Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center. Team Jack has committed $1.5 million to this project.
4. Working with UNMC and Children's Hospital in Omaha, NE to develop a brain tumor program which includes an additional $5 million to research, pain management and education.
4. Committing to national DIPG research projects. DIPG has a 0% survival rate and the deadliest form of brain cancer.

What we would like to accomplish:
1. Finding a cure for child brain cancer.
2. Finding an improved, newer, less invasive treatment option for children with brain cancer.

How we listen

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

Seeking feedback from people served makes programs more responsive and effective. Here’s how this organization is listening.

done We shared information about our current feedback practices.

  • How is your organization collecting feedback from the people you serve?

    Electronic surveys (by email, tablet, etc.), Focus groups or interviews (by phone or in person),

  • How is your organization using feedback from the people you serve?

    To inform the development of new programs/projects, To strengthen relationships with the people we serve,

  • With whom is the organization sharing feedback?

    Our staff, Our board, Our funders,

  • What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?

    We don't have any major challenges to collecting feedback,

Financials

TEAM JACK FOUNDATION INC
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Operations

The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.

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Connect with nonprofit leaders

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Connect with nonprofit leaders

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  • Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
  • Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
  • Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations

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TEAM JACK FOUNDATION INC

Board of directors
as of 4/30/2020
SOURCE: Self-reported by organization
Board co-chair

Andrew Hoffman

Team Jack Foundation/ Andrew Hoffman Law

Term: 2013 -


Board co-chair

Brianna Hoffman

Team Jack Foundation/ West Holt Pharmacy

Term: 2013 -

Michael (Rex) Burkhead

New England Patriots

Bridget Fargen

10-11 News

Scott Fangman

Arbor Point Advisors

Dr. Kari Galyen

Sunny Meadow Medical Clinic

Tiffany Miller

Davenport, Evans, Hurwitz, & Smith, LLP

Janae Simard

Family & Implant Dentistry

Ken Maxwell

Proxibid

Karen Carson

Fat Brain Toys

Board leadership practices

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.

  • Board orientation and education
    Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes
  • CEO oversight
    Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? No
  • Ethics and transparency
    Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes
  • Board composition
    Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes
  • Board performance
    Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? Yes

Organizational demographics

SOURCE: Self-reported; last updated 04/30/2020

Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? GuideStar partnered on this section with CHANGE Philanthropy and Equity in the Center.

Leadership

The organization's leader identifies as:

Gender identity
Male, Not transgender (cisgender)
Sexual orientation
Heterosexual or Straight
Disability status
Person without a disability

The organization's co-leader identifies as:

Race & ethnicity
White/Caucasian/European
Gender identity
Female, Not transgender (cisgender)
Sexual orientation
Heterosexual or Straight
Disability status
Person without a disability

Race & ethnicity

No data

Gender identity

 

Sexual orientation

Disability

No data

Equity strategies

Last updated: 04/30/2020

GuideStar partnered with Equity in the Center - an organization that works to shift mindsets, practices, and systems to increase racial equity - to create this section. Learn more

Data
  • We employ non-traditional ways of gathering feedback on programs and trainings, which may include interviews, roundtables, and external reviews with/by community stakeholders.
Policies and processes
  • We use a vetting process to identify vendors and partners that share our commitment to race equity.
  • We have a promotion process that anticipates and mitigates implicit and explicit biases about people of color serving in leadership positions.
  • We have community representation at the board level, either on the board itself or through a community advisory board.
  • We help senior leadership understand how to be inclusive leaders with learning approaches that emphasize reflection, iteration, and adaptability.
  • We engage everyone, from the board to staff levels of the organization, in race equity work and ensure that individuals understand their roles in creating culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.