PAIGES BUTTERFLY RUN INC

Our mission is to help these local families who have already heard the words “your child has cancer”, as well as those who will soon hear those dreaded words.

The only one of its kind in a 22-county region, the Dr. William J. Waters Center for Children’s Cancer and Blood Disorders at Upstate Golisano Children’s Hospital will serve upwards of 700 children with various malignancies and blood disorders this year, as well as conduct research for tomorrow’s cures. Paige’s Butterfly Run, Inc. is an integral part of this service and research as the funds our organization raises through events each year support these initiatives.

Our organization holds several year round community fundraisers in Central New York to raise the maximum amount of funds possible to support children and families fighting pediatric cancer in our community.

These events include, but are not limited to:

Pedaling 4 Paige: An annual indoor spinning event held in March.

Paige's Butterfly Run: An annual 5K run and 3K walk held each June in downtown Syracuse.

Clams 4 Cures: Annual clambake with raffles, music, food and more!

Paige's Pajamarama: Held throughout the year in schools and offices, this event is a fun alternative to a 'jeans day.' On your chosen Pajamarama Day, students, teachers, etc. make a donation in order to wear pajamas in honor of children who have to while going through cancer treatment.

Childhood Cancer Awareness Month Campaign: Held annually in September, local buildings go 'Gold', Pajamarama events and butterfly sales are held. These events not only raise funds to support our work, but raise awareness.

Annual Appeal

For over 20 years, Paige's Butterfly Run, Inc. was completely volunteer run. The organization did not have a part-time or full-time paid staff person to run the day to day operations and focus solely on expanding fundraising efforts.

After developing a strategic plan in 2016, the organization made an investment in bringing on a full-time employee to manage event planning and fundraising goals. This person has been charged with managing day to day operations increasing fundraising revenue as well as raising the organization's profile across the Central New York community.

In 2022, Paige's Butterfly Run, Inc. brought on a new employee, who was given the title of Director of Development instead of Executive Director. The Board took over management of the committee, in order for the Director of Development to take more time to develop relationships with funders in the community. The organization's board of directors are comprised of community leaders who are in the fields of medicine, fundraising, strategic planning/leadership development, risk management and the legal field.

In 2023 the board has voted to undergo another strategic planning process. Our goal is to review where we have been, determine what we wish to do in the future, and to set a course for fulfilling our goals going forward. We do know that fighting pediatric cancer within our community will continue to be a core value in this process.

Since the fall of 2016 when Paige's Butterfly Run, Inc. hired a full-time Executive Director the following has been accomplished:

1. Increase in participants for fundraising events
2. Year round, mission related messaging on all social media platforms, online and in e-newsletters
3. Childhood Cancer Awareness Month campaign created and executed during the month of September
4. Local landmarks going Gold in Syracuse during Childhood Cancer Awareness Month
5. Board of directors expanded from 3 - 7 community members
6. Increase in schools that participate annually in Pajamarama Day
7. Increase in donor communications (fundraising participants, sponsorship recap packages, etc.)
8. Increase in annual appeal donations