PLATINUM2023

The FARIS FOUNDATION

Bringing brighter days and better treatments to children with cancer

SUGAR LAND, TX   |  http://www.thefarisfoundation.org

Mission

We bring brighter days and better treatments to children with cancer. Our work is focused in three key areas: childhood cancer research, creative arts programs at children’s cancer centers, and public engagement and awareness around childhood cancer.

Ruling year info

2019

Executive Director

Asha Virani

Main address

13135 DAIRY ASHFORD RD STE 560

SUGAR LAND, TX 77478 USA

Show more contact info

EIN

83-3109684

NTEE code info

Arts, Cultural Organizations - Multipurpose (A20)

Cancer (G30)

Patient Services - Entertainment, Recreation (E86)

IRS filing requirement

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

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Communication

Programs and results

What we aim to solve

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

Childhood cancer is the leading cause of death for children in the US, more than all other childhood diseases combined. We aim to address the following: - Deep inequities in funding for childhood cancer research - Lack of access to creative arts therapies as part of the treatment plan for children with cancer - Lack of public awareness around childhood cancer

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?

Childhood Cancer Research

We carefully vet and fund original and transformative research in areas where there is high need and a high potential for impact – as if our child’s life depends on it. Our focus is on rare cancers where the mortality rate has not changed in decades.

Population(s) Served
Children and youth
People with diseases and illnesses

We believe every child should have access to art as a part of their plan of care. The Faris Foundation works to embed highly qualified, Masters-trained Art Therapists and Music Therapists within children’s cancer centers across the country.

Population(s) Served
People with diseases and illnesses
Children and youth

Let There Be GOLD is our annual childhood cancer awareness and public engagement campaign. Every September we hold gold celebrations in children's cancer centers and galvanize communities around the cause.

Population(s) Served
Children and youth
People with diseases and illnesses
Adults

Where we work

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 advocates and donors galvanized around childhood cancer awareness campaign

This metric is no longer tracked.
Totals By Year
Population(s) Served

Children and youth, People with diseases and illnesses

Related Program

Let there be GOLD

Type of Metric

Output - describing our activities and reach

Direction of Success

Increasing

Number of children , family members and volunteers involved in art encounters at children's cancer centers

This metric is no longer tracked.
Totals By Year
Related Program

Art is My Life

Type of Metric

Output - describing our activities and reach

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.

The Faris Foundation seeks to bring brighter days and better treatments to children with cancer through our work in three key areas:
1. Childhood Cancer Research: We carefully vet and fund original and transformative research in areas where there is high need and a high potential for impact – as if our child’s life depends on it. Our focus is on rare cancers where the mortality rate has not changed in decades. Our goal is to bring less toxic, targeted therapy options where there are none.
2. Art Is My Life: We believe every child with cancer should have access to art as a part of their plan of care. The Faris Foundation works to embed Masters-trained Art Therapists and Music Therapists within children’s cancer centers across the country. Our goal is to demonstrate the importance of creative art therapies as an integral aspect of pediatric cancer care.
3. Let There Be GOLD is our annual childhood cancer awareness and public engagement campaign. Every September we hold gold celebrations in children's cancer centers and galvanize communities around the cause. Our goal is to shift the public understanding of childhood cancer so that there is a broader community advocating on behalf children with cancer, and therein, increased public support for research.

1. Childhood Cancer Research: We invest in bold and transformative scientific research in rare pediatric cancer, through multi-year grants in the areas of immunotherapy, targeted therapy, and precision medicine.
2. Art Is My Life: We partner with children's cancer centers to embed Creative Arts Therapists to directly serve children and families. We measure, evaluate, and share our programs to demonstrate the transformative and healing power of the arts in a patient's medical care.
3. Let There Be GOLD: Through community partnerships with schools, museums, retail, and civic organizations, we reach broad and diverse audiences throughout the country. We integrate the arts into our campaign with a robust public art program.

Through our stakeholder relationships, we are well poised to meet our goals. Our key hospital partners include: MD Anderson Children's Cancer Hospital, Texas Children's Cancer Center (the nation's largest pediatric cancer center), Mount Sinai Hospital, and Ronald McDonald House Houston. We have a longstanding relationship with Prime, AT&T's largest authorized retailer, which brings Let There Be GOLD to over 2,000 stores nationwide. Additional partners include Houston Independent School District and Asia Society Texas Center, among others. Our partnerships expand our programmatic reach and enhance our capacity to meet our goals.

Progress as of February 2022:
1. In the area of research, our deep investment in the HEROS 3.0 project is now a Phase I clinical trial – the first of its kind, harnessing the power of personalized medicine and immunotherapy for children. This trial is now recruiting patients from around the world, delivering with it hope.

2. Our arts program has expanded from one cancer center to four, bringing the healing power of art to MD Anderson Children’s Cancer Hospital, Mount Sinai Kravis Children’s Hospital, and Ronald McDonald House Houston, in addition to Texas Children’s Cancer Center.

3. In the area of childhood cancer awareness, our community has grown with new partners: Wendy’s restaurants, hotels, school districts, museums, artists – like artist Roni Cabrera of HTX Art Bus, who brought the GOLD Art Bus with magical art-making opportunities to over 2000 families throughout the month of September.

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 using feedback from the people you serve?

    To identify and remedy poor client service experiences, To identify bright spots and enhance positive service experiences, To make fundamental changes to our programs and/or operations, To inform the development of new programs/projects, To identify where we are less inclusive or equitable across demographic groups, To strengthen relationships with the people we serve, To understand people's needs and how we can help them achieve their goals

  • Which of the following feedback practices does your organization routinely carry out?

    We collect feedback from the people we serve at least annually, We take steps to get feedback from marginalized or under-represented people, We aim to collect feedback from as many people we serve as possible, We take steps to ensure people feel comfortable being honest with us, We look for patterns in feedback based on demographics (e.g., race, age, gender, etc.), We look for patterns in feedback based on people’s interactions with us (e.g., site, frequency of service, etc.), We engage the people who provide feedback in looking for ways we can improve in response, We act on the feedback we receive, We tell the people who gave us feedback how we acted on their feedback, We ask the people who gave us feedback how well they think we responded

  • What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?

    We don't have any major challenges to collecting feedback

Financials

The FARIS FOUNDATION
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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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  • 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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The FARIS FOUNDATION

Board of directors
as of 02/23/2023
SOURCE: Self-reported by organization
Board chair

Asha Virani

Dr. Susan Blaney

Texas Children's Cancer Center

Krista Babine

Kinkaid School

Naushad Kermally

City of Sugar Land

Bonna Kol

Asia Society Texas Center

Lori Vetters

Sun Coast Resources, Inc.

Farid Virani

Prime Communications

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 ? Yes
  • 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? No