Pinky Swear Interview

#243 Great.com Talks With… Pinky Swear Foundation

In the USA, cancer treatment costs on average 150 thousand dollars. It’s one of the most financially draining illnesses you might suffer from. But paying bills is the least of your concerns when your kid is diagnosed. In this episode we talked with Josh Le from Pinky Swear about the importance of easing the burden for as many families as possible.

Pinky Swear Has Helped Almost 18 Thousand Families

What separates Pinky Swear Foundation from other charities is its focus on immediate needs. Josh explains that families receive support to pay their mortgage or their rent, to make sure that they can stock food or purchase groceries for their entire family, or to make sure there is gas in their car to get to and from treatment safely. Helping kids with cancer isn't just with the hospital fees - it's about providing financial and emotional support for their families, as well. This way, they can focus all of their energy on what's most important - their child's health.

Pinky Swear Foundation maintains several funds, including their flagship All-Star Fund, which receives hundreds of applications every month. They also run Pinky Swear Pantries, which provide food free, on-site, and whenever it’s needed. This significantly reduces stress for many families who struggle to leave the hospital to get food when spending time with their children.

Financial And Emotional Support: Helping Kids With Cancer

Families with a child battling cancer can rely on the "Pinky Swear" that the foundation promises. Illnesses such as Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia or any other form of cancer is an uphill fight; emotional support helping kids and their families is much needed in times of crisis. Families with financial problems that come to the Pinky Swear Foundation come from all walks of life - and they do not discriminate or limit requests from these families.

How The Pinky Swear Foundation Started

Mitch Chepokas was only 9 years old when he was diagnosed with cancer. In the hospital, he overheard another family mention that they probably would not have enough money for Christmas. The first thing he did was ask his father, Steve Chepokas, to take all his money in the bank and put it in envelopes signed with the words "Love, Mitch XOXOXO".

Steve & Mitch went around the ward and put the envelopes in nightstands and beds for the children battling cancer and their families. Steve made a pinky swear with Mitch that he will continue what his son started - to help kids with cancer with simple, everyday things to help them and their families survive. The stress of a fatal illness looming over a family member is incredibly taxing on all aspects of family life - financial and emotional support is a much-needed resource and the Pinky Swear Foundation provides exactly that.

To this day, the "Pinky Swear" between Mitch & Steve survives. From 2003 to 2021, the Pinky Swear Foundation has provided $4.5 million in financial support for children battling cancer. They stay committed to walking alongside families and giving them all that they need during their time of hardship.

Listen to the whole interview to hear the inspiring story of Mitch, a generous nine-year-old whose selfless donation to other children on his ward led to the founding of Pinky Swear. Help spread the "Pinky Swear" by participating in their events, or do as Mitch did to honor his generous spirit by participating in the "Orange Envelope" program, among many others. Pinky Swear Foundation also accepts donations.

Want to learn more about Pinky Swear? You can subscribe to their newsletter and follow them on Facebook and Twitter. 

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