Last week, I went on a tour of The Pablove Foundation, a non-profit based in Los Angeles that focuses on fighting pediatric cancer. They recently started tours of their Hollywood headquarters to better acquaint people of the breadth of what they do. Like most people, I became aware of The Pablove Foundation (years ago) through name only, after noticing the Pablove Foundation mural in Silverlake. It’s always been in the back of my mind, but have recently been more exposed to it -through the recent “give back party” with Kendra Scott, and last week’s luncheon and tour of The Pablove Foundation.
I was moved by the story of how the foundation came to be. As part of the tour, we heard first-hand through Jo Ann Thrailkill, Co-Founder and President/CEO of The Pablove Foundation, how her son Pablo passed away from a rare form of childhood cancer. Her son was diagnosed at the age of four and passed away soon after his sixth birthday. My daughter is the same age as Pablo when was when he was diagnosed with cancer, and it’s heartbreaking to even imagine the pain their family felt. The Pablove Foundation was built through the strong support of Pablo’s community, and now gives hope to families of children who currently suffer from cancer.
The Pablove Foundation’s Mission
Pablove’s mission is based on their personal journey with childhood cancer: a desire to find a cure, search for information as parents trying to make informed decisions about our child’s treatment, and a desire to allow Pablo to still be a kid while he was in treatment.
- Invest in underfunded, cutting-edge pediatric cancer research
- Improve the lives of children living with cancer through the arts
What The Pablove Foundation Does
Childhood Cancer Research
Through financial donations, The Pablove Foundation provides funding in the form of seed grants towards pediatric cancer research. A carefully curated team of scientists, health care providers, and professionals in the field review hundreds of proposals to determine where the money is best spent. Since 2010, The Pablove Foundation has awarded $2.2M in funding for cancer research to 20 institutions worldwide.
Pablove Shutterbugs Program
Pablo’s love of photography inspired the Pablove Shutterbugs Program, which provides professional photography instruction and mentorship to children living with cancer. This program is currently in seven cities, with an annual alumni summer camp in California. Each multi-week course culminates in a gallery show. This allows children to express themselves creatively, be part of a community, and take pride in something they’ve learned.
Events and Other Ways to Help
In addition to the Pablove Shutterbugs Program, The Pablove Foundation hosts and teams up with businesses to host a variety of fundraising events. Visit their Get Involved page to learn about even more ways to help.
Posters that Teach
I love the illustrated posters in the lobby that help explain some of the science:
Take a Tour
If you want to see for yourself and would like to visit their offices in Los Angeles, New York, or Chicago, fill out the form linked from their website.
The Pablove Foundation
Visit the Pablove Foundation website at: www.pablove.org
Disclaimer: No monetary compensation was exchanged for this post. This post is for informational purposes only. Images provided by The Pablove Foundation.
