Just before nine-year-old Mitch Chepokas passed away from osteosarcoma, he made his father, Steve, pinky promise to keep helping kids with cancer—even after he was gone. Shortly after Mitch passed in 2003, Steve fulfilled the promise made to his son by starting what has become Pinky Swear Foundation. From that moment on, Pinky Swear has continued to honor Mitch’s legacy by helping kids with cancer and their families with financial support.

Make a difference in honor or memory of a loved one this season

This December, the same spirit of compassion continues through Cal Reinhardt’s family and friends. Cal passed away from medulloblastoma in 2015, and to mark the tenth anniversary of his passing, his family and friends have joined together to match all gifts, up to $100,000, made to Pinky Swear through the end of the year. 

Just like Mitch’s and Cal’s families and friends have honored the memories of their boys, this year, 272 generous donors have chosen to honor the lives of those who have faced or lost their lives to cancer by making a tribute gift to Pinky Swear.  

With the holidays just around the corner, tribute gifts can be a meaningful way to honor those in the midst of a cancer journey or to remember those who are no longer with us. Making a gift in honor of your friend, sibling, child, or parent is a celebration of their life and legacy that will also have a lasting impact on kids with cancer and their families. 

When you make a donation to Pinky Swear, you will have the option to enter the name of the person you are thinking of, as well as notify a loved one of the gift you have made in their or another loved one’s honor. 

You can join Mitch’s and Cal’s families and friends this holiday season by honoring someone special in your own life with a one-time tribute gift or by becoming a monthly donor to provide sustaining support to families facing childhood cancer.