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Pinky Swear Foundation announces the recent appointment of Erica Neubert Campbell as its Executive Director. Reporting to the Board of Directors, Erica will serve as the head of the organization with overall strategic and operational responsibility for Pinky Swear Foundation staff, programs, and execution of its mission to help kids with cancer and their families with financial and emotional support.
“I am so excited to carry on the legacy of Mitch’s pinky swear promise and continue to help children and families with cancer,” said Campbell. “This role uniquely marries my life-long passion for serving kids with cancer with my corporate leadership experience. I couldn’t be more enthusiastic about the opportunity to grow the organization and to build momentum around our mission.”
Pinky Swear provides support for basic needs — such as mortgage and rent, transportation, utilities, gas cards and food — and experiences that create emotional support to families impacted by a childhood cancer diagnosis across the U.S. Campbell will initially gain deep knowledge of the organization’s programs, operations, marketing and development plans. The 5-year strategic goals include creating additional family-focused events, developing youth leadership opportunities, diversifying fundraising, mobilizing volunteers, and growing geographically.
“We’re honored to have Erica join as our new Executive Director,” said Bruce O’Brien, Pinky Swear Foundation Board Chairman. “With extensive experience in strategy, HR and organizational effectiveness, we’ll rely on her unique strategic planning and change management expertise to build a high-performing team, engage our Board of Directors, and inspire transformational growth for the Foundation.”
Most recently Erica held senior leadership positions for over 12 years for the Washington, D.C.-based British Embassy Foreign and Commonwealth Office, including her role as Global Head of Learning and Development and Business Transformation. There she led the planning and execution of change initiatives to support improvements to capabilities, performance, and employee engagement. Additionally, she has served for 15 years on the Board of Directors of Special Love, Inc., a nonprofit that provides cancer families a network of support including its hallmark program, Camp Fantastic, for 7-17-year-old cancer patients in Northern Virginia. Previously Erica held HR leadership positions for the Washington Redskins football team and at Ernst & Young. She holds an MBA from Duke University – The Fuqua School of Business, with a BBA in Accounting from College of William and Mary.
The Pinky Swear Story
Pinky Swear Foundation was founded in honor of Mitch Chepokas, who lost his battle to bone cancer in 2003. In December 2002, 9-year-old Mitch overheard his pediatric oncology ward neighbors stressed about money for Christmas gifts, and generously decided to give away his savings – $6,000 – to other kids fighting cancer. After sneaking envelopes of cash under doors and on nightstands, Mitch told his dad it was the most fun he’d ever had, and he wanted to do it again the following year. With a terminal prognosis, his dad had to tell Mitch the truth: that he wouldn’t be around the following Christmas. That’s when Mitch made his dad, Steve, ‘pinky swear promise’ to continue to help families with kids with cancer even after he was gone. To date, over $13 million has been raised to support brave kids battling cancer in 46 states.
Pediatric Cancer Facts
- A child is diagnosed with cancer every 45 minutes
- The average age of diagnosis is 6 years old
- The average length of treatment is 2 years
- The average family will spend 25% of its disposable income on non-medical related expenses associated with the treatment of their child
- One in 11 families with a child diagnosed with cancer will file for bankruptcy
About Pinky Swear Foundation
Founded in 2003, Pinky Swear Foundation is a 501c(3) not-for-profit passionately committed to helping children with cancer and their families by responding to the immediate crisis facing families with a childhood cancer diagnosis. Pinky Swear supports families’ quality-of-life with financial assistance for basic needs and through experiences that create emotional support, so they can focus on what’s most important: their child battling cancer. Inspired by a pinky swear promise made between a 9-year-old boy and his dad, the foundation engages kids to help grow the community of keepers of the pinky swear. Pinky Swear Foundation fundraising activities include annual kids triathlon events, the Hy-Vee® Pinky Swear 5K & Fun Run events in five communities nationwide, National Pinky Swear Day on December 11, and other community engagement events around the nation.