Recently,  the Rally Foundation for Childhood Cancer Research (based in Sandy Springs) presented a check of $2.5 million to Emory University to showcase the total amount of grants that Rally has given to Emory University for research over the years, with the most recent grant of $350,000 in 2024. Rally Kid Cooper from Brookhaven was in attendance. An 8th grader, he was diagnosed with Stage 4 Lymphoma (spread to his bones) in June and has been undergoing treatment since. 

Rally Foundation for Childhood Cancer Research has awarded a $350,000 grant to Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University, marking the largest single-year donation Rally has made to Emory's pediatric cancer research program. The check presentation ceremony, held on Wednesday, October 30, celebrated the ongoing partnership between Rally Foundation and Winship, both dedicated to improving treatments and outcomes for children fighting cancer.

Since its founding in 2005, Rally Foundation has provided over $35 million in research grants to fuel childhood cancer studies worldwide, with more than $2 million supporting Emory and Winship researchers since 2006. This year's $350,000 donation will fund five projects led by Winship investigators, aiming to advance scientific discovery and bring new hope to pediatric cancer patients and their families.

"Supporting Emory's talented researchers aligns perfectly with Rally's mission to fund innovative research and develop better treatments with fewer side effects," said Dean Crowe, Rally Foundation Founder and CEO. "Through collaborations like this, we're making significant strides toward more effective therapies and, ultimately, cures for childhood cancer."

The Rally Foundation has also played a role in securing $223 million in federal funding through the Department of Defense's CDMRP program. Recently, Winship researcher Hunter Jonus, MD, received support through this program to advance her work on pediatric cancer therapies.

The ceremony included remarks from Rally Foundation Board Chair Michael Gossling, Winship's Dr. Kelly Goldsmith, co-leader of the Discovery & Developmental Therapeutics Program, and Rally CEO Dean Crowe. Rally Foundation's peer-reviewed funding process is guided by a diverse medical advisory board, which includes Winship researchers and Emory faculty members Katharine Brock, MD; Natia Esiashvili, MD; Kelly Goldsmith, MD; Andrew Hong, MD; Jonathan Kaufman, MD; Renee Read, PhD; Jenny Shim, MD; Dan Wechsler, MD; and Jason Yustein, MD, PhD.

As one of Rally's most well-supported institutions, Winship Cancer Institute remains a valued research partner in Rally Foundation's mission. This latest donation underscores the importance of continued collaboration in advancing pediatric oncology science and accelerating the search for cures.