The 1Voice Foundation provides educational, psychosocial and financial resources through our family support programs and services to those families impacted by pediatric cancer. There are no fees or expenses for our families. Our philosophy is that the family is diagnosed with cancer, not just the child. Therefore, all of our programs are designed with the needs of the entire family in mind.

Equine Therapy – “Makayla’s Hands on Horses”

The 1Voice Foundation along with our community partner, Quantum Leap Farm, a certified equine therapy program, collaborate and fund equine therapy for children with cancer and their siblings. We fund after school riding experiences with the therapists at Quantum Leap Farm and host four family fun days on the farm each year with over 200 in attendance. The mission of this program is to help children grow strong, achieve therapeutic goals and overcome challenges by engaging them with horses, concentrating on ease, not disease. The farm is located at 10401 Woodstock Rd., Odessa, FL 33556. www.quantumleapfarm.org

If you are interested in having your children participate in equine therapy offered by the 1Voice Foundation, please call the farm directly at 813-920-9250 to schedule a session with an equine therapist.

P.U.G.S: Pediatric Union Grey Support

Recognized nationally by the American Brain Tumor Association as a resource and support group for families affected by pediatric brain tumors. Grey is the official ribbon color for brain cancer. One of our pediatric brain tumor patients, James, came up with the name for our pediatric brain tumor support group, P.U.G.S. The group is designed to specifically meet the needs of families dealing with pediatric brain tumors and provide them with resources, research updates and peer support from other families who share their journey. The parents gain knowledge and support while their children are with our volunteers and Art Therapist, Michelle Maney, in the playroom participating in age appropriate activities, games and crafts. Dinner and childcare are always provided. The parents group is facilitated by Mary Ann Massolio, pediatric oncology social worker and Susan Coppin, LMHC., who have been working together with pediatric oncology families for nearly 25 years.

Bereavement Services – “Voices of Angels”

The 1Voice Foundation is a member of the National Alliance for Grieving Children. We provide bereavement support services to our families who have lost a child to cancer. Personally affected and professionally trained, our Executive Director, Mary Ann Massolio, bereaved mom and pediatric oncology social worker, along with Susan Coppin, LMHC, offer a peer support program that includes anticipatory grief counseling, funeral assistance, individual and family counseling and monthly family support groups. Dinner and childcare are provided. Siblings who have lost their brother or sister meet simultaneously with our trained volunteers. It is an open ended support group that does not end in 6 weeks. We collaborate with the Life Center and Hospice. We provide workbooks for the Palliative Care team at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital to work with families who have a dying child and assist these families on this life long journey. We host an annual Day of Remembrance each year on the 2nd Sunday in December, National Children’s Memorial Day.

“Club Nautilus”

Club Nautilus is a collaborative program between the 1Voice Foundation, the Krewe of the Nautilus and the Florida Aquarium. The club offers pediatric cancer families the opportunity to experience all that the Florida Aquarium has to offer with private experiences away from the public and safe for immune suppressed children, such as: private classroom experiences, camps, family day out, explore a shore, educational sessions, learning about the wetlands and ecotours aboard Spirit II looking for dolphins throughout Tampa Bay. The 1Voice Foundation children are invited to be guests of the Krewe of the Nautilus on their float at the Children’s Gasparilla Parade each January.

Financial Assistance Program – “Helping Hands”

Our Helping Hands financial assistance program, helps financially struggling pediatric cancer families with: rent, mortgage payments, car repair, hospital co pays, travel expenses , monthly utilities and gift cards. Referrals for financial assistance are made from the social service departments from All Children’s Hospital, Tampa General Hospital, St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital and Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute.

Earnest Graham Art & Music Scholarship

Retired Tampa Bay Buccaneer Earnest Graham and his Alicia, are founding board members for the 1Voice Foundation. Earnest has established a music and art scholarship program which provides funding for children with cancer and their siblings the opportunity to continue with art and music lessons or register for new classes. Much financial hardships occur during treatment and this scholarship ensures that activities can continue to be funded that otherwise would not be possible due to increasing medical expenses.

Paul’s Project PACKS

Inspired by a 4th grade student and a family’s journey through childhood cancer, Paul’s Project is dedicated to enlightening the community to the urgency and importance of supporting families of critically ill children. Paul’s Project provides PACKS that are filled with comfort items and necessities and are delivered to Florida Hospitals and Ronald McDonald Houses to parents that find themselves in the hospital, have extended hospital stays and are in ICU. PACKS, also known as “yellow bags of sunshine”, include blankets, water, socks, toiletries, notepads and pens and snacks.

Parents Night/Day Off

Parents of chronically ill children experience a divorce rate of 80%. We offer social opportunities for our parents to enjoy a night out or day off while their children are supervised by our volunteers. The parents enjoy a date or run errands that they cannot do with an immune suppressed child. The children are involved in crafts, activities and play time together.

Childhood Cancer Survivorship/Transition Program

The 1Voice Foundation recognizes that 80% of the 15,780 children that are diagnosed in one year in the United States will survive their disease. That being said, we also recognize that it is the beginning of many other issues. Fear of relapse, survival guilt, sensory deprivation, sterilization, readjusting, to name a few. We offer an opportunity for our survivors to meet as a group, learn about resources, and participate in the National Childhood Cancer Survivor Study. When the protocol ends and the port is removed, it can be a very scary time for the family unit. We host an annual Cancer Survivorship Celebration annually on the first Sunday in June, National Cancer Survivorship Day.

M.O.M.S.: Meeting Oncology Moms

Our M.O.M.S. program is a mentoring program for newly diagnosed families to be mentored by a pediatric cancer family that is off treatment. Often peer support from those who have walked this journey before you, have some of the best advice and guidance that a new family can receive.

Art Therapy – “Creative Hands”

Art Therapist Michelle Maney, works with our children and encourages self expression through painting, drawing, molding clay and age appropriate crafts from pre school age to young adult. Through the art media and creative process, our children (and parents) can express their feelings, reconcile emotional conflicts, develop social skills and help manage their behavior while reducing stress. Brenda Forlong, clay artist, hosts our bereaved parents quarterly in her studio in Plant City, where they work on clay projects and share their grief journey. Mark Williams, a Tampa artist, paints on canvas with our children, which allows them to communicate through art.

“Faces of Hope” with Masterpiece Portrait Photographer, Pepito

Pepito, an award winning portrait artist, named Photographer of the Year twice by Professional Photographer of America, captures the love and affection between a parent and child. He has partnered with the 1Voice Foundation to provide our families with a photo shoot and canvas portrait at no cost to them.

“Fit 4 Truth”

The 1Voice Foundation has partnered with Fit 4 Truth to provide day long programs and retreats for children and teens. The opportunity allows for pediatric cancer patients and their siblings to participate in outdoor activities that help build self esteem, confidence and respect for themselves, others and the environment. The workshops and retreats teach critical life skills and offer support and guidance that will help as they transition to adulthood.

“G.R.I.P.”, Guidance & Resources to Implement your Plan, Young Adult Cancer Program

Young adults with cancer (15-39), have limited resources, inadequate support and struggle to join programs that are age appropriate. Often they are to old for pediatric programs and yet to young for adult resources. Our young adult cancer group meets monthly to address their issues, provide guest speakers and resources, while providing peer support from other young adult cancer patients and families. Issues we address are life skills, occupational therapy, finances, education and scholarships.

“Healing Hands”, Massage Therapy

The 1Voice Foundation partners with licensed massage therapists who volunteer their time to provide massages for our parents, grandparents and caregivers, who are bedside during long hospital stays, at home caring for their child and during formal support group meetings. Our philosophy is that the family is diagnosed, not just the child and our programs and services are designed to meet the needs of all members of the family.

Music Therapy

The 1Voice Foundation collaborates with oncology mom, Karen Gliddon, owner and founder of K Peas, an indoor play center offering enrichment classes and open play for children 0-5. She is a music instructor with Music with Mar, a company dedicated to bringing quality, brain based music to children, families and teachers. She works with our children in a lively, energetic and engaging atmosphere, that allows for our children to interact and respond to avenues for communication, facilitate movement and provide an outlet for expressing feelings.

Pet Therapy

Along with our equine therapy and therapeutic horses, we also work with Miss Cathy and Miss Kay, who bring their dogs to play time, support groups and hospital and clinic visits. This very special animal assisted activity is extremely popular and helps the children recover from or cope with health and emotional issues. The simple act of petting an animal can produce an automatic relaxation response. Many of our children are away from their own pets and this is a great reunion with some special four legged friends.

T.O.T.S., Together Oncology Toddlers Preschool Playtime Group

Together Oncology Toddlers, meets on Tuesday mornings from 9:00 am – noon in a safe and fun play area for immune suppressed children. The group is for children with cancer who are 5 years old and younger and their siblings. The children participate in crafts, art therapy, music, pet therapy and healthy snacks. While they are interacting with our volunteers, the parents and caregivers meet over coffee in their own peer support group with other parents on this journey. This bond develops into social gatherings outside the group and forms a whole new support system for our parents and children.

Tutoring with our 1Voice Club Newsome High School Students

The 1Voice Club, Newsome High School honor students, provide tutoring for children on treatment who are falling behind academically due to missing school and side effects from treatment. They assist with homework, specific academic issues and SAT preparation. The 1Voice Club members volunteer at our family support programs and develop relationships with the families and our children and form a special bond which is conducive for tutoring and mentoring.

Yoga, Mom and Me

Lauren Lemieux, Oncology Mom and certified in Kidding Around Yoga, leads us in Yoga for children, parents and caregivers. The classes help children and adults enhance their flexibility, strength and coordination. It is very helpful, especially when adding meditation, to increase concentration and a sense of calmness and relaxation, which can be used during procedures and while on treatment.

S.I.B.S: Strength in Brothers and Sisters

Our S.I.B.S. program is designed exclusively for siblings of pediatric cancer patients to meet and bond with those who share their journey. Quarterly outings of team building, conversations and group activities allow for siblings to focus on themselves and spend time with other children who understand how they feel and that they are not alone.