activities · 9
what they do
direct service · 7
- Distribute funds to support brain tumor research Pediatric Cancer and Macular Degeneration ResearchAllocates 93% of funds raised to institutions conducting brain tumor research, including Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix Children's Hospital, the National Brain Tumor Society, and TGen.
- Facilitate educational experiences in brain tumor research and treatment Youth Medical Career Exposure ProgramsOrganizes tours and educational events for students at leading research and medical institutions, including TGen, the Proton Beam Radiation Unit, and live brain surgery observations at Barrow Neurological Institute, along with expert lectures such as one by Dr. Ahmed on radiation therapy.
- Fundraising for Brain Tumor Research Cancer-Focused Fundraising & Awareness EventsOrganizes annual walk-a-thons and cure-a-thons in Scottsdale, AZ, and at university campuses in Tucson and Tempe, to raise funds for brain tumor research. These events involve community and corporate participation, with over $2.6 million raised since 2002.
- Maintain public event calendar and organize recognition events Industry Conference & Networking EventsManages a calendar of events to inform the public about organizational activities and hosts award ceremonies to recognize contributions and achievements.
- Organize annual fundraising walk-a-thons and cure-a-thons Cancer-Focused Fundraising & Awareness EventsHosts annual walk-a-thon and cure-a-thon events in Scottsdale, AZ, and at universities including the University of Arizona, ASU, and the University of Arizona College of Medicine Phoenix, to raise funds and awareness for brain tumor research. The 2016 Phoenix/Scottsdale walk-a-thon drew over 3,000 students and raised over $200,000, contributing to a total of more than $2.6 million raised since 2002.
- Student Support and EngagementSupports students fighting brain tumors by connecting them with peers and fostering leadership and philanthropy among youth. The organization also offers volunteer opportunities to engage students in its activities.
- Support student engagement and leadership development for youth philanthropyFosters youth leadership and philanthropy by connecting students affected by brain tumors with peer networks and involving them in organizational activities and events.
research · 1
- Funding Brain Tumor Research Institutions Pediatric Cancer and Macular Degeneration ResearchDistributes a significant portion of funds raised (93%) to institutions such as Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix Children's Hospital, the National Brain Tumor Society, and TGen to directly support brain tumor research.
capacity building · 1
- Educational and Experiential Programs Youth Medical Career Exposure ProgramsOrganizes educational tours and lectures, including visits to a Proton Beam Radiation Unit, TGen, and observations of live brain surgery, to provide students and the public with insights into brain tumor treatment and research.
strategies · 12
how they think
Theories of action extracted from this org's own source material. Click any to see the full field of orgs running the same approach.
- Cure-a-thon event fundraising model cure-a-thon eventsOrganizes annual Cure-a-thon events as a primary fundraising mechanism to generate financial support for brain tumor research.
- Direct volunteer engagement for tangible impact direct_impact_volunteer_engagementOrganizes volunteers in hands-on service activities that produce visible and measurable outcomes, reinforcing commitment through direct connection to the cause and clear demonstration of contribution.
- Experiential education in medical research experiential_learningImmerses students in the field of brain tumor research through hands-on experiences such as observing live brain surgeries, touring laboratories, and interacting with scientists to deepen understanding and inspire future engagement in science and medicine.
- Experiential learning in medical research experiential_learningImmerses students in the field of brain tumor research through direct exposure to scientific and medical environments, including live surgery observation, lab tours, and interactions with researchers, to deepen understanding and inspire future involvement in science and medicine.
- Multi-channel support engagement multi_channel_support_engagementOffers diverse pathways for involvement—including financial donations and in-kind contributions—enabling broader participation beyond direct volunteering, especially for those unable to engage physically but still motivated to support the mission.
- Multichannel engagement for mission support multi_channel_support_engagementOffers diverse pathways for involvement—including financial donations, in-kind contributions, and volunteer action—to broaden participation and sustain support for brain tumor research.
- Peer support for affected students peer_support_modelLeverages student peer networks to provide emotional and social support to those undergoing treatment for brain tumors, recognizing that peer relationships enhance resilience and coping during medical challenges.
- Peer support for affected students peer_support_modelLeverages student peer networks to provide emotional and social support to those undergoing treatment for brain tumors, fostering connection and resilience through shared experience and solidarity.
- Public awareness and advocacyRaises awareness about the prevalence and impact of brain tumors, particularly among youth, to inform the public and drive engagement with the cause.
- Volunteer-driven direct impact model direct_impact_volunteer_engagementUtilizes volunteer engagement—especially among youth—to deliver tangible, visible outcomes through direct service and event participation, reinforcing commitment and connection to the cause.
- Youth-led philanthropy and leadership development youth_engagement_philanthropyEngages students as primary drivers of philanthropy and organizational operations, providing them with real-world leadership experience through managing events, engaging with media and school administrators, and contributing to large-scale fundraising efforts, thereby fostering youth empowerment and civic engagement.
- Youth-led philanthropy and leadership development youth_engagement_philanthropyEngages students as primary drivers of fundraising and organizational operations, providing them with leadership experience and empowering them to effect change through direct participation in philanthropy, media engagement, and event management.
named programs · 4
what they call their work
Annual Walk-a-thon
A centerpiece fundraising event held in Scottsdale, AZ, and other locations, where students and community members walk to raise money and awareness for brain tumor research.
Community Outreach and Awareness
Promotes awareness of brain tumors as a leading cause of cancer deaths among youth and supports affected individuals and their families.
Medical Field Exposure
Offers students opportunities to observe live brain surgery, tour brain tumor research laboratories, and attend lectures from scientists.
Student Leadership Development
Provides opportunities for students to manage philanthropic activities, interact with companies and media, and meet with school administrators.
relationships · 18
who they work with
- Amazon Partner — Receives a portion of purchases made through AmazonSmile.
- Barrow Partner — Hosted a live brain surgery observation.
- Barrow Neurological Institute Partner — Beneficiary of funds raised by SSBTR
- Barrow Neurological Institute Partner — Recipient of distributed funds for brain tumor research.
- Fry's Grocery Partner — Receives donations when supporters link their Fry's Grocery Club Card.
- GoodSearch Partner — Receives payments for every search conducted using the GoodSearch engine.
- GoodShop Partner — Receives a portion of purchases made through GoodShop at various establishments.
- Mayo Hospital Partner — Hosted a Proton Beam Radiation Unit Tour and lecture on radiation therapy.
- National Brain Tumor Society Partner — Beneficiary of funds raised by SSBTR
- National Brain Tumor Society Partner — Recipient of distributed funds for brain tumor research.
- Phoenix Children's Hospital Partner — Beneficiary of funds raised by SSBTR
- Phoenix Children's Hospital Partner — Recipient of distributed funds for brain tumor research.
- Saguaro High School Partner — Hosted a "Cure-A-Thon" event.
- TGen Partner — Hosted a tour.
- TGen Partner — Recipient of distributed funds for brain tumor research.
- Translational Genomic Research Institute (TGen) Partner — Beneficiary of funds raised by SSBTR
- University of Arizona Medical Research Partner — Beneficiary of funds raised by SSBTR
- dedicated volunteer adults Partner — Volunteer adults work alongside students to support the organization's mission.