The priority of the Foundation is to assist families who are battling childhood cancer. The Foundation supports community organizations that provide direct family support and services to children with cancer and their families. The Rypien Foundation is not able to provide individual assistance to families or patients. While the foundation is committed to supporting families, support must be made through IRS approved 501 (c)(3) organizations who in turn provide services, family support grants and resources to families.

Rypien Foundation’s mission statement ends with the qualifier "in the Inland Northwest". Two of our values are "Community", and "Focus". Accordingly, we focus our attention and commitment on activities in the Inland Northwest.

The following are ways in which we provide HOPE for families battling childhood cancer:

Patient Advocate
October 2, 2006 marks the first day of the Patient Advocate position in the oncology outpatient department at Sacred Heart Children’s Hospital, funded by the Rypien Foundation.. The Patient Advocate assists families in day to day navigation, and with issues such as long & short term housing, insurance, and other practical needs.

Inland Northwest Candlelighters
The Rypien Foundation is a major sponsor of Inland Northwest Candlelighters, providing funds to assist in their mission. Inland Northwest Candlelighters is a charitable non-profit 501(c)(3) organization and an action oriented group, set out to offer a support system to meet some very practical needs of young cancer patients and their families. In addition to providing matching funds to their fundraising activities, the Rypien Foundation has provided funding for Christmas parties as well as funding for gas cards for families afflicted by cancer.

KidKare Mobiles
In 2006, the Rypien Foundation donated 20 "KidKare" mobiles. These are mobile IV poles integrated into a child’s play car. Northern Quest was our partner as we distributed this equipment to local hospitals. Sacred Heart Children's Hospital received a dozen cars, Holy Family received eight cars and Newport Hospital received two. Click here for full story

Hope on Wheels
In March 2006, Rypien Foundation worked in association with Hallmark Hyundai and the "Hope on Wheels" fundraiser, and donated $25,000 to Sacred Heart Children’s Hospital, earmarked for childhood cancer clinical research. Hyundai donated $1.6 million to childhood cancer in 2006 and recognized the Rypien Foundation as an organization that would ensure the funds are used well in our community. Click here for full story

Camp Goodtimes-East
Each year boys and girls diagnosed with cancer or have a history of cancer have the opportunity to spend a week away from their routine of treatments and hospital visits and have the chance to be a kid. Camp Goodtimes-East is medically supervised and features virtually every activity enjoyed by today's youngsters, including canoeing, swimming, archery, fishing, bicycling, outdoor games, arts and crafts, campfires and singing.

The Rypien Foundation provides assistance each year to make sure these kids have the best experience possible. The Foundation provides airfare for out-of-town kids, hotel rooms for families, riverboat cruise on the Spokane River, and supplies the campers with items for their "camper packs" such as : t-shirts for tye-dying, cowboy hats, bandanas, deck of cards, and disposable cameras.

Family Housing
We also take pride in providing housing for out of town families who are traveling to receive treatment. If ever the Ronald McDonald House is full, we pay to house the families at the Holiday Inn Express.

SMILES
Rypien Foundation supports SMILES, a dental service that provides braces for kids who have been treated for cancer.

Activities
The Rypien Foundation understands the importance for families to maintain social and recreational activities. For kids with cancer, these activities play a large role in a young patient’s rehabilitation and recovery.

We provide families with tickets to Spokane Chiefs hockey games and tickets to Disney on Ice.

Scholarships
Rypien Foundation provided funding for 10 healthcare professionals to attend the Heart of Pediatric Palliative Care Conference. These professionals gained important insights in their care of children facing serious illness as a result of attending.

Return to top