"Your Child Has Cancer": How Keaton's Child Cancer Alliance Softens Those Words.

I would love to hear your thoughts on this episode. Please send me a text...In this episode, I meet with Jessica Alonso, Executive Director of Keaton’s Child Cancer Alliance, to share the full story behind an organization committed to one promise: no family should face childhood cancer alone.Jessica’s journey began more than a decade ago as a bilingual family navigator and has grown into a deeply personal mission shaped by faith, service, and lived experience. Together, we talk about how Keaton’s supports children and families from diagnosis through treatment, survivorship, and beyond — and why the demand for these services continues to grow.We'll cover:How Keaton’s Child Cancer Alliance was founded in the wake of loss and loveThe Family Navigator program and why it’s the heart of the organizationSupporting more than 450 families a year across Northern CaliforniaThe growing capacity challenge as one child a day is diagnosedCommunity partnerships that help families emotionally, financially, and medicallyJessica’s own cancer journey and how it deepened her leadership and purposeWhat it would take to expand services so no family is ever turned awayLearn more or get involved:🌐 https://childcancer.org/📧 [email protected] Summaries00:00 – Welcome & Episode FocusI welcome Jessica Alonso, Executive Director of Keaton’s Child Cancer Alliance, and introduce a conversation about supporting families through childhood cancer.02:00 – How Keaton’s BeganJessica shares the origin of Keaton’s, founded after the loss of four-year-old Keaton Raphael and a promise to help families navigate pediatric cancer.05:30 – Jessica’s JourneyFrom bilingual family navigator to executive director, Jessica reflects on 12 years shaped by service, faith, and advocacy.08:45 – The Family Navigator ProgramWe explain how trained navigators support families from diagnosis through treatment, survivorship, and loss.13:30 – Demand & CapacityOne child a day is diagnosed. Jessica discusses rising referrals and the urgent need to grow the navigator team.17:30 – Partnerships That MatterWe highlight hospital, nonprofit, and community partners that help meet families’ emotional and financial needs.21:30 – Funding the WorkJessica outlines Keaton’s primary fundraisers, including the gala, golf tournament, and Gold Hope Walk.25:45 – Research SupportWe discuss how Keaton’s contributes to pediatric cancer research through community-driven fundraising.29:00 – When the Leader Becomes the PatientJessica shares her own cancer journey and how it deepened her empathy and leadership.33:30 – Vision & How to HelpWe close with what growth could look like for Keaton’s and ways to get involved.Thank you so much for listening to this nonprofit story!  We appreciate you. Please visit the website to sign up for our email updates and newsletter. https://www.nonprofpod.com/  And if you like, leave me a voicemail to comment on the program, leave a question for us to ask in the future or a message for me, Jeff Holden. I may even use your voice mail message in a future episode of one of our incredible local nonprofit organizations. https://www.nonprofpod.com/voicemail. Thanks again for your support in listening, commenting and sharing the great work our local nonprofits are accomplishing.