Thus is the nature of childhood cancer. It is vicious. It is relentless. It cares not about skin color, social connections, demographics, nor religion. Navigating a child’s cancer diagnosis does not simply consist of supporting the child, rather supporting the entire family unit throughout their journey, wherever it is that may lead. This is where the Paxton Andrews Foundation steps in. I truly believe the very Army of Love that inspired PAX, is why I am still here today.

I lost my son to childhood cancer. My nuclear family dissolved shortly thereafter. Nevertheless, I remain humbly grateful for the outpouring of love and innumerable acts of kindness I’ve received from the PAX Army of Love. These kind and generous souls held my hand and shouldered my pain in ways that allowed me to survive the darkest walk of my life. By pledging a donation to PAX, you are essentially setting into motion a domino effect of love – and inspiring the unique supports needed to ease the cumbersome burden that comes along with the mind-numbing diagnosis of childhood cancer.

I feel compelled to reiterate that when you make a donation to PAX, you are not supporting families with no face and no name. You are providing assistance to individuals who may ultimately be your closest friends, your childhood classmates, your neighbors, and your fellow community members – who for reasons that cannot be explained, are dealing with the unimaginable.

Everyone has a story. Some may be hopelessly public about their journey. Others may be fiercely protective. Our journeys are as unique as our beloved babies. Unfortunately, our fear, distress and pain are eerily similar. You don’t know that the mom picking her child from school is driving her family back to the hospital to visit their ailing sibling in the HOT unit. Or, that the dad cheering his son on at basketball practice, was just in tears on the drive over – mourning his nephew who he lost to childhood cancer. You’re unaware that your neighbor just received news that his beloved grandson was moved from the HOT unit to ICU. Therein, he faces the loss of two generations of his lineage – one from an incurable disease; the other from an incurable heartbreak.

With your continued support and generosity, PAX is able to provide assistance to families just like yours – who, through the complete randomness and unfairness of life have been handed one of the most heart-wrenching circumstances known to mankind.

Thank you for making a difference. Thank you for helping to ensure these brave and deserving children and families are not in their fight alone.

PaxLove, Always…

xoox

Paxton’s Momma

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In the past five years, PAX has provided more than $250,000 to children with a cancer diagnosis in Southeastern Wisconsin.  While each child’s experience with childhood cancer is unique – the challenges they face and the stressors placed upon the family are daugtingly similar. Our hope is to ease some of the mind-numbing burden that comes along with receiving a childhood cancer diagnosis. In turn, allowing parents to focus on what is most important; their child and the family unit as a whole.

PAX is evermore grateful to the Gold Gala corporate sponsors. The generosity of Mangold Creative, Damage Control, InCheck and Urns Unlimited allowed PAX to allocate the proceeds from the event to provide support for countless families as they fight through the chaos of childrenhood cancer.  

The contributions raised through auctions and private contributions gave PAX the ability to establish a new goal.  Each year, the HOT unit staff at Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin cares for an estimated 300 children in active treatment for a cancer diagnosis. They anticipate 100 of those children will be newly diagnosed patients.  This year, PAX would like to ensure that each child diagnosed with cancer at CHW of Wisconsin is touched by Paxton’s life spark – in the form of a financial grant.

Last but not least, we remain forever indebted to the beautiful, blue-eyed, little boy who continues to inspire the very best in each of us. Paxton Bowe, we are humbly honored to serve as your ambassadors (and your biggest fans) in helping to spread your magical life-spark. We hope we do you proud.

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The partnership between PAX and the Highlanders football program began when Paxton’s eternal sweetheart, Nicole Kunick, arranged an introduction between the Highlanders coaching staff and Paxton. A meeting between angels almost always proves to be a ‘game-changer’. This one proved to be no exception. Within moments of the exchange, an audible of sorts was called. Head coach, Dave Keel, named the Paxton Andrews Foundation as the sole recipient of the proceeds generated from the Highlanders’ Gold Out.  However, the unanticipated donation of $4000, left us all speechless. The generous contributed generated by Coach Keel’s program provided support for countless local children and their families facing a childhood cancer diagnosis.

True to form, throughout the past year, Paxton has spread his life-spark throughout the Homestead community. His spark has jumped from Mrs. Kunick’s heart, through Coach Keel and Coach Zortman’s leadership, and spilled over into the student body. The Gold Out schedule for Friday, September 22nd, is reportedly on track to outshine last year’s affair. The Highlanders’ Army of Love has been hard at work, organizing different aspects and pulling together finishing touches to ensure Friday night’s Gold Out is one that reflects the hearts of gold that tie this tight-knit community together.

We look forward to gathering under the golden glow of ‘Friday Night Lights’ as the Highlanders take the field. While they look to secure another home-field victory against Nicolet; they’re already champions in our books – and in the books of hundreds of warriors who they’ve supported in their fight against childhood cancer. The very best type of champion, indeed.    

Go Highlanders!

PaxLoveAlways,

xoox

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This event was established five years ago, in honor of the company’s founder, Phil Isenhour. Through their efforts, current owners, Eva and Paul Winters, proudly celebrate Phil’s beautiful soul, and honor his long-standing commitment to building a stronger community.

The event will take place on Friday, June 9th at Silver Spring Country Club. Participants can register as an individual or as a foursome. The registration fee includes: lunch, 18 holes of golf with cart and dinner. The event will also include sponsored contests throughout the course, raffles and auctions…and, of course, a surplus of PaxLove. 

To register for the Phil Isenhour Golf Outing, and/or to learn more about the registration options and sponsorship opportunities – click the corresponding links below.

Registration Form

Sponsorship Opportunities

We are grateful beyond measure for the support Damage Control provides PAX throughout the year. Their generosity allows us to fulfill our mission in supporting our warriors in their fight against childhood cancer. While the kind people at Damage Control have developed a love affair of their own with our Peaceful Warrior – their commitment to community, to fellowship and to friendship is reflective of the very cloth Phil Isenhour was made. We anticipate that two special guests of honor will stand watch over the hills of Silver Spring Country Club on June 9th. We imagine their souls will pridefully beam bold and bright as they witness the spirit of giving and vibrations love spread between friends, old and new.

We look forward to seeing you on June 9th at the Phil Isenhour Memorial Charity Golf Outing.

xoxo

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Following her treatment, Emma felt compelled to provide a sense of healing and hope for other children during the most trying times of their fight against childhood cancer. She established an organization, A Patient Helping Patients, which delivers gift baskets to children undergoing treatments for childhood cancer at Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin. Through her organization, Emma has delivered nearly 3,000 packages. In doing so, she’s formed close bonds with many children, making a point to visit as many little warriors as possible when dropping off her packages. 

Emma’s leukemia remained in remission until just weeks before reaching her hallmark, five-year anniversary. This past December, home from college on winter break, Emma underwent routine tests. The results were devastating. Emma’s leukemia relapsed. This time around, in addition to chemotherapy, Emma will require a bone marrow transplant. Instead of simply making a drop off at Children’s Hospital, Emma will continue down the hallway to report for her own treatments.

Understandably, when PAX received a Warrior Grant application from Emma, we were honored to be able to provide her with assistance. She most certainly deserves to be on the receiving end of support provided to a child fighting a cancer diagnosis. Beyond that, this brave and generous warrior girl embodies all things PAX. As the saying goes, “What you put out into the world, always comes back to you.” In Emma’s case – we think it’s safe to say, she has a whole lot of love coming her way.

Life is tough, darling. But so are you. 

xoxo

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We are heart-broken to relay the news we received last month, ironically in the midst of our final preparations for the Gold Gala: Andrew’s cancer has returned – again. This is Andrew’s 4th reoccurrence with Glioblastoma. This time, it’s deemed to be in ‘the most aggressive form’, as it appears to be originating in his spine / spinal fluid and the tumors are said to be spreading aggressively and rapidly.  Andrew’s oncology team at Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin delivered the worst possible news: there is nothing more they could do to treat Andrew.  In summary, no traditional treatment course exists – anywhere – to treat Andrew’s cancer.  

With a dire sense of urgency, Andrew and his parents immediately flew to California, where Andrew became a participant in an experimental trial at UC-San Francisco. This is the first time this particular trial is being performed on a human. It’s considered to be palliative in nature – in hopes to prevent the tumors from spreading further. 

Upon hearing the crushing news about our darling boy, the PAX Board quickly assembled and unanimously approved a motion to re-activate Andrew’s Warrior status.  In an effort to absorb the enormous financial strains associated with experimental treatment and travel related expenses that his family is going to incur, PAX provided Andrew with financial support equivalent to that which is typically allocated to an active warrior for one year.

Andrew has been undergoing the experimental treatment for the last three weeks. Andrew reports that he feels good – and, ironically, continues to remain essentially asymptomatic. Next week, Andrew will undergo an MRI; we remain hopeful the results will be positive.

Please join us in sending endless amounts of PaxLove to Andrew and his family. May they feel the warmth from our Army of Love surround them. And, may knowing that he is not alone in this fight, bring Andrew’s beautiful heart even the slightest sense of peace.

Stay brave, darling boy.

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As we reflect upon the “golden” affair, we are overwhelmed by the generosity of the many individuals who contributed to the phenomenal success.

As fellow board members, we are grateful to one another. Each of us selflessly dedicates countless hours of time, energy and love to PAX all year round. The nine individuals who compose our all-volunteer board have demanding careers, own successful businesses, serve on additional board of directors, and are highly-involved participants in church and community affairs. Moreover, we collectively parent eighteen very busy, cherished children.

We are blessed to have welcome two new board members this year; Dale Shaver and Connie Shaikh. Somehow, the personal character of these two individuals outweighs their credentials when it comes to community service. Their desire to serve on the front-line of the PAX Foundation will benefit our organization and the childhood cancer community in countless ways.

We are evermore grateful for our generous sponsors.  For the fourth year in a row, our corporate sponsorship covered the cost of the event. In turn, 100% of the profits raised at the Gold Gala will directly support our brave warriors. Our sponsors include: the Milwaukee Brewers, Mangold Creative, Damage Control, Duane Hunter – Urns Unlimited,, InCheck, Associated Bank, Woodland Alloy Casting, Lammi Sports, and The Firm Consultants.  The majority of these businesses do far more than provide financial assistance throughout the year. They’ve welcomed us into their giant hearts and made PAX a member of their corporate families.  For their unwavering support, we extend a surplus of sweet PaxLove.

We also extend heartfelt appreciation to our volunteers, affectionately referred to as our Army of Love.  This includes our dynamic, flawless Gala volunteers, those who work to prepare, package and deliver healthy meals for our warrior families, and those who do countless ‘acts of love’ behind the scenes throughout the year.  Without their help, we wouldn’t be able to provide the unique and personalized support our warrior families deserve.

We would be remiss if we did not recognize the inspiring warriors and the families we support.  We are continually amazed and honored by the way in which they open their homes and hearts to us. They entrust us with some of the most intimate details of their family lives, during a time when they are the most vulnerable. We have been invited to share in some amazing victories and celebrations, and we have cried with them – and for them – during moments no parent or child should have to endure.

Last but not least, we remain forever indebted to the beautiful, blue-eyed little boy who continues to inspire the very best in each of us. Paxton Bowe, we are humbly honored to serve as your ambassadors (and your biggest fans) in spreading your magical life-spark across the land. I hope we do you proud.  

We PaxLove you, one and all.

xoxo

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We would like to recognize our 14 Karat Gold Gala Sponsors: Associated Bank, Woodland Alloy Casting, Inc, and The Firm Consulting.

Associated Bank is notorious for providing prime financial services topped with exceptional customer service. From providing products that exceed individual customer needs in addition to making each visit a special one, they are motivated in doing everything possible to ensure their customers have the best experience possible. We send a extra-special appreciation to John Utz for his instrumental role in partnering with PAX – all in the name of providing support for children in his own community who are fighting a childhood cancer diagnosis.

Woodland Alloy Casting, Inc, located in Racine, Wisconsin is known not only across the country but around the world for safely shipping quality aluminum castings in a timely fashion. Their team works endlessly, helping with design, first article, production, and finished machining, to ensure all customers are satisfied. Additionally, those at Woodland Alloy Casting strive to form lasting relationships with each and every customer with the goal of building on each other’s success and continuing to grow together. We are honored to count the kind and generous individuals at Woodland/Alloy among our tightly knit PAX-family.

The Firm Consulting is recognized as Wisconsin’s most substantive, bi-partisan public affairs firm. Clients who partner with The Firm routinely achieve their public policy and broader business objective as a direct result of their experience, creativity, and drive. The Firm is highly regarded for diving into their clients’ challenges and making them their own. We send special PaxLove to Buddy Julius for his heartfelt desire to make a difference in the lives of our brave warriors by supporting them during their fight against childhood cancer.

Lastly, PAX is infinitely indebted to the SURG Restaurant Group, especially co-owners Omar and Connie Shaikh, for going above and beyond in facilitating countless efforts to ensure the success of the Gold Gala. The Shaikh’s reputation to give back to their community supersedes their name. It is no surprise that when Omar and Connie sign-on to support a cause, the event is sure to be a success.  We are humbly honored to count the entire Shaikh family among Paxton’s ever-growing Army of Love. Beyond that, we are especially grateful to Connie Shaikh for serving as all the proof one needs that angles really do walk among us.

We are looking forward to sharing a beautiful evening, filled with love with our generous sponsors and our gracious guests. If you would like to join us, the Gala is being held on February 18th at Surg on the Water. To purchase tickets or make a donation, click HERE.

Pax.Love.Always.

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Urns Unlimited located in Madison, Wisconsin primarily operates in the funeral director’s equipment and supplies industry. Duane Hunter, President of Urns Unlimited, became a special friend of Paxton upon learning of his stunning diagnosis in May of 2012. Committed to continuing to honor Paxton and support other warriors who are currently fighting a childhood cancer diagnosis, Duane champions the PAX mission through his ongoing involvement with the foundation and with both personal donations and corporate sponsorships. We are infinitely indebted to Duane and Urns Unlimited for their gracious 18K sponsorship.

Lammi Sports Management specializes in athlete endorsement representation, sports television production / syndication, and personal appearances for sports personalities. Located in Milwaukee’s Third Ward, if a sport exists – chances are Lammi has represented an athlete in the arena.

Brian Lammi, Founder and Owner, may lead the marketing efforts of dozens of the Midwest’s most recognizable sports names; yet, his commitment to serve others does not stop with highly recognizable sports personalities. Through athlete appearances, auction donations, and PSAs, Lammi Sports Management; its clients; and its staff have helped raise over one million dollars for exceptional causes in Wisconsin and across America. PAX is humbled to be counted among the benefactors of this generous organization.

We are so grateful to Urns Unlimited and Lammi Sports Management for joining PAX in supporting children and families in their fight against childhood cancer.

To purchase your Gold Gala tickets – please click here. If you’re unable to attend the Gala, but would like to make a donation to the event, please do so by clicking here.

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PAX forged a special bond with the Brewers back in September of 2012 when participating (as Team Paxton) in the Brewers Mini-Marathon to benefit the MACC Fund. PAX was named the top donor of the event which benefits childhood cancer research in Wisconsin. Paxton’s Army of Love joined together, and tirelessly trained and fund-raised. Unexpectedly, Paxton’s dearly committed fan base ultimately ran in his honor, instead of in his name.  Fueled by the life-spark of the bravest boy in all the land, PAX raised over $100,000 for the Brewers Mini-Marathon. Since then, our Blue Crew and our blue-eyed boy have found a way to remain soulfully connected.

Rick Schlesinger, Chief Operating Officer of the Milwaukee Brewers, continues to make good on his mission to stretch the philanthropic arm of the Brewer’s organization by supporting fundraising efforts that benefit area causes. PAX is honored to be among the charitable foundations that the Brewers choose to support. Our warriors and their families have enjoyed many games at Miller Park as Special Guests of the Brewers. In doing so, they have been given an opportunity to escape the dark and isolating world of childhood cancer, and spend coveted, uninterrupted time together. Our warrior families will attest that no greater gift exists than time spent as a family unit.

We are very much looking forward to welcoming some of our special friends from the Brewers organization at the Gold Gala, on February 18th, 2018.

To purchase tickets for the Gala, or to make a donation for the event, click here.

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