Valley Children’s Hospital is taking a monumental step forward in the fight against pediatric cancer, thanks to a historic $15 million donation from an anonymous donor. This generous gift will enable our hospital to create an advanced cell therapy program, bringing cutting-edge treatments such as bone marrow transplants and CAR T-cell therapy to children in the Central Valley.

CAR T-cell therapy is a groundbreaking cancer treatment that modifies a patient’s T-cells to better identify and destroy cancer cells. With a remarkable 60% rate of patients remaining cancer-free after five years in pediatric patients who have relapsed or refractory cancer, the therapy gives hope to families facing the most difficult diagnoses.

Bone marrow transplants, another key component of the program, have been a life-saving treatment for decades, offering children with certain cancers a chance to replace diseased cells with healthy ones.

However, for years, families in the region have had to travel to Los Angeles or the Bay Area for these specialized therapies, often enduring extended stays far away from home. Now, children who need these advanced therapies will no longer have to travel long distances for life-saving care.

“These therapies are some of the most powerful weapons we have in our cancer-fighting arsenal. This donation places us among the top children’s hospitals in the nation that can deliver these therapies and positions us to access future advances in treatment. It’s a life-saving advancement for our patients.”

Dr. Vinod Balasa, Medical Director of Valley Children’s Cancer and Blood Disorders Center

The $15 million donation is one of the largest in Valley Children’s history. It will support the program’s establishment and accreditation, as well as fund its operations for the first 10 years. While it will take three to four years to fully launch the program, the impact will be felt for decades to come.

Valley Children’s Cancer and Blood Disorders Center continues its mission to provide world-class care for children in the region – and we sincerely thank our donors who support us in our mission. Consistently ranked among the top in pediatric cancer research participation, the center will now offer the most advanced treatments on-site, ensuring that no child has to travel far to receive the care they need and deserve.