MPF Partners to Advance Pediatric Cancer Advocacy in California
- sarva55
- Aug 4
- 2 min read
On August 4, 2026, the Mithil Prasad Foundation proudly joined families, youth advocates, nonprofit organizations, children’s hospitals, policymakers, and industry partners at the California State Capitol for the inaugural California Pediatric Cancer Advocacy & Awareness Day.
MPF was honored to be one of the founding organizations that partnered with the Neev Kolte Foundation, Joey’s Wings and Unravel Pediatric Cancer, to plan this important event. Together, we created a day centered on youth voices, shared experiences, and a common purpose: improving outcomes for children with cancer in California.
The event was intentionally youth-led. Our youth volunteer, Veda Bharath, played an important role in bringing the day to life. She helped create social media posts, supported registration, and welcomed and introduced speakers during the program. We are incredibly proud of Veda and all the young advocates who prepared, organized, and walked into lawmakers’ offices to advocate for children with cancer.
They did not simply participate, they led.
Parents, siblings, grandparents, friends, healthcare professionals, nonprofits, biopharma representatives, and policymakers came to Sacramento with different experiences but one shared goal: to do more for children with cancer.
The day also marked an important victor, the adoption of resolutions declaring September as Childhood Cancer Awareness Month in California. We are grateful to Assemblywoman Blanca Rubio and Senator Susan Rubio for listening to families, standing with our community, and championing childhood cancer awareness.
None of this work is easy. We continue to show up because somewhere, another family will hear the words, “Your child has cancer.”
If our work can make their road a little easier, bring a better treatment a little closer, or offer more hope than families before them had, we will keep showing up.
For the children we carry with us
and for every child who comes after them.
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