Heroes for Children

What Heroes for Children does

Heroes for Children is a Texas-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in October 2004 by Larissa Linton and Jenny Lawson, two mothers who lost their daughters — Taylor Anne Brewton and Allison 'Allie' Leigh Scott — to Acute Myeloid Leukemia. The organization delivers financial and social assistance to families with children aged 0-22 who are battling cancer in Texas, operating across the DFW, Houston, San Antonio, and Austin metros. Its core service model channels all assistance requests through licensed hospital social workers at partner hospitals, who submit applications on behalf of families; approved requests deliver up to $900 in financial assistance per application within one week of approval, covering rent, mortgage, utilities, transportation, fertility preservation, and funeral costs.

The organization's programmatic portfolio comprises three pillars: Financial Assistance (rent, mortgage, utilities, transportation, fertility assistance, funeral costs), Social Experiences (family events, milestone celebrations such as birthdays, graduations, and quinceañeras, the Holiday Heroes program dating to 2006, and Virtual Summer Camp), and Comfort and Care (the Laptops for Love program, which donated 70 brand-new laptops to children age 7+ in 2025 at $250 per unit, plus The Blanket Project, parking vouchers, toys, and basic need items). There is no proprietary technology platform; distribution is mediated through a hospital social worker referral network and direct outreach.

Funding is generated through four primary streams: individual donations (one-time and the Everyday Hero monthly recurring program at a suggested $18/month), corporate partnerships and event sponsorships (Houston Heroes & Handbags, DFW Hero Games, Hold'Em for Heroes, DFW Love for Heroes tennis tournament), signature fundraising events, and workplace giving programs (matching gifts, volunteer grants, payroll giving). The organization employs 1-10 staff based in Plano, TX, including Co-Founder and Executive Director Jenny Lawson, Co-Founder Larissa Linton, and senior leaders across development, finance, programs, and marketing. In 2025, the organization helped launch the North Texas Childhood Cancer Coalition and joined the Childhood Cancer Leadership Alliance of Houston, and received the Candid Platinum Seal of Transparency in 2026.

Name

Heroes for Children

Legal name

Heroes for Children

Website

https://heroesforchildren.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Heroes for Children is a Texas-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2004 that delivers up to $900 of immediate financial assistance, social experiences, and comfort items to families with children aged 0-22 battling cancer across the DFW, Houston, San Antonio, and Austin metros, funded through individual donations, corporate partnerships, and signature fundraising events.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Pediatric Cancer Family Support Services

NAICS

Child and Youth Services (62411), Other Individual and Family Services (624190)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Youth Mentoring & Positive Youth Development Nonprofits (BPAGADAD)

Keywords

• Pediatric cancer support
• Family financial assistance
• Nonprofit fundraising events
• Childhood cancer services
• Hospital social work support

Headquarters

HQ city

Plano

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: One-time and monthly donations from individual supporters. Monthly giving program called 'Everyday Hero' with suggested $18/month contribution. Donors can also donate items for auction and raffle events.
2. Corporate Partnerships and Sponsorships: Event sponsorship (Houston Heroes & Handbags, DFW Hero Games, Hold'Em for Heroes), program sponsorship, employee engagement with matching gift programs, cause marketing campaigns where portion of sales supports the organization.
3. Signature Fundraising Events: Revenue from signature events including Houston Heroes & Handbags (handbag auctions), DFW Hero Games (fun run, field day, poker tournament), Houston Hold'Em for Heroes poker tournament, and DFW Love for Heroes tennis tournament.
4. Workplace Giving Programs: Employee matching gift programs, volunteer incentive programs with volunteer grants, and payroll giving programs that allow automatic deductions from paychecks.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Heroes for Children is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers financial assistance (up to $900 per application, disbursed within one week), social experiences (family events, milestone celebrations, Holiday Heroes, Virtual Summer Camp), and comfort and care items (Laptops for Love, blankets, parking vouchers) to families with children ages 0–22 battling cancer in Texas. Services are accessed through referrals from licensed hospital social workers.

Product overview

Heroes for Children is a nonprofit charitable organization (not a technology company) that provides direct financial assistance, social support programs, and comfort services to families with children (0-22 years of age) battling cancer in Texas. The organization does not offer technology products or software platforms. Its programs include Financial Assistance (covering bills, rent, utilities, transportation, fertility assistance, funeral assistance), Social Experiences (Family Events, Milestone Celebrations, Holiday Heroes, Virtual Summer Camp), and Comfort and Care (Laptops for Love, The Blanket Project, Parking Vouchers, Toys and Activities, Basic Need Items).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Financial Assistance Program Provides up to $900 of direct financial relief per family application, covering rent, mortgage, utilities, transportation, fertility assistance, and funeral costs. Funds are delivered within one week of approval. Available to Texas families with children (0–22) battling cancer, accessed through licensed hospital social worker referrals.
• Family Events and Social Experiences Family events across DFW, Houston, San Antonio, and Austin including Valentine's dinners, zoo days, museum nights, fall festivals, milestone celebrations (birthdays, graduations, quinceañeras), and the Virtual Summer Camp. Designed for Texas families navigating pediatric cancer.
• Holiday Heroes Program Seasonal holiday support program providing gifts, celebrations, and family experiences during the December holiday season. In 2025, the program served over 100 families.
• Laptops for Love Provides brand-new laptops to children ages 7 and older undergoing cancer treatment, supporting education and connection during long hospital stays. Sponsorship is $250 per laptop; 70 laptops were donated in 2025.
• Everyday Hero Monthly Giving Program Recurring monthly donation program with a suggested contribution of $18/month that provides sustained funding for financial assistance, social experiences, and comfort and care programs serving Texas families with children battling cancer.

Quantifiable outcome

• 1,800 Texas children diagnosed with cancer every year are served through hospital partnerships
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• Jason AldeanflagshipGTM or Marketing Partner · 15 August 2025Country music star who partnered with Heroes for Children through the 'My Kind of Hero' event, donating $200,000 along with Patriot Mobile. Devarje Williams, a teen who received help from Heroes for Children during his cancer journey after Hurricane Harvey, recommended the organization to Jason Aldean's team.
• Houston Astros / Astros FoundationcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 15 August 2025Partnered with Jason Aldean and Heroes for Children for the My Kind of Hero family event at Puttshack and Daikin Park. Astros Foundation contributed an additional $5,000 to support families. Families attended batting practice at Daikin Park before the game.
• Jim Adler & AssociatescoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Texas-based personal injury law firm serving as presenting sponsor of the 2026 Virtual Summer Camp program through their Hammer Helps community investment program. The sponsorship ensures families facing childhood cancer can participate in Virtual Summer Camp free of charge, creating meaningful experiences throughout the summer.
• Neon CactusminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Go Gold 2025 partner supporting Childhood Cancer Awareness Month initiatives.
• Chick-fil-AminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Go Gold 2025 partner supporting Childhood Cancer Awareness Month initiatives.
• McKessoncoreGTM or Marketing PartnerMcKesson employees came together to help host Zoe's quinceañera celebration, contributing time and resources to make the event possible for the family served by Heroes for Children.
• North Texas Childhood Cancer CoalitioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIn 2025, Heroes for Children helped launch the North Texas Childhood Cancer Coalition, bringing together North Texas nonprofits to strengthen collaboration and ensure families facing childhood cancer are connected to every available resource.
• Childhood Cancer Leadership Alliance of HoustoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAlliance of Houston nonprofits working side by side to build a model of collaboration that ensures every family who comes to Houston for treatment finds a network of care, compassion, and strength.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation: National childhood cancer nonprofit funding research and family support. Highly comparable mission focus on families navigating pediatric cancer, with a broader geographic reach and research funding component.
• National Pediatric Cancer Foundation: Pediatric cancer nonprofit supporting research and family services. Directly comparable in mission and beneficiary population, though operates nationally and is more research-weighted.
• CureSearch for Children's Cancer: National nonprofit focused on childhood cancer research and family support resources. Comparable in serving families of children with cancer, with overlap in financial/social support programs.
• American Childhood Cancer Organization: National nonprofit providing information, advocacy, and support to families affected by childhood cancer. Comparable beneficiary base with programs targeting families during treatment.
• Family Reach Foundation: Nonprofit providing financial assistance and resources to families facing cancer. Direct peer in delivering direct financial relief to families with cancer-diagnosed children.
• Rally Foundation for Childhood Cancer Research: Childhood cancer nonprofit combining research funding with family support. Comparable mission and event-driven fundraising model with a research emphasis.

Broad incumbents

• Ronald McDonald House Charities: Large, established nonprofit providing housing and support services near pediatric hospitals. Overlaps with Heroes for Children in serving families during treatment, but offers lodging rather than direct financial assistance.
• Make-A-Wish Foundation: Large national nonprofit granting wishes to children with critical illnesses including cancer. Comparable in delivering social/emotional support to pediatric cancer families, but at much larger scale.
• St. Baldrick's Foundation: Major childhood cancer nonprofit funding research and family support. Overlaps in beneficiary population and event-driven fundraising, but with a primarily research-funding focus.

Emerging players

• Hugs and Kisses (Pediatric Oncology Support): Smaller childhood cancer support nonprofit providing comfort items and family support services. Comparable in offering comfort items (akin to Laptops for Love/Blanket Project) and direct family support at a smaller scale.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/heroesforchildren
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/heroes-for-children
• Instagraminstagram.com/heroesforchildren
• Xx.com/heroes4children

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Heroes for Children