Mystic Force Foundation

What Mystic Force Foundation does

Mystic Force Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit public charity founded in 2008 by Dr. Steven and Silvia Vanni after their son Salvatore was diagnosed with Stage IV Neuroblastoma at age 4. The foundation funds childhood cancer research, raises awareness, and delivers direct support services to children battling cancer and their families in South Florida. Core programs include Heroes Hangout, a North Miami Beach facility described as the only dedicated Childhood Cancer Haven in South Florida, providing a germ-controlled play and celebration space for children in active treatment; a Wish Granting program funded by in-kind donations; monthly in-patient hospital parties at Nicklaus Children's Hospital and other South Florida hospitals (operating 11+ years); a limited Emergency Financial Support Fund for families in severe financial distress referred by partner hospitals; and an annual Washington DC advocacy program (13 consecutive years) supporting the Childhood Cancer STAR Act, the Childhood Cancer Data Initiative, and the Mikaela Naylon Give Kids a Chance Act.

The foundation opened and continues to fund a dedicated childhood cancer research laboratory at the University of Miami, established at the time of founding in 2008. All operations are run by a 100% volunteer board with no paid staff; the organization has no proprietary technology product. The foundation is led by co-founders Dr. Steven Vanni and Silvia Vanni (Executive Director), with headquarters at 1943 NE 164th St, North Miami Beach, Florida, and a separate mailing address for check donations.

Revenue is generated through a diversified mix of channels: tax-deductible donations from individuals, corporations, and foundations; tiered event sponsorships ($250-$2,000 for the Holiday Party program); event registrations including Virtual Walk/Run/Bike at $30 per participant; merchandise sales through a website e-commerce store shipping to US, US territories, Canada, and Mexico; and grassroots community fundraisers (bagel bars, pickleball tournaments, blood drives, restaurant partnerships). Beneficiary reach is regional (South Florida hospitals and Heroes Hangout) while donor acquisition extends nationally and to Canada and Mexico via the virtual event format. The foundation's distribution model is direct-to-consumer, with hospital partnerships as the primary beneficiary referral channel and Dante Law Firm as the founding sponsor of the Heroes Hangout facility.

Name

Mystic Force Foundation

Legal name

Mystic Force Foundation

Website

https://mysticforcefoundation.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Mystic Force Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit that funds childhood cancer research, runs the Heroes Hangout Childhood Cancer Haven in North Miami Beach, and delivers wish-granting, hospital parties, and emergency financial support to South Florida families with children in cancer treatment.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Pediatric Cancer Support Services

NAICS

Voluntary Health Organizations (813212), Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Other Individual and Family Services (624190)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Misc Health & Allied Services, Nec (8090)

akta.pro primary industry

Rare Disease & Special Needs Support Organizations (BPAGACAM)

akta.pro secondary industry

Family Offices & Philanthropic Advisors (Grantmaking) (BPAGAKAD)

Keywords

• Childhood cancer research
• Family support services
• Wish granting program
• Pediatric hospital parties
• Nonprofit advocacy services

Headquarters

HQ city

North Miami Beach

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: Tax-deductible donations from individuals, corporations, and foundations. The foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (EIN 26-2454734) registered in Florida. Donations fund childhood cancer research, Heroes Hangout operations, wish granting, hospital parties, and emergency financial support for families.
2. Event Registrations: Registration fees for virtual and in-person events such as the Virtual Walk/Run/Bike Registration at $30.00 per participant. These events combine fundraising with awareness building and community engagement.
3. Event Sponsorships: Corporate sponsorship tiers for events such as the Holiday Party Sponsor ($2,000), Candy Cane Craft Table Sponsor ($1,000), Santa's Hot Chocolate Station ($500), Stocking Sponsor ($500), and Goody Table Sponsor ($250). Provides recognition and branding opportunities for sponsors.
4. Merchandise Sales: Sale of merchandise including event t-shirts and related items through the website store. Ships to US territories, Canada, and Mexico.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Mystic Force Foundation is a 501(c)(3) public charity that funds childhood cancer research and provides direct support services to children battling cancer and their families. Core offerings include Heroes Hangout (a Childhood Cancer Haven), Wish Granting, monthly In-Patient Hospital Parties, an Emergency Financial Support Fund for families in severe financial distress, and an annual Washington DC advocacy program for federal research funding. All programs are 100% volunteer-run and provided at no cost to beneficiaries.

Product overview

Mystic Force Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit public charity offering a portfolio of childhood cancer support services rather than a unified technology product. The foundation operates Heroes Hangout as its signature Childhood Cancer Haven service, providing a safe space for children in treatment. Additional services include Wish Granting, In-Patient Hospital Parties, an Emergency Financial Support Fund, and a Research Updates/Fact Library. The foundation also conducts annual Washington DC advocacy for childhood cancer research funding and offers a Virtual Walk/Run/Bike Registration product for fundraising events. All programs are 100% volunteer-run, with no cost to families.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Heroes Hangout: A one-of-a-kind Childhood Cancer Haven providing a safe, magical place for children undergoing cancer treatment to play, celebrate, and experience the joys of childhood. The only dedicated Childhood Cancer Haven in South Florida.

Products and services

• Heroes Hangout A one-of-a-kind Childhood Cancer Haven providing a safe, magical space for children undergoing cancer treatment and their families to play, celebrate, and experience joy between hospital admissions and treatments. Offers monthly themed events, birthday parties, and support at no cost to families. Only dedicated Childhood Cancer Haven in South Florida.
• Wish Granting Program that grants wishes to children battling cancer through in-kind donations from individuals and companies, bringing smiles and happiness to children undergoing treatment.
• In-Patient Hospital Parties Monthly in-patient hospital parties held for over 11 years to bring joy and happiness to children battling cancer during their hospital stays, held at South Florida hospitals including Nicklaus Children's Hospital.
• Emergency Financial Support Fund Limited emergency financial support fund for families in severe financial distress referred by local South Florida hospitals.
• Washington DC Advocacy Program Annual advocacy program on Capitol Hill to advocate for increased federal funding for childhood cancer research, including support for the Childhood Cancer STAR Act and Childhood Cancer Data Initiative. Contributed to passage of the Mikaela Naylon Give Kids a Chance Act signed into law February 3, 2026.
• Virtual Walk/Run/Bike Registration Registration product for virtual walk, run, or bike events held during Hero Week or throughout the year at $30.00 per participant. Includes a Cure Childhood Cancer T-shirt available in men's and women's fits, sizes S through XL. Ships to US, US territories, Canada, and Mexico.

Quantifiable outcome

• 100% volunteer organization with no paid staff overhead
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Nicklaus Children's HospitalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary hospital partner for in-patient parties and Family Fun Nights. The foundation holds regular events for children on the oncology floor (6 Tower), bringing joy and celebration to children undergoing treatment.
• South Florida HospitalscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with local South Florida hospitals for referrals to the limited Emergency Financial Support Fund for families deemed in severe financial distress. Also supports in-patient hospital parties across the region.
• University of Miami (Cancer Research Lab)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe foundation opened and funds a dedicated laboratory at the University of Miami specifically for Childhood Cancer Research, established at the time of founding in 2008.
• Children's Oncology Group (COG)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerReference on research updates page. COG is the world's largest organization performing clinical research to improve care and treatment of children with cancer. More than 90% of children diagnosed with cancer in the US are cared for at COG-affiliated centers.
• Community Businesses and OrganizationsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerVarious partnerships with community businesses for events, fundraisers, wish granting, and special individualized events. Includes restaurants (Talkin Tacos, Anthony's, Chipotle), venues (IPic Movies, Marlins), and local businesses (Bagel Bar, Treesome, Coffee with a Cop).

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Livestrong Foundation: A large incumbent across the broader cancer survivorship and support space. Adjacent overlap with Mystic Force's survivor and family-support mission but operating at portfolio scale well beyond pediatric oncology.

Direct peers

• Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation: A leading 501(c)(3) focused entirely on childhood cancer research funding and family support — directly comparable to Mystic Force Foundation's research-grantmaking and family-services mix, though operating at a far larger national scale.
• St. Baldrick's Foundation: The largest US volunteer-driven and donor-funded charity dedicated to childhood cancer research. Strongly comparable given Mystic Force's event-driven, volunteer-led grantmaking model and shared pediatric oncology research mission.
• National Pediatric Cancer Foundation: Focused on funding pediatric cancer research and supporting families through treatment. Comparable in mission and grantmaking-to-research focus, though with broader geographic reach than Mystic Force.
• American Childhood Cancer Organization: A national advocacy and support organization for families of children with cancer. Closely matches Mystic Force's dual research-advocacy and family-support mission at a larger national scale.
• Make-A-Wish Foundation: The premier US wish-granting organization for children with critical illnesses. Mystic Force's Wish Granting program is a directly analogous offering at a much smaller regional scale.
• CureSearch for Children's Cancer: A national nonprofit accelerating children's cancer research and supporting affected families. Directly comparable in research-funding and family-support scope and similar grassroots fundraising roots.
• Rally Foundation for Childhood Cancer Research: A childhood cancer research grantmaker using volunteer- and community-driven fundraising models very similar to Mystic Force's event-based approach, with comparable emphasis on grassroots engagement.

Emerging players

• Ronald McDonald House Charities: Provides family-centered housing and support services during pediatric hospital treatment — adjacent rather than direct, given RMHC's lodging focus versus Mystic Force's mixed services, but with overlapping hospital partnerships and family-support audiences.

Others

• Children's Oncology Group: The world's largest childhood cancer clinical research consortium, caring for over 90% of US pediatric oncology patients. Listed by Mystic Force as a research reference; comparable as a research-infrastructure peer rather than a fundraising competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/MysticForceFoundation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/mystic-force-foundation

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Mystic Force Foundation