What The Faris Foundation does

The Faris Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded on February 1, 2019 in Sugar Land, Texas, and inspired by Faris D. Virani, a child who battled Ewing sarcoma. The foundation operates an integrated four-program platform focused on childhood cancer: (1) Good JuJu Care Packages, personalized packages shipped to children with cancer across 47+ states; (2) Art Is My Life Creative Arts Programs, which embeds art and music therapists directly inside partner hospitals including Texas Children's Cancer Center, MD Anderson Children's Cancer Hospital, Ronald McDonald House Greater Houston, and Mount Sinai Kravis Children's Hospital; (3) Childhood Cancer Research funding, anchored by the Faris D. Virani Ewing Sarcoma Center at Texas Children's (the world's only comprehensive Ewing sarcoma research center) and multi-year grants supporting clinical trials including HEROS 3.0, C7R-GD2 CAR T cells, the ACES Award, the BEST Grant, and the HOPE Super Grant; and (4) Let There Be GOLD, a public awareness campaign built around Childhood Cancer Awareness Month and the gold ribbon, deployed through corporate retail partnerships with AT&T/Prime Communications, Wendy's, Jersey Mike's, Jet's Pizza, Sun Com Mobile, The Dinerstein Companies, and others, plus annual flagship fundraising events (Brighter Days Golf Classic, Chevron Houston Marathon team) and the Threads of Gold K-12 art awareness program.

The foundation's revenue model is entirely philanthropic, with no product or service pricing. Inflows come from individual donations (including the Golden Hearts Club monthly giving program at a suggested $46 contribution honoring the 46 children diagnosed with cancer daily in the U.S.), event fundraising (the 2025 Golf Classic alone raised over $1 million; cumulative five-year proceeds exceed $3.5 million), corporate sponsorships and retail-cause-marketing partnerships (over 2,000 retail locations nationwide participate in Let There Be GOLD campaigns), employer matching gifts, donor-advised funds, merchandise sales through a BigCartel swag store, and grants from institutional funders including the Houston Astros Foundation. The organization operates with a lean paid staff of 5 employees and a volunteer base exceeding 300, distributing services through embedded hospital programs, direct-to-consumer care package shipping, retail point-of-sale campaigns, school district partnerships (HISD and five additional districts), and community events including GOLD Celebrations, Art Parties, and the annual Threads of Gold gallery exhibition at Asia Society Texas Center. Recognition includes Charity Navigator Four-Star Rating, GuideStar Platinum Transparency Seal, and the Heart of MD Anderson Award for the embedded music therapist.

Name

The Faris Foundation

Legal name

The Faris Foundation

Website

https://thefarisfoundation.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Faris Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit funding childhood cancer research, embedding creative arts therapists at partner hospitals, shipping personalized care packages to children with cancer nationwide, and running the Let There Be GOLD awareness campaign across U.S. retail and community channels.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Childhood Cancer Research and Support

NAICS

Voluntary Health Organizations (813212), Other Individual and Family Services (624190), Child and Youth Services (62411)

SIC

Services-Health Services (8000)

akta.pro primary industry

Health & Medical Research Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Disease-Specific Research & Support (e.g., Cancer, Diabetes, ALS) (BPAGACAA), Rare Disease & Special Needs Support Organizations (BPAGACAM), Rare Oncology & Hematologic Malignancy Therapies (HLAIAIAC)

Keywords

• Childhood cancer research
• Pediatric oncology funding
• Creative arts therapy
• Care package delivery
• Nonprofit charitable foundation

Headquarters

HQ city

Sugar Land, Texas

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: One-time and monthly donations from individual donors. Monthly giving program called Golden Hearts Club with suggested $46 monthly contribution (honoring 46 children diagnosed daily with cancer).
2. Event Fundraising: Annual Brighter Days Golf Classic tournament and Chevron Houston Marathon charity partnership serve as major fundraising vehicles. The 2025 Golf Classic raised over $1 million.
3. Corporate Partnerships and Sponsorships: Partnerships with AT&T/Prime Communications, Wendy's, Sun Com Mobile, Jersey Mike's, Jet's Pizza, The Dinerstein Companies and others for Let There Be GOLD awareness campaigns. Includes in-store fundraising, wristband sales, and corporate sponsorships.
4. Merchandise Sales: Swag Store through BigCartel featuring Let There Be GOLD merchandise, t-shirts, and The Faris Foundation Brave Knight plush toy.
5. Employer Matching Gifts: Accepts employer matching gifts and donor-advised fund contributions.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

The Faris Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that funds pediatric oncology research (notably the Faris D. Virani Ewing Sarcoma Center and CAR T cell clinical trials), embeds art and music therapy programs at children's cancer centers, ships Good JuJu care packages to children with cancer in 47 states, and runs the Let There Be GOLD public awareness campaign along with the Threads of Gold K-12 student art program.

Product overview

The Faris Foundation is a 501c3 non-profit organization operating as a single integrated charitable platform focused on bringing brighter days and better treatments to children with cancer. The foundation's portfolio consists of four interconnected program areas: (1) Good JuJu Care Packages - personalized care packages delivered to children with cancer nationwide; (2) Art Is My Life Creative Arts Programs - embedding art and music therapists at children's cancer centers including The Faris Foundation Art Studio and Music Studio; (3) Childhood Cancer Research - funding clinical trials, multi-year research grants, and supporting the Faris D. Virani Ewing Sarcoma Center; and (4) Let There Be GOLD - public awareness campaigns including GOLD Celebrations, Threads of Gold art exhibitions, and community partnerships. The foundation also operates fundraising events (Brighter Days Golf Classic, Marathon Team), volunteer programs, and a swag store. All programs are inspired by the words and heartprint of Chief Angel Officer Faris D. Virani.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Let There Be GOLD: Public awareness campaign celebrating and honoring children with cancer during September (Childhood Cancer Awareness Month) and year-round. Features GOLD Celebrations at children's cancer centers, community partnerships, and merchandise.
• Good JuJu Care Packages
• Art Is My Life
• Brighter Days Golf Classic

Products and services

• Good JuJu Care Packages
• Art Is My Life Creative Arts Programs Transformative creative arts program delivering embedded art therapy, music therapy, art parties, and community collaborations at Texas Children's Cancer Center, MD Anderson Children's Cancer Hospital, Ronald McDonald House Houston, and Mount Sinai Kravis Children's Hospital. Includes the Faris Foundation Mobile Recording Studio and Creative Arts Therapy Fellowship.
• Childhood Cancer Research Grants Original, bold, and transformative childhood cancer research funding including clinical trials, multi-year grants, and direct support for the Faris D. Virani Ewing Sarcoma Center at Texas Children's Cancer Center—the world's only comprehensive research center dedicated to Ewing sarcoma. Currently supports four active clinical trials.
• Let There Be GOLD Awareness Campaign Year-round gold ribbon awareness campaign anchored by September (Childhood Cancer Awareness Month) activations including GOLD Celebrations at Texas Children's, MD Anderson, Mount Sinai, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, and Kaiser Permanente Oakland; plus corporate retail wristband and merchandising partnerships.
• Threads of Gold Art Program Annual arts educator professional development workshop and student art exhibition empowering K-12 students to create art about childhood cancer awareness; 5th Annual Threads of Gold Gallery Night featured 800 works of art by HISD students with 1,000+ attendees. Expanded to five additional school districts in 2025.
• Brighter Days Golf Classic Annual flagship fundraising tournament with tiered corporate sponsorships ranging from $1,000 to $100,000 (Knight in Shining Armor). Funds pediatric cancer research and Foundation programs.
• Chevron Houston Marathon Charity Team Official charity team for the Chevron Houston Marathon where runners fundraise on behalf of the Foundation, paired with child beneficiaries for personal connection between athlete and family.
• Swag Store (Brave Knight Plush and Let There Be GOLD Merchandise) Online merchandise store selling Let There Be GOLD apparel and The Faris Foundation Brave Knight plush toy, with proceeds supporting the Foundation's mission.

Quantifiable outcome

• Good JuJu Care Packages reached over 1,000 children in 47 states as of February 2026
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• St. Baldrick's FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Strategic research partnership through ACES (Advancing Cures for Ewing Sarcoma) Award - a $1.5 million, three-year initiative funded by five mothers who lost children to Ewing sarcoma. Also partners on BEST Grant ($200,000) and HOPE Super Grant ($1.5 million).
• Jersey Mike'ssupportingGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Second year partnership recognizing Childhood Cancer Awareness Month with Let There Be GOLD specials at franchise locations.
• Jet's PizzasupportingGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Second year partnership recognizing Childhood Cancer Awareness Month with Let There Be GOLD specials at franchise locations.
• Children's Hospital of PhiladelphiasupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025First-time GOLD Celebrations held at hospital in 2025 for childhood cancer awareness.
• Kaiser Permanente OaklandsupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025First-time GOLD Celebrations held at hospital in 2025 for childhood cancer awareness.
• Kendra ScottsupportingGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Mother's Day partnership hosting Art Party + Color Bar event at Ronald McDonald House where children created jewelry and art for their mothers.
• The Dinerstein CompaniessupportingGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2024Year-round corporate partner bringing GOLD awareness to residential properties across the US. Volunteers at Good JuJu wrap parties, Art Parties, and assembles celebration kits.
• Wendy's Houston Co-opsupportingGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2020Let There Be GOLD wristband campaign at participating Wendy's locations in Texas (Houston Metro, San Antonio, Corpus Christi, Laredo, McAllen). $2 wristbands with FREE Jr. Frosty with any purchase.
• Baylor College of Medicine / Texas Children's Cancer CentercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2019Long-standing research partnership supporting immunotherapy clinical trials and translational research. Home to the Faris D. Virani Ewing Sarcoma Center. Multiple grants including HEROS 3.0 ($1.4M), C7R-GD2 CAR T Cells ($750,000 initial + $600,000 new), and Immunotherapy Scholar Award ($300,000).
• Prime Communications (AT&T)coreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 201610-year Let There Be GOLD partnership with nation's largest AT&T authorized retailer. Campaign runs in 2,000+ retail locations nationwide each September raising awareness and funds for childhood cancer. Raised significant funding for Texas Children's Hospital.
• MD Anderson Children's Cancer HospitalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for music therapy program with Melissa Melo as The Faris Foundation Music Therapist. Includes Mobile Recording Studio for bedside music production. Also part of historic Kinder Children's Cancer Center joint venture between Texas Children's and MD Anderson.
• Ronald McDonald House Charities Greater HoustoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFirst creative arts program of its kind among Ronald McDonald Houses nationwide. Diana Sanchez serves as Creative Arts Specialist providing individual and group programming for families.
• Mount Sinai Kravis Children's HospitalsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCreative Arts Therapy Fellowship program supporting pediatric cancer patients while providing training opportunities for fellows. Emily Koffsky serves as 2025-2026 Fellow.
• Asia Society Texas CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnnual Threads of Gold Gallery Night venue partner for K-12 student art exhibition raising awareness about childhood cancer. Collaboration in its 5th year.
• Houston ISD Fine Arts DepartmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThreads of Gold program partner reaching 300 teachers and 200,000+ students annually. Expanded to 5 additional districts in 2025 including Aldine, Alief, Fort Bend, Harris County Department of Education, and Pasadena.
• Sun Com Mobile / Cricket WirelesssupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerLet There Be GOLD awareness campaigns at Cricket Wireless stores nationwide through in-store promotions and fundraising.
• Children's Healthcare of AtlantasupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerGOLD Celebrations hosted at hospital for childhood cancer awareness during September.
• Harris County Department of EducationsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr. Chandel Bonner-Hancock leads expansion of Threads of Gold to five new school districts in 2025.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• CureSearch for Children's Cancer: National childhood cancer nonprofit funding research acceleration and supporting patient families; overlapping mission with The Faris Foundation across research funding and patient/family support.
• Rally Foundation for Childhood Cancer Research: Childhood cancer research nonprofit funding young investigators and translational grants; directly comparable on research-grantmaking model, donor activation, and community-led fundraising.
• American Childhood Cancer Organization: National awareness, advocacy, and support organization for children with cancer and their families; closely comparable on the awareness/community arm of The Faris Foundation's mission (Let There Be GOLD).
• St. Baldrick's Foundation: Largest US funder of childhood cancer research; The Faris Foundation is an active co-funding partner with St. Baldrick's on the ACES, BEST, and HOPE Super Grant programs, making it the most direct comparable on research grantmaking in pediatric oncology.
• Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation: Major pediatric cancer research and family support nonprofit founded in memory of a child cancer patient; comparable to The Faris Foundation on integrated research funding + family-facing programs and grassroots fundraising events.
• Ty Louis Campbell Foundation: Family-founded nonprofit specifically funding Ewing sarcoma and other rare pediatric cancer research; closest narrow-disease peer to The Faris Foundation's Ewing sarcoma research focus.
• National Pediatric Cancer Foundation: Funds pediatric cancer research including Ewing sarcoma and other solid tumors; comparable on multi-site research funding and family-support programming.

Others

• Ronald McDonald House Charities: Major hospital-adjacent nonprofit supporting families of sick children; The Faris Foundation partners directly with the Greater Houston chapter to deliver its creative arts programs, making it both a partner and a programmatic comparable in the family-support space.

Broad incumbents

• Children's Oncology Group: The world's largest pediatric cancer research cooperative organization; broadly comparable as a research ecosystem that funds and coordinates pediatric oncology trials, of which The Faris Foundation's grantees are part.

Emerging players

• Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation: Largest patient- and family-services nonprofit dedicated to pediatric brain tumors; comparable on hospital-embedded support services and family-facing programming model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/farisfoundation
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCx0o96FQiwUCIfaK-QUtaVw
• Facebookfacebook.com/TheFarisFoundation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-faris-foundation
• Instagraminstagram.com/thefarisfoundation

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about The Faris Foundation