Dani's Foundation was formed in August of 1999, the summer after Daniele Stell passed away from Ewing's Sarcoma (EWS).  Though Dani's Foundation has always been intent upon finding a cure for EWS, its initial focus was to help young adults with various life challenges including, but not limited to, cancer. 

The current direction for Dani's Foundation again places the spotlight squarely on Ewing's Sarcoma, the Ewing's Family of Tumors and those other pediatric sarcomas that are affecting and taking the lives of children and young adults.  In light of this renewed focus, Dan's Foundation is working to improve early detection methods, identify new treatments and find the cause and the CURE for Ewing's Sarcoma and other pediatric sarcomas.

Over the years, with the support of many dedicated volunteers coupled with the generosity of donors, Dani's Foundation has hosted the most unique community FUNdraising events.  From "Dani's Fashion for a Cure" event to "Dani's Disco Ball", the Foundation has raised money to fund targeted projects, while increasing awareness about children's cancer, cancer research, Ewing's Sarcoma and what still needs to be done to find the cause and the cure for EWS. 

Since its inception, Dani's Foundation has provided over $157,000 in funding to the following grants and awards:

1999 - A memorial fund at The Children's Hospital (TCH) in Denver received approximately $30,000, which was used to fund two Dani's Dine In Kiosks.  Dani's Dine In Kiosks help families and staff order food from nearby restaurants while they are in the hospital.

2000 - Dani's Foundation awarded $18,000 to the Denver Cancer Center at The Children's Hospital in Denver for research aimed at Ewing's Sarcoma and other pediatric cancer.

2001 - Dani's Foundation awarded $20,000 to Dr. Jeffrey Toretsky, at Washington DC's Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, providing pilot funding to extend his research on Ewing's Sarcoma.

2001 - Dani's Foundation awarded $10,000 to the new Teen Clinic at The Children's Hospital in Denver

2001 - Dani's Foundation awarded $5,000 to Dr. Edythe Albano's research at The Children's Hospital in Denver.

2001 - Dani's Foundation awarded $1,000 to the Marchello Fund, a scholarship fund for young cancer survivors.

2002 - Dani's Foundation awarded $5,000 to Dr. Jeffrey Toretsky, at Washington DC's Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, to continue his research on Ewing's Sarcoma.

2002 - Dani's Foundation awarded $5,000 to Dr. Edythe Albano's research at The Children's Hospital in Denver.

2002 - Dani's Foundation awarded $1,000 to the Marchello Fund, a scholarship fund for young cancer survivors.

2003 - Dani's Foundation awarded $5,000 for the continuation of the Teen Clinic at The Children's Hospital in Denver.

2003 - Dani's Foundation awarded $5,000 to Dr. Jeffrey Toretsky, at Washington DC's Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, to continue his research on Ewing's Sarcoma.

2003 - Dani's Foundation awarded $2,000 to the Marchello Fund, a scholarship fund for young cancer survivors.

2004 - Thanks to funding support from Dani's Foundation, Dr. Jeffrey Toretsky’s lab, at Washington DC's Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, discovered a key combination of two proteins in Ewing’s Sarcoma.

By preventing these two proteins from interacting, the research scientists believe the effect could be similar to removing the spark plug wires from the spark plugs in a car: without spark plugs, a car cannot run. Similarly, without this protein interaction, Ewing’s Sarcoma cells cannot survive. Dani’s Foundation has provided funding for Dr. Toretsky’s lab to create novel peptides to prevent this interaction.

2004 - Dani's Foundation awarded $10,000 to Dr. Larry Wiese, at Therapherisis Inc., for research into new treatments for cancer patients.

2005 - Dani's Foundation awarded $5,000 for the continuation of the Teen Clinic at The Children's Hospital in Denver.

2005 - Dani's Foundation awarded $5,000 to Dr. Jeffrey Toretsky, at Washington DC's Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, to continue his research on Ewing's Sarcoma.

2006 - Dani's Foundation awarded $2,500 in funding to The Children's Hospital in Denver for the purchase of new DVD players for all patient rooms in the oncology ward.

2006 - Dani's Foundation awarded $5,000 to Dr. Jeffrey Toretsky, at Washington DC's Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, to continue his research on Ewing's Sarcoma.

2006 - Dani's Foundation awarded $5,000 for the continuation of the Teen Clinic at The Children's Hospital in Denver.

2006 - Dani's Foundation awarded $1,000 to the Marchello Fund, a scholarship fund for young cancer survivors.

2007 - Dani's Foundation awarded $10,000 to Dr. Jeffrey Toretsky, at Washington DC's Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, to continue his research on Ewing's Sarcoma.

2007 - Dani's Foundation awarded $5,000 for the continuation of the Teen Clinic at The Children's Hospital in Denver.

2007 - Dani's Foundation awarded $1,000 to the Marchello Fund, a scholarship fund for young cancer survivors.

2008 - Dani's Foundation awarded $10,000 to Dr. Jeffrey Toretsky, at Washington DC's Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, to continue his research on Ewing's Sarcoma.

2008 - Dani's Foundation hosts first annual Ewing's Medical Forum, a weekend of meetings for representatives from the medical, research and professional arenas with the goal of working toward the development of collaborative efforts that will assist the Foundation in funding future programs that will advance studies into finding the cause and the cure for Ewing's Family of Tumors.

2008 - Dani's Foundation hires first full-time Executive Director to lead the future development of the organization.

2008 - Dani's Foundation launches its new interactive website in October with the goal of becoming the #1 Resource for Ewing's Sarcoma and the Ewing's Family of Tumors.

2009 - Dani's Foundation works to establish the Ewing's Sarcoma Alliance, a cooperative organization for the benefit of all Ewing's organizations, advocates and medical professionals from throughout the United States.  Inagural meeting of this new organization was held in November 2009 in Miami, FL.

2009 - Dani's Foundation develops a comprehensive community education program that will alert the community-at-large on the symptoms of pediatric sarcomas with the goal of seeking earlier detection and ultimate survival.  This program will be distributed FREE to all CO educators Fall of 2010.

2009 - Dani's Foundation awarded $10,000 to Dr. Jeffrey Toretsky, at Washington DC's Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, to continue his research on Ewing's Sarcoma.

In addition to funding the research and programs listed above, Dani’s Foundation is committed to raising awareness for Ewing's Sarcoma and the other pediatric sarcomas.  Through educational workshops, special events, and news stories, Dani's Foundation continues to strive to inform the public about these horrific  "boutique" cancers that are prevalent amongst children but which garner little, if no, attention from the main stream media.

We hope that you will agree to join our campaign to fund programs, education and research that is aimed at beating Ewing's Sarcoma and the other forms of pediatric sarcoma cancers that are affecting and taking the lives of our children and young adults.  Together we can make tomorrow brighter for our most precious natural resource:  our children!