Organization & Background
Who
The Desi Geestman Foundation
What
Grassroots 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that provides emotional and financial support to children with cancer and their families
When
Hospital social workers contact the Desi Geestman Foundation after exhausting all other options to help the families of sick children.
Where
Desi Geestman Foundation works primarily with City of Hope National Medical Center. Desi Geestman Foundation has also worked with Childrens Hospital Los Angeles, Mattel Childrens Hospital, Kaiser Permanente Oakland, Kaiser Permanente Los Angeles, Rady Hospital San Diego.
Why
Ileana Geestman founded the Desi Geestman Foundation in memory of her daughter Desi Geestman, who lost her fight with Neuroblastoma at age 12 in 1999. Desi had expressed the desire to help other cancer patients and their families.
How
The Mission of the Desi Geestman Foundation is to improve the quality of life for children suffering from cancer and their families. The foundation provides environments of support that alleviate emotional and economic trauma.
Support ranges from direct financial assistance to hosting special events.
Press Release - DGF is named in honor of Desi Geestman, a brave twelve year old girl, from La Crescenta, who fought a courageous battle with Neuroblastoma at The City of Hope. Desi expressed her wish to help other cancer patients and their families which is how DGF came to life. DGF has grown from a wish by our namesake to an organization providing vital assistance to hundreds of children since 1999.
Our assistance is unique from other charities and takes many forms, from direct financial assistance, to hosting special events such as the Pediatric Picnic and Holiday Pajama Party.
The Desi Geestman Foundation is a volunteer based 501c3 non-profit organization that raises awareness and funds to help improve the quality of life for pediatric cancer patients. We need your help, especially now. We hope you will join us in “Touching the Lives of Children with Cancer”.
Recent Examples of Help Include:
$480 Hotel Lodging for BMT Patient and her family (Nicole, 15-yr-old from Norco)
$79.81 Utility Bill paying (Carolina, 13-yr-old from Moreno Valley)
$600 in $25 gas cards for various families