Knoxville, TN

Helping Knoxville Families Facing Pediatric Cancer

In Partnership with Lee Smith

P.U.N.T. is a public charity with a critical mission: offer direct support and financial assistance to families who are dealing with pediatric cancer.

In partnership with former Buffalo Bill and Knoxville resident Lee Smith, P.U.N.T. is honored to bring one of our most critical services to this area. “Lee’s Locker” will provide critical support for day-to-day needs of families facing pediatric cancer through the partnership of hospital social workers at East Tennessee Children’s Hospital.

In 2015, Buffalo Bills Tight End and Knoxville, TN native Lee Smith stepped up to become a major force for P.U.N.T. ‘s mission and programs in WNY as he visited patients in the hospital and witnessed the impact first hand. Lee continued to champion P.U.N.T. through the rest of his NFL career which included playing for the Oakland Raiders and Atlanta Falcons, with a fateful return to the Buffalo Bills roster in between. Lee retired back home in Knoxville in 2022 and has since been the catalyst for P.U.N.T. Pediatric Cancer Collaborative becoming an officially registered charity in Tennessee. We all look forward to joining forces with this community to strengthen and enhance services to families facing pediatric cancer in the ways they need it most.

Make a Difference in the Lives of Families Affected by Pediatric Cancer

The P.U.N.T. Pediatric Cancer Collaborative is a public charity that relies entirely on individual donations and sponsorships to provide critical support and programs for families facing a pediatric cancer diagnosis. Choose to have your donation stay local, or be used where it’s most needed.

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Tackling Burdens for Families in Need

A pediatric cancer diagnosis has a major impact on every aspect of a family’s life. From the physical battle to the financial and emotional tolls, a family fighting pediatric cancer needs the support of their communities. That’s where P.U.N.T. comes in.

We work directly with local hospitals to provide families the financial support they need to keep up the fight. Lee’s Locker partners with social workers at East Tennessee Children’s Hospital to distribute parking vouchers, gas cards, meal vouchers and other essential support to families who need it most.

About P.U.N.T.

P.U.N.T. Pediatric Cancer Collaborative is a non-profit 501(C)(3) that provides families facing pediatric cancer with critical programs that offer financial, practical and emotional support from diagnosis to recovery to bereavement. P.U.N.T. operates with collaboration and guidance from community hospital partners to ensure that every dollar raised gets channeled where it is needed most.

Lee’s Story

Lee Smith had to overcome quite a bit of turbulence in his younger years to find success as an NFL tight end later in life. This perseverance and ability to overcome obstacles led to him become a passionate advocate for children and support of P.U.N.T.

While playing for the Buffalo Bills, Lee brought joy to Western New York families dealing with pediatric cancer through hospital visits, event appearances and generous donations to the P.U.N.T. programs. Now that he’s retired and relocated back to Tennessee, P.U.N.T. is thrilled to be able to extend our support to Knoxville families in need.

Lee’s Locker was created as a testament to the ongoing support Lee has provided over the years. Lee is known for his generosity and passion, evidenced by his Triple F Training Facility and now continued through the Lee’s Locker program, P.U.N.T.’s inaugural offering to Knoxville.

Lee’s Locker will lift and alleviate the everyday burdens for families facing pediatric cancer, furthering his personal mission to help and support children facing difficult circumstances.

Lee’s Locker

P.U.N.T. Knoxville’s Inaugural Program

Our Knoxville, TN, branch offers direct financial support to local families in need through our newly-established Lee’s Locker program.

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