Lee’s Locker resources are distributed by medical social workers at East Tennessee Children’s Hospital to provide families seeking treatment for pediatric cancer with:
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.
In 2015, Buffalo Bills Tight End and Knoxville, TN native Lee Smith stepped up to become a major force for the organization’s mission and programs in WNY as he visited patients in the hospital and witnessed the impact firsthand. 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 to strengthen and enhance services to families facing pediatric cancer in the ways they need it most.
Our Locker Programs offer direct support to families who need it most. Your donations make this possible – here’s why we hope you’ll donate to our Locker Programs to help families in need:
Each of our Locker Programs is focused on a city that’s important to the sponsor. When you donate to a Locker Program, your money stays in that community, helping families that you might see in the grocery store, at the park, or at a school event.
For families who need to visit the hospital regularly, the costs of parking, meals in the cafeteria, and gas for the drives to and from can add significant costs. Our Locker Programs tackle these costly burdens directly, offering relief from the stress and costs associated with hospital visits.
Our Locker Programs partner directly with hospital social workers to ensure resources go to families who need them. Each locker is kept stocked with gift cards, vouchers and coupons that can be handed out at the discretion of those who see and work with these families every day.
Our Locker Programs are funded 100% by donations and sponsorships. Each individual Locker Program is sponsored by a P.U.N.T. Superstar – often current or former NFL or Buffalo Bills players looking to give back to their home communities!
There are almost always hidden costs and challenges associated with a pediatric cancer diagnosis that may not be apparent from the outside looking in. One parent often stops working to help facilitate treatment and an income is instantly gone or wanes. Bills pile up quickly; nearly half of families facing pediatric cancer end up filing for medical bankruptcy.
P.U.N.T. relies on community support to be able to do all that we do for families dealing with pediatric cancer. Please consider a donation to help a family in need near you.
