OUR MISSION
To support research for the development of a cure for childhood cancers.
At The McConnell Foundation, we know that sometimes all it takes to change the world is a little support. In 2018 our Founders son, Bodhi was diagnosed with Stage 3 Neuroblastoma. Thanks to the amazing nurses, staff and oncologist, Dr. Jacqueline Kraveka, Bodhi was diagnosed Cancer Free on March 29, 2018 after four months of treatments. The core of our efforts is to raise funds for pediatric cancer research. Every day, 43 children are diagnosed with some form of pediatric cancer — nearly 16,000 children per year, making it the leading cause of death by disease among children. And yet only 4% of the National Cancer Institute’s budget goes to children’s cancer research. Research to uncover better treatments and a cure for childhood cancer relies heavily on private donations.
OUR SECOND ANNUAL MCCONNELL FOUNDATION BLACK TIE GALA
SEPTEMBER 16, 2023
Mount Pleasant, South Carolina
The McConnell Foundation is hosting the Second Annual Black Tie Gala benefitting pediatric cancer research on September 16th in Mount Pleasant.
Those in attendance can enjoy dinner from Church & Union, live music from violinist Seth G, an open bar with drinks from Grain & Barrel Spirits and a live and silent auction featuring auctioneer Tom Crawford.
2022 BLACK TIEÂ GALA
THE INAUGURAL MCCONNELL FOUNDATION BLACK TIE GALA
June 18, 2022
We hosted our Inaugural Black Tie Gala on June 18, 2022 in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina. It was an amazing evening of friends, fun and fundraising! We are happy to announce we raised $44,227.07 for pediatric cancer research!
We know through local businesses cooperation and community empowerment we can make a huge impact to Pediatric Cancer Research. We are so thankful for each person and business who donated to our event, volunteered their time and talents and all of the attendees who were so generous throughout the night. We will be releasing the date of our 2023 Gala early March! Fill out the contact form at the bottom of this page to be the first to know.
DR. JACQUELINE KRAVEKA
DO, Specialities: Pediatric Hematology/Oncology
Dr. Jacqueline Kraveka is an associate professor of pediatrics and a pediatric hematologist-oncologist at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) in Charleston, South Carolina. She was born in Velasco, Cuba and immigrated to the United States when she was four years of age. Dr. Kraveka received her undergraduate degree from Columbia University in 1989 and her medical degree from Nova Southeastern University College of Osteopathic Medicine in 1994. She completed her residency in pediatrics at Miami Children's Hospital in 1997 and fellowship in pediatric hematology oncology at the Medical University of South Carolina in 2000.Since 2000, she has been on staff at the Medical University of South Carolina Children's Hospital.Dr. Kraveka's clinical practice is focused on pediatric oncology. Her clinical interests include neuroblastoma, pediatric sarcomas, pediatric precision medicine, and clinical trial development. She is actively involved in clinical pediatric research in the Children's Oncology Group (COG) and Beat Childhood Cancer (BCC) consortia and serves as the institutional principal investigator for these consortia. As such,Dr. Kraveka is responsible for the conduct of over 50 Phase I, II, and III clinical trials for pediatric oncology patients at MUSC. She has been involved in the development of over 10 pediatric clinical trials for children with cancer.Dr. Kraveka serves on the COG Neuroblastoma and Diversity and Health Disparities Committees and is a member of the BCC Executive and Scientific Committees. She has been honored as a &"Top Doctor&" and "Exceptional Women in Medicine&" by Castle Connolly. She was selected as a &"Health Care Hero&" by the Charleston Regional Business Journal. Dr. Kraveka is also very involved in translational and bench research and has the only research laboratory in South Carolina dedicated to pediatric cancer.Dr. Kraveka's current research focuses on sphingolipid and retinoid mediated therapies in pediatric cancers and the function and regulation of the enzyme dihydroceramide desaturase (DEGS-1) in pediatric cancer. The long-term goals of her research are to develop more effective treatments for children with cancer.
THANK YOU TO THE FOLLOWING COMPANIES FOR THEIR DONATIONS TO OUR 2023Â GALA
You Are Making a Difference
