Our Vision
Solving Kids’ Cancer is not just our name, it’s our mission. We focus on aggressive childhood cancers with low survival rates—because Every Kid Deserves to Grow Up. Solving Kids' Cancer helps accelerate new, next-generation treatments, including immunotherapy, cancer vaccines, and new drugs by applying an understanding of the entire childhood cancer research landscape to wisely invest in innovative projects.
We extend our reach globally to fully understand the research landscape so that we may influence and strengthen the science, resulting in more cures for children. Solving Kids' Cancer fosters the development of innovative clinical trials that bring more effective treatments to children both in the U.S., Europe and beyond.
Solving Kids’ Cancer finds, funds, and advocates for breakthrough treatment options to cure children with the most fatal childhood cancers.
Our Founders
John London
The inspiration for John London in co-founding Solving Kids' Cancer belongs solely to his daughter, Penelope, who once told him "I want no one to feel yucky, Daddy." Those words drove both John and his wife, Catherine, to make sure that no other families suffer the loss his family had to endure with the passing of Penelope. As Chairman of the Board of Directors, John has primary responsibilities with SKC that include leadership and overall management of organizational governance, compliance, donor cultivation, and fundraising. John also serves as a strategic advisor in all areas of therapeutic development. He has an MBA from The Wharton School of Business, University of Pennsylvania and a Bachelor of Arts from Brown University.
Scott Kennedy
Scott co-founded SKC in 2007 as a tribute to his son, Hazen Kennedy, who was diagnosed with neuroblastoma at age three. Hazen was Scott's inspiration for creating Solving Kids' Cancer in part because Hazen wanted to become a scientist when he grew up in order to help people by creating new medicines. As Executive Director, Scott is integrally involved in the identification, funding, and management of the organization's scientific programs. Before co-founding SKC, Scott worked in marketing at CDW in Chicago and then at Pfizer in New York City. He also founded a New York City theatre and sightseeing business called Manfreakinhattan. Scott has a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry and Psychology from Indiana University and a MBA from the Asian Institute of Management
Our Inspiration
Hazen was a problem solver. He loved mazes and conquered them with delightful fervor. He loved puzzles of all varieties, and would figure out a way to find solutions.
At 18 months old, he could direct his stroller from his home on Tenth Avenue in Hell’s Kitchen, New York City, to his favorite store for his favorite animal crackers, which was located nearly a mile away. With a “dis way,” and a “dat way,” Hazen was determined to get what he wanted, and made sure we knew it. When he was little, he conquered his fears of sitting on Santa’s lap because he simply had to tell him that he NEEDED a remote control car. That Christmas he independently received four.
Hazen knew his states on a map. He even collected state quarters, and often lamented about spending Georgia on a bubblegum machine at Macy’s. Hazen loved yo-yos. He loved bugs. He loved pumpkin bread, and cats. He loved his friends, and to dance. He loved a girl, who just happened to be his best friend’s little sister. Hazen loved jokes, and would teach them to clowns at the hospital…because he loved clowns.
Hazen loved Pennsylvania. He loved Michigan. He loved visiting his relatives and being the center of a big love huddle. Hazen loved magic. He loved learning tricks and loved performing and watching. He loved figuring things out and loved sharing the wonder of how things are done with others. “Amazin’ Hazen” would perform for anyone at any time, sharing laughs and smiles along the way. Hazen loved board games and would absorb them voraciously, mastering one and needing another challenge. Hazen loved science. Hazen loved fairies, and fairy doors. He loved to share presents with other people, and always thought about what people needed, and how to help them. That was just his way. People felt him. People loved him. People were grateful for the magic in his eyes that undoubtedly spoke of love and mischief.
There are so many things that we wanted Hazen to see with those eyes. We wanted him to see his dreams of becoming a scientist realized. We wanted him to see real monkeys that looked like his favorite toy he brought to the hospital. We wanted him to see his children. We wanted him to see a life without cancer. Without cancer, we would still have Hazen, whom we love.
Meet the Team
Scott Kennedy
Executive Director
Scott Kennedy co-founded Solving Kids’ Cancer as a tribute to his son Hazen, who was diagnosed with neuroblastoma at age 3. As Executive Director, Scott is integrally involved in the identification, funding, and management of the organization's scientific programs. He has a BS in Chemistry and Psychology from Indiana University and an MBA from the Asian Institute of Management.
Donna Ludwinski
Director of Research Advocacy
Admiration for the SKC mission and method noted while her son Erik battled neuroblastoma led to a productive collaboration after his death in 2010. Donna is a voracious consumer of pediatric oncology research literature and attends major oncology meetings and presents at conferences. She is an FDA Patient Representative and on the NCI Central Review Board for COG clinical trials. In frequent contact with researchers and families globally, she stays abreast of the global patient and research landscape. She assists in identifying, analyzing, cultivating, and reviewing exciting therapeutic leads with the hope of quickly bringing the most promising therapies to the clinic. Donna has a BS in Chemical Engineering.
Kristi McKay
Director of Operations
Kristi came to Solving Kids' Cancer in 2011. She brings 25 years of not-for-profit administrative experience in management, operations, development, event planning, and marketing. Prior to SKC, Kristi managed the visual and performing arts center at Le Moyne College in Syracuse, NY.
Email: kristi@solvingkidscancer.org
Channing Stave
Scientific Advisory Board
Hearn Jay Cho, MD, PhD
Mount Sinai School of Medicine
Christopher DeRenzo, MD
St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital
Andras Heczey, MD
Baylor College of Medicine
Mark Kieran, MD, PhD
Day One Biopharmaceuticals
Rimas J. Orentas, PhD
Seattle Children's Research Institute
Stephen S. Roberts, MD
Oregon Health & Science University
Charity Project Partners
Advocacy Partners
