Ian's Friends Foundation (IFF) was founded in 2006 by Buckhead residents Phil and Cheryl Yagoda, after their son Ian was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor at the age of two. There are currently more than 28,000 children in the U.S. living with brain tumors. IFF's unwavering mission is to find a cure for pediatric brain tumors by funding innovative research to develop groundbreaking therapies and methodologies.
Ian is starting college in the fall. Cheryl and Phil know that he is one of the fortunate ones, yet they remain determined to forge ahead in honor of the many children who succumb to this disease.
Funding from IFF has contributed to the increased understanding of tumor metabolism and development of more effective therapies at esteemed medical institutions throughout the U.S. Children's Hospital Los Angeles was able to set up a new biorepository that will provide the technology to grow and store cancer cells for use in brain tumor research. Johns Hopkins University's research to find biomarkers for brain tumors and track their growth will make the diagnosis of tumor types easier. And right here at home in Georgia, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Emory University, and Georgia Tech pioneer the use of nanotechnology to gauge tumor size, stop tumor growth, and shrink tumors. All of this groundbreaking work is done with support from Ian's Friends Foundation.
The first half of 2023 has been a busy year for IFF with fundraisers including pickleball tournaments, barbeque celebrations, bake sales, and blood drives. Ian’s Friends Foundation shows no signs of slowing down. With two large galas set to take place in Los Angeles and Atlanta later this year, they are one step closer to finding a cure for pediatric brain tumors with every dollar raised.
With the recent launch of IFF's Junior Los Angeles chapter, the organization is expanding its reach. Charley Meller, the teenage founder of IFF Junior LA, was diagnosed with a brain tumor at age 10. Refusing to sit back and push the diagnosis into the shadows, the Meller family channeled their efforts into to building a community of support and strength for every child battling pediatric brain tumors. Now at age 15, Charley and her partners have built a support system for other pediatric cancer survivors in the community.
Funding from IFF has contributed to the increased understanding of tumor metabolism and development of more effective therapies at esteemed medical institutions throughout the U.S.