Since 1970 American Childhood Cancer Organization has been respected as an essential and integral provider of programs and services required by families of children and adolescents with cancer across the country. Together with our local affiliates we address the critical needs that families face today. We believe strongly that families need accurate information, advocacy, and support from the first day of diagnosis through the rest of the child s life. As a grassroots leader in the childhood cancer community, it is our responsibility to speak for the needs of the families and survivors, and to help shape policy, research and programs on the national level that impact the lives of families today and tomorrow.

Our organization was founded by a talented and committed group of parents of children with cancer, and we have placed a priority on ensuring that those making policy decisions today understand what a family goes through when their child has been diagnosed with cancer. Over two thirds of our organization s Board of Directors and staff are either survivors or a direct family member of a child or adolescent who had cancer. We understand personally that this is a family disease and it is a disease that impacts the family for life. The board and staff of ACCO are committed to serving our community until the day no child dies, or is left with life-long effects from this devastating disease.

Trevor Romain, President

Trevor Romain is an internationally renowned author and illustrator and is the Chief Creative Officer of the Comical Sense Company. His community work includes hospital visits, school visits, and working with families facing loss of their children through cancer. Trevor also works with Austin Children's shelter, consults with the United National concerning Children of Armed Conflict, tours with the USO to American military bases in countries, and speaks around the world about how cancer kids are true heroes. He has been actively involved with Candlelighters for over 10 years. He is illustrator of Candlelighters  publications Chemo, Craziness and Comfort, My Book about Childhood Cancer; Lift Me Up, an inspiring book filled with wonderful pictures to color, and author/illustrator of an upcoming publication for teens diagnosed with cancer.

Janine Lynne, Vice President

Janine has been a board member of ACCO since 2003 and is grateful for the opportunity to be part of the largest national grassroots nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of children and adolescents with cancer. Her teenage son is a survivor of acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Janine has worked and volunteered as a child advocate in many capacities over 20 years with a special interest in children with special needs. She has a B.S. in Child Development and Family Studies from Montana State University, and pursued graduate work in psychology and education. She currently lives in Hawaii.

Christa Cohan-Cullen, Secretary

Christa Cohan-Cullen joined the CCCF Board in 1999 at the urging of the then executive director, Carolyn Corry. Sadly, Carolyn died unexpectedly before her term began. Christa decided to continue to serve CCCF in part to honor the memory of her friend and in part to give back for a lifetime of love and support she received from others. Christa is a senior partner of Leadership 21 Worldwide, Inc., a research & consulting firm specializing in the area of customer service.

Barbara Angel, Member

Barbara Angel is a Senior Vice President and Senior Relationship Manager in the Commercial banking division at Wachovia National Bank. Barbara has over 22 years of commercial banking experience with Wachovia Bank and is active in the community. In addition to serving on the Board of Directors for Candlelighters Childhood Cancer Foundation, Barbara is Secretary and a member of the Board of Advisors for the Montgomery County Business Roundtable for Education. She is also involved in the Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce, and is a graduate of the 2006 class of Leadership Montgomery. Barbara is an active volunteer in her boys' school and church. Barbara received a B.S. degree in Finance from Pennsylvania State University. She and her husband George live in Laytonsville, Maryland with their two sons. Her oldest son, Alex, is a survivor of neuroblastoma.

Naomi Bartley, Member

Naomi Bartley, BSc, BEd works as a Clinical Research Associate at the pharmaceutical company MedImmune, and is a biotechnology master's candidate at Johns Hopkins University.  Naomi brings over 10 years of clinical and pre-clinical research experience and intends to use this knowledge to help advance childhood cancer therapies.  Naomi is also a two time cancer survivor and brings a personal perspective of childhood cancer to the Board of Directors. Diagnosed at the age of 7 with acute myelogenous leukemia, Naomi represents one of the first groups of childhood cancer survivors to have undergone a bone marrow transplant. Her second cancer which was a direct result from her first cancer treatment turned her into a powerful advocate for the development of new targeted therapies to treat childhood cancer. In that role, Naomi founded her organization, Naomi's Hope for a Cure and hosted a gala event in Washington DC in 2007 which raised $250K for the integrated pediatric cancer data portal project with ACCO. Naomi is also the proud mother of her own little miracle, Hope Isabella.  Hope was born in 2008 at 25 weeks gestation, weighing 1 pound 7 ounces and is now a healthy and happy 2 year old.

Brenda Tyler Jewell, Member

Brenda Tyler Jewell grew up in Savannah, Georgia. Her mother and father throughout her life set a wonderful example by doing things for others by giving of themselves to help people who were less fortunate than them. Brenda served on the Board of Big Brothers in the Sacramento area for several years. During that time, she assisted her former husband with helping two young little brothers and found much gratification in helping them learn to swim, and gain confidence. Her employment with several successful businessmen has provided her with the opportunity to give back to the community including her involvement with Samaritan Inns in Washington D.C. In 2007, Brenda was a committee member for Naomi's Hope for a Cure, with funds being allocated towards Candlelighters research initiative.

Judy Mendoza, Member

Judy Mendoza grew up in Lafayette, IN, where she obtained a Bachelor's Degree in Education from Indiana University in May 1993. Subsequent teaching jobs led her to the corporate world of an education publishing company and then to the formation of her own free-lance education business. In February 2007, Judy and her husband Michael's lives changed forever. It was then when they learned that their three-and-a-half year old daughter had Stage IV neuroblastoma. After supporting her daughter Abigail through six cycles of high dose chemotherapy, followed by a stem cell transplant, twelve radiation sessions, and a very rough clinical trial with monoclonal antibodies, Judy now regards herself as a proud Cancer Mom on a Mission. Judy lives by the premise that she continues to teach her children  to never give up! Judy is active in raising awareness of the gold ribbon for childhood cancer.

Steve Payne, Member 

Steve Payne is an active board member and father to Kristin, a stage IV neuroblastoma survivor diagnosed at a mere seven months old. Being an active part of the ACCO board, he is able to support those children, families, and professionals nationwide who battle this dreaded disease until a cure is found. Steve works for IBM and served as president 2003 & 2004.

ACCO Staff

Ruth I. Hoffman MPH, Executive Director

Ruth's leadership has resulted in the publication of numerous books including Chemo, Craziness and Comfort, My Book about Childhood Cancer, The Amazing Hannah, published in both English and Spanish, Educating the Child with Cancer, A Guide for Parents and Teachers, Oliver's Story, For Sibs of Kids with Cancer, also available in English and Spanish as well as Life Me Up, an inspiring book filled with wonderful pictures to color.

Ruth is co-founder of Light up the Holidays with Hope, Candlelighters National Awareness event, and a committee member of Naomi's Hope for a Cure, a gala event to raise money for pediatric cancer targeted therapy research. Ruth organized the childhood cancer targeted therapy workshop at the World Cancer Congress, held in Washington D.C. in 2006.

Ruth received her B.A. in psychology, and her Bachelors of Education from the University of Western Ontario, Canada, and her Masters of Public Health from the George Washington University's School of Medicine. She is proud recipient of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society's Tree of Life Award, 2006.

* Tree of Life Award

Quiet Heroes Talk

Amber Masso, Program Director

Amber Masso graduated from Texas A&M University in December 2009 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Biology and a minor in Business Administration. She was treated for Hodgkin's Lymphoma in 2005 and 2006, during her sophomore year of college. After returning to school, she implemented a "Survivorship and Outreach" program with the Texas A&M University Cancer Society. Activities included peer counseling and art projects at Texas Children's Hospital. She also partnered with Camp Kesem National and founded Camp Kesem A&M, a summer camp for children who have/ have had a parent with cancer. In 2009, Amber was honored with the Texas A&M Faculty Senate Aggie Spirit Award and the J. Malon Southerland Aggie Leader Award for her work as a survivor and student leader.