At just thirteen years old, Connor is known for his compassion. He loves bonding with others, discovering new places, and meeting new friends.

“Connor has a heart of gold,” his dad, Steven, often says.

In partnership with JoyRx, the mission delivery of Children’s Cancer Association, Dick Hannah Dealerships has helped raise $1.87 million for children fighting cancer and other serious illnesses through the JoyRx Car Giveaway.

For JoyRx Music Volunteer Elaina, giving back to the community is a meaningful way to bring Joy to others. At just fifteen years old, Elaina is committed to creating what she calls “a positive domino effect” through her love of music, sharing personalized songs she writes for the children we serve.

November is International Arts in Health month – a time dedicated to promoting and celebrating the important impact that the arts contribute toward health and wellness – and JoyRx Music is getting involved by bringing the healing power of music to pediatric patients at UMass Memorial Medical Center – Children’s Medical Center for their second annual Arts in Health concert celebration.

“Olivia is certainly one of the most easygoing humans I have ever known,” Olivia’s mom, Kimmie, said.

It’s an apt way to describe Olivia: she’s a bright and optimistic girl who’s always ready to smile and cheer others on. She loves soccer, dancing, holidays, and her family. She’s always ready to greet others with a big hug.

JoyRx Music On Demand is evolving! We’re excited to announce that our On Demand music offerings are now available twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, on any device, through our kid-directed YouTube channel: JoyRx Kids.

On September 30, JoyRx hosted its annual fundraiser gala, Wonderball, at the Oregon Convention Center in Portland, Oregon, where stories of heroes and Joy abound! It was a night filled with entertainment, inspiring speakers, auction packages, and, most important of all: Joy.

Fiscal year 2023 was yet another year of growth and expansion, and we are grateful to you — our incredible community — for your generous support of JoyRx, the mission delivery of Children’s Cancer Association.

On Sunday, September 24, five Catholic High Schools in the Portland metro area came together once again to walk the streets of Portland to support children with cancer. In honor of Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, students from La Salle North Catholic, Jesuit High School, St. Mary’s Academy, Central Catholic, and Valley Catholic teamed up to help raise funds for JoyRx.

Every three minutes, a child is diagnosed with cancer.

And that’s why, as the summer draws to a close and we head into autumn, JoyRx, the mission delivery of Children’s Cancer Association, recognizes National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.

On August 8, JoyRx hosted an outdoor concert in the sunny courtyard at Randall Children’s Hospital in Portland, Oregon, where JoyRx musicians, JoyRx-served teens, and guest performers took to the stage to bring Joy to the community.

After over 28 years of delivering the healing power of Joy in the Northwest and beyond, 2023 marks the year it’s official: the JoyRx team is now bicoastal!

Friends of JoyRx, the mission delivery of Children’s Cancer Association, gathered on Sunday, August 6, and Monday, August 7, at the beautiful Oregon Golf Club for the fifteenth annual CCA Invitational 2023. The purpose? To help raise critical funds for seriously ill children.   

At JoyRx, we believe that Joy is an unlimited resource and undeniable right. And when it comes to friendships, we’ve seen the power of a connection and how it can lead to Joy. That’s why we champion our JoyRx Mentorship program, which fosters and creates friendships for vulnerable children who need Joy most.

On Monday, July 31, singer-songwriter Amos Lee joined JoyRx Music Specialists to surprise kids at OHSU Doernbecher Children’s Hospital in Portland, Oregon. He treated the kids to a short concert and sing-along. The event left kids singing, dancing, and keeping to the beat with egg shakers.

Today we here at JoyRx, the mission delivery of Children’s Cancer Association, want to say: Happy Birthday to us!

On June 16, JoyRx hosted a workshop and presentation at the 2023 Child Life Conference in Grapevine, Texas. Held annually, the Child Life Conference provides attendees the opportunity to learn the latest in the field of pediatric healthcare. During this conference, attendees reconnect with friends and peers, make new acquaintances, and enjoy the company of other child life professionals.

July 4 is a special day not just because it’s one holiday — but two! It’s time to celebrate: Not only is it Independence Day, but it’s also recognized as National Country Music Day.

JoyRx, the mission delivery of Children’s Cancer Association, celebrated thirteen exciting years hosting our annual Golf for Joy Tournament at Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club near Portland, Oregon. For over a decade, Golf for Joy has raised more than three million dollars in vital funding to support the continuation of our free, Joy-based programs. 

What can Joy do? In December 2022, Connor was admitted to Randall Children’s Hospital after experiencing a debilitating brain bleed. Once he’d undergone multiple surgeries, Connor and his family knew weeks of recovery were in front of him.