On April 21 and 22, 2024, JoyRx welcomed golfers to our second annual Golf for Joy Austin Tournament, presented by NFP. After a successful inaugural event last year, we were thrilled to return to Omni Barton Creek Resort & Country Club for an exciting two-day celebration of joy. Thanks to the extraordinary generosity of supporters like you, we raised more than $245,000 in support of JoyRx Music.

It’s been a fruitful fiscal year for JoyRx Music’s programmatic expansion across the country. From Portland to Austin to New York City to Memphis — we’re ending our 2023-2024 fiscal year at the end of April 2024 with 46 pediatric hospital and healthcare partners, including 10 new sites in our network.

Editor’s note: This special edition blog was written by JoyRx Music Manager Elke Downer. What a week! JoyRx Director of Partner Engagement Allyn Cripe and I recently attended and presented at the forty-seventh annual APOSW (Association of Pediatric Oncology Social Workers) conference, which took place in Chicago, Illinois, from April 8 to 10.

As the founder of JoyRx, I am writing on behalf of my colleagues on the Board of Directors to inform you of a leadership change. After nearly three years as our CEO, and over six years at the company, Danielle York and JoyRx | Children’s Cancer Association have parted ways.

Every February, JoyRx partners with local Joy Maker businesses to celebrate joy all month long. This year, we teamed up with KATU news, local businesses, and members of the community to raise critical funds for our JoyRx Music, Mentorship, and Nature programs.

When asked to describe five-year-old Randy, Irene’s face always lights up, and her answer is immediate: “He is brave and strong and brilliant.”

On February 8, 2024, JoyRx celebrated our annual Live From the Heart Benefit Concert presented by Texas Children’s Austin, raising over $350k in support of JoyRx programs to serve seriously ill children and their families.

It started with knee pain: Eight-year-old Hadley complained about her knee hurting and her mom, Launa, took her to the pediatrician. At first, it seemed it was only a possible injury from PE or recess. But Launa could never have guessed the real reason behind her daughter’s pain.

As a PMHE survivor, fifteen-year-old Aaron knows the transformative power of music during difficult moments. That’s why he’s dedicated to giving back to kids like him through the gift of song.

JoyRx Music Digital Live has had a wonderful year of bringing joy to children nationwide through virtual concerts, special events, or one-on-one interactions via tablet.