This spring, 55 Napleton Automotive dealerships located in Illinois and six other states received help from their employees and customers to raise $176,000 for the Violet Foundation. This money will help fund research and support dozens of families whose children are currently being treated for pediatric brain cancer.
Founded in 2022, the Violet Foundation strives to provide greater resources and support for scientific research and clinical trials, specifically focused on improving survival rates for pediatric brain cancer patients. At this time, only 4% of federal funding allotted by the U.S. goes toward pediatric cancers, which is why the Violet Foundation has committed itself to addressing this issue head on.
“Charity and community involvement are a big part of what we do here at the Napleton Group,” said Kristen Napleton, Vice President of Ed Napleton Automotive Group. “That’s why we were so excited to be able to help support the Violet Foundation. We were thrilled with the outpouring of support we saw from our employees and customers throughout the month.”
The Violet Foundation was founded by the family of three-year-old Violet Napleton, a smart, sassy, fun-loving little girl who was diagnosed with the deadliest form of pediatric cancer, Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG), in 2021. She had a brave spirit and an unwavering fight that inspired those around her, particularly her family. She lost her battle not too long after she was diagnosed with this form of brain cancer, which has a less than 1% survival rate and no effective treatment.
In addition to research, the Foundation’s mission is to support the families of pediatric brain cancer patients who are sometimes forced to continue working to pay the bills and keep insurance active while simultaneously supporting their child and coping with their own emotional experience.
The Napleton family has already made a major impact in the fight against pediatric brain cancer on behalf of Violet and other children like her. Since launching its support in October 2022, the Napleton Auto Group has raised more than $316,000 by dedicating a portion of sales and service revenue towards the Violet Foundation. As a result, the Foundation has provided critical support to 30 families in Illinois and Indiana whose children are undergoing brain tumor treatment, and co-funded six research efforts in the fight against pediatric brain cancer.
Visit www.violet-foundation.org to learn more about Violet’s story and to make a donation.
