Fighting Children’s Cancer Foundation, a nonprofit based in Fairfield, was honored as the fourth annual Founders’ Award winner by Sax LLP, a recognition that comes with a $15,000 unrestricted gift.
Fighting Children’s Cancer Foundation was selected from a pool of nearly 150 nonprofits for best addressing this year’s theme of “Imagination.”
The 2021 Founders’ Award judges concluded that Fighting Children’s Cancer Foundation best addressed its use of imagination in the face of adversity, and the organization walked away with $15,000 to support its mission of providing needs-based financial assistance to families struggling with pediatric cancer.
Andrea Inauen, the executive director of Fighting Children’s Cancer Foundation, said the award will have impact.
“What an incredible honor to be the recipient of Sax’s 2021 Founders’ Award,” she said. “We are grateful to be recognized for the imagination and heart that went into supporting families as they navigated pediatric cancer and COVID-19 this past year.”
Todd Polyniak and April Kushner, members of Sax’s Nonprofit Practice, said the event is a way the Top 100 firm honors the principles of Sax’s founders — Sander Sax, Morris Macy and Egon Fromm — who inspired the vision of propelling organizations forward by supporting their success.
“The Founders’ Award event is beloved by our firm, as is a great way to make a big impact on organizations that do so much on so little,” said Polyniak, partner-in-charge of Sax’s Nonprofit Practice. “We have a new team of award judges each year, but the feedback from them is always the same — how difficult it is to determine a winner out of so many deserving organizations. That goes to show you how much good work is being done by our local nonprofits, and we are privileged to be able to honor them in this way.”
About Sax
Founded in 1956, Sax LLP is a Top 100, multidisciplinary, forward-thinking accounting, tax and advisory firm serving the needs of privately held companies, family-owned businesses, not-for-profit organizations and high net worth individuals for over 65 years. With offices in Parsippany, Pennington and New York City, Sax has the industry expertise to serve clients in the largest vertical markets, including but not limited to: real estate, construction, manufacturing & distribution, health care and not-for-profit.
Kushner, a senior manager and member of Sax’s Nonprofit Practice, said the event is a way to celebrate the work of nonprofit organizations.
“The award announcement is indeed the culmination of the judging process and event, but gathering in a room with so many organizations, and being able to listen and learn about the different missions at work always leaves you feeling inspired and uplifted,” she said.
In addition to the Founders’ Award winner, two runner-up organizations were selected for their demonstration of leveraging imagination in the face of adversity.
Second place and 40 volunteer hours toward its mission were awarded to Family Promise Inc., which works to help those experiencing homelessness and low-income families achieve sustainable independence through a community-based response.
Third place and 25 volunteer hours toward its mission were awarded to Paralyzed Veterans of America, Buckeye Chapter, which strives to improve the quality of life of honorably discharged veterans who have spinal cord injury, dysfunction or illness.
