2024 William Olson Impact Award Winner

ATLANTA – Rally Foundation for Childhood Cancer Research recently announced their 2024 William Olson Impact Award winner, Dr. Gregory Friedman of The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center. This prestigious award is given to a doctor who exemplifies commitment, determination, and resilience in caring for kids fighting cancer and discovering new treatments.

Each year the Rally Foundation’s Board of Directors selects one Rally-funded researcher to receive the William Olson Impact Award. Dr. Friedman has been a Rally-funded researcher since 2013, and is currently funded to support the bench-to-bedside development of targeted immunotherapies, including clinical trials and laboratory work designed to enhance the therapy further for future trials. Dr. Friedman has also served for more than 10 years on Rally’s Medical Advisory Board.

“I am truly honored to receive this significant award from Rally Foundation in memory of William Olson,” Dr. Friedman said. “Through our partnership with Rally, we aim to provide patients and their families hope for a brighter tomorrow through the development of more effective and less toxic therapies.”

William Olson was the inspiration for the creation of Rally Foundation for Childhood Cancer Research. He was diagnosed with brain cancer as a 17-year-old in 2005, and fought a valiant battle for 11 years. William’s mother asked her friend Dean Crowe to raise money for childhood cancer research, and Rally Foundation was born.

William became the first Rally Kid, and his memory serves as the foundation’s motivation every day. “I cannot think of a better recipient for this very special award. Dr. Friedman’s amazing bedside manner, his tireless commitment to pediatric brain tumor research, and his personal integrity exemplifies everything that William stood for and believed in,” shared Dean Crowe, founder and CEO of Rally Foundation. Since its founding, Rally has awarded $35 million dollars for childhood cancer research and secured $222 million from the Department of Defense Medical Research Program for cancers in pediatrics, adolescents and young adults, paid directly to researchers. For every dollar given to Rally, 93 cents support its mission. Charity Navigator has given Rally a perfect score of 100, making Rally Foundation the highest-rated childhood charity in the world funding research and providing services to families.

About Rally Foundation for Childhood Cancer Research:

Childhood cancer is the number one disease killer of kids ages 0 to 15. Rally Foundation for Childhood Cancer Research (Rally), a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, empowers volunteers across the country to raise awareness and funds for childhood cancer research to find better treatments with fewer long-term side effects, and, ultimately, cures. Rally received the Independent Charities Seal of Excellence and GuideStar Valued Partner seal, and according to independently audited financials’ five-year average results, 93 cents of every dollar raised supports Rally’s mission. Visit RallyFoundation.org today.