#ItsGoodtoGive: Sidney Kushner
CCChampions founder Sidney Kushner works to pair children who have cancer with local celebrities. updates before her death.” That stuck with him as he enrolled at Brown University as a pre-med student.
“I was shadowing a doctor and met a little girl, Jenny (age 9 at the time) who had cancer. I asked her what she wanted to be when she grew up, and she said a dancer. We had a great time but when I had to leave, she became very serious and said to me, ‘I’m afraid my friends will forget me.’ ”
Mr. Kushner realized what he was called to do. Putting medical school on hold, he turned to social work. “My grandma was a social worker, and she is my hero. I want to be just like her,” he said smiling.
Since 2012, Mr. Kushner has run CCChampions full time helping children with cancer feel less alone. “By doing this, I have learned what real empathy means. To know that we can sit together and share moments, and she or he doesn’t have to feel like they have to give anything — they can just be — is huge for these kids. I love what I do so much and I want to help with kids and local heroes (whether they be media personalities, firefighters, teachers or ballerinas) create and sustain long-term relationships.”
These relationships continue throughout the child’s illness, and can be just as impactful (if not more so) for the local hero as for the children. “We are building true friendships. This is more than a feel-good moment,” he said.
Mr. Kushner works with the pediatric oncology department of Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC as well as child specialists and licensed social workers to help mold each experience individually.
So what does it feel like to have found one’s calling so early in life? “This is my life’s work, my passion. Nothing stops me,” said Mr. Kushner. Clearly, #ItsGoodtoGive!
Want to get involved? Check out www.ccchampions.com/donate. Mr. Kushner is always looking for community members to sponsor moments for kids such as having a day at the ballpark or a day at the spa.