Childhood Cancer Awareness Month: Themes, Facts, and Awareness Ideas
Childhood Cancer Awareness Month is observed every September in the United States to raise awareness of pediatric cancer and the gold ribbon that represents it. President Barack Obama made the first federal proclamation designating September as National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month in 2012, and the U.S. Senate later reinforced that designation with a unanimous resolution in 2019. Every day in the United States, dozens of children are diagnosed with cancer, and it remains the leading cause of death by disease among children.
For workplaces, this is a month with a clear, well-established symbol (gold), a well-documented history, and a natural entry point for a company-wide giving or volunteering campaign. We built this guide to answer the questions HR, CSR, and employee engagement teams ask most often when planning around it, copy-pasteable into your own planning doc or CMS.
What Is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month and Why Does It Matter?
Childhood Cancer Awareness Month exists because pediatric cancer research has historically been underfunded relative to adult cancer research, and because public awareness of the disease lags far behind better-known observances like Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The month brings together hospitals, research foundations, families, and increasingly, employers, to close that gap.
Unlike some cancer awareness ribbons that represent a single disease, the gold ribbon represents dozens of distinct pediatric cancers, including leukemia, brain tumors, and solid tumors like neuroblastoma. That breadth is part of why the observance leans so heavily on a single unifying symbol rather than disease-specific messaging.
"September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, a time when we reflect on leaps made in research and treatment... This is why September is a month of purpose. A month of unifying behind the singular purpose that no child should die in the dawn of life."
— Richard Shadyac Jr., President and CEO of ALSAC, the fundraising and awareness organization for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, St. Jude Inspire, 2022
ALSO READ: https://www.goodera.com/blog/blood-cancer-awareness-month
When Is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month?
Childhood Cancer Awareness Month is observed every September in the United States. The federal designation dates back to 2012, when President Barack Obama issued the first proclamation creating National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month as a recognized national health initiative.
The designation has been reaffirmed at the federal level multiple times since. On September 26, 2019, the U.S. Senate unanimously passed a resolution formally recognizing September as National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, and the White House has issued an annual proclamation nearly every year since, including in 2025.
At the state level, ACCO coordinates an annual push to secure individual gubernatorial proclamations in all 50 states, a campaign it has run for more than five years, typically securing more than 45 state-level proclamations each year.
Childhood Cancer Awareness Month Themes: The Gold Ribbon Explained
"The gold ribbon is known as the international awareness symbol for childhood cancer because gold is a precious metal, and is therefore the perfect color to reflect the most precious thing in our lives, our children."
— Ruth Hoffman, CEO, American Childhood Cancer Organization, ACCO, 2021
The gold ribbon is the internationally recognized symbol for childhood cancer awareness, chosen specifically because gold is a precious metal, meant to reflect that children are the most precious thing in our lives. Unlike single-disease ribbons, it represents the full range of pediatric cancers rather than one specific diagnosis.
The ribbon itself has a documented origin. A small group of parent-advocates, including ACCO's own CEO, created the gold ribbon in 1998 as a unifying symbol at a time when there was no established childhood cancer awareness movement at all.
Each year's observance tends to organize around a small set of recurring themes rather than a single trademarked slogan:
- "Go Gold" — the umbrella campaign encouraging individuals, buildings, and brands to display gold throughout September
- Research funding equity — advocacy pushing for a larger share of cancer research dollars to go toward pediatric-specific treatments, since most childhood cancer drugs in use today were developed decades ago
- "Kids Can't Fight Cancer Alone" — ACCO's long-running message emphasizing community and corporate support alongside medical treatment
Some Important Facts About Childhood Cancer Awareness Month
Numbers help make the case for internal action and help employees understand the scale of what the month represents. Here's what the current data shows:
- Cancer is the leading cause of death by disease among children in the United States, with about 1,050 children ages 0 to 14 expected to die from the disease each year.
- The U.S. government has historically allocated only about 5% of its federal cancer research funding specifically to cancers that affect children, according to CURE Childhood Cancer (2026). That funding gap is the central argument behind most pediatric cancer fundraising campaigns, including workplace ones.
- Childhood cancer survival rates in the U.S. have risen from 20% to more than 80% since St. Jude Children's Research Hospital opened in 1962, according to St. Jude (2026). That trajectory shows decades of research investment translating directly into lives saved.
- About 400,000 children and adolescents are diagnosed with cancer worldwide each year, according to St. Jude (2026). At that scale, most workplaces will have at least indirect proximity to a family affected by pediatric cancer.
- Approximately 47 children are diagnosed with cancer every day in the United States, according to Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation (2024). That daily frequency is a useful figure for internal comms trying to make the statistic feel immediate rather than abstract.
- About 90% of children with cancer live in low- and middle-income countries where diagnosis and treatment access is often limited or unavailable, according to St. Jude (2026). This is a useful data point for companies with global workforces or international giving programs.
- Nearly 10% of children with cancer inherited a genetic mutation linked to their diagnosis, according to National Today (2023). That figure helps explain why pediatric cancer research is often treated as a genetically distinct field from adult oncology.
- Leukemia is the most common cancer diagnosed in children, according to the same St. Jude (2026) report cited earlier, which is also why Childhood Cancer Awareness Month and Blood Cancer Awareness Month overlap so heavily in September programming.
- On September 26, 2019, the U.S. Senate unanimously passed a resolution formally establishing September as National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, according to ACCO (2019). That legislative history is worth citing in any internal comms explaining why the observance carries federal recognition.
- ACCO has secured more than $120 million in state-level appropriations for childhood cancer research across seven states through its ongoing advocacy work, according to ACCO (2026). This shows the observance's advocacy angle produces measurable policy outcomes, not just awareness.
Supporting Childhood Cancer Awareness Month doesn't require a large budget or a month-long fundraising campaign. The most impactful workplace initiatives combine education, employee participation, fundraising, and volunteer action to create lasting awareness. Here are some ideas companies can adapt for teams of any size.
Childhood Cancer Awareness Month Campaign Ideas for Workplaces
"What we didn't know is the profound impact it would have on our company, our employees and our independent sales agents who contribute more than $6 million from their commission checks each year. It has been an inspirational and true calling for the entire Aflac family."
–Dan Amos, Chairman and CEO, Aflac (PR Newswire, 2019)
1. Launch the Month With an Awareness Campaign
Start September by helping employees understand why Childhood Cancer Awareness Month exists. Share a short explainer through your intranet, Slack, or company newsletter covering the significance of the gold ribbon, key childhood cancer statistics, and the challenges families face during treatment.
Beginning your campaign with awareness gives employees the context they need before asking them to participate in fundraising or volunteering.
2. Organize a "Go Gold" Day
Encourage employees to wear gold clothing or accessories throughout the workplace or during virtual meetings. Pair the activity with a company donation for every participant or team that joins. While simple, highly visible campaigns like this help normalize conversations around childhood cancer and often become one of the highest-participation activities of the month.
3. Match Employee Donations
Donation matching is one of the easiest ways to increase the impact of employee giving. Whether employees contribute individually or through a workplace fundraiser, matching gifts demonstrate the organization's commitment while encouraging broader participation. Consider setting a company-wide fundraising goal and sharing progress throughout the month to maintain momentum.
4. Volunteer With Children's Hospitals or Nonprofits
Many children's hospitals and pediatric cancer organizations need volunteers to assemble care packages, prepare activity kits, organize family events, or support awareness campaigns. For remote employees, virtual volunteering opportunities such as designing educational materials, translating resources, or providing administrative support allow everyone to participate regardless of location.
5. Assemble Comfort Kits for Children and Families
Treatment often requires extended hospital stays, making comfort items especially meaningful for children and caregivers. Employees can work together to assemble care packages containing books, coloring supplies, blankets, toys, journals, or snack packs. This activity combines hands-on volunteering with a tangible outcome that directly supports families navigating treatment.
Can’t find an activity that suits you? Get in touch with us and we will plan the entire volunteering experience for you aligned with your goals and causes.
6. Host a Charity Walk, Run, or Wellness Challenge
Invite employees to walk, run, cycle, or complete wellness goals throughout September while the company donates for every mile completed or participant registered. Wellness challenges are easy to scale across offices and remote teams while encouraging healthy habits alongside charitable giving.
7. Invite a Survivor, Caregiver, or Medical Expert to Speak
A lunch-and-learn featuring a pediatric oncologist, childhood cancer survivor, caregiver, or nonprofit representative brings a personal perspective that statistics alone cannot provide. These conversations help employees better understand the realities of childhood cancer while reinforcing why awareness, research funding, and family support remain essential.
8. Close the Month by Sharing Your Collective Impact
End the campaign by reporting what employees accomplished together. Share the total funds raised, volunteer hours contributed, care kits assembled, participation rates, or nonprofit organizations supported. Celebrating results reinforces employee contributions, builds trust through transparency, and creates momentum for future volunteering and giving campaigns.
Corporate involvement in childhood cancer awareness is most effective when it's sustained over time. One of the best-known examples is Aflac, whose partnership with the Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta has supported pediatric cancer care since 1995. Rather than relying on a single annual awareness campaign, the company has embedded childhood cancer into its long-term corporate giving and employee engagement strategy.
Workplace Activity Ideas for Employees During Childhood Cancer Awareness Month
Not every employee wants to organize a fundraiser or lead a company-wide initiative. Offering a variety of individual and team activities makes it easier for everyone to participate in a way that matches their interests, schedule, and location. Here are some simple but meaningful ways employees can get involved throughout September.
1. Go Gold for a Day
A company-wide "Go Gold" day is one of the easiest ways to show support. Invite employees to wear gold clothing or accessories, update their virtual meeting backgrounds, or decorate their desks with gold ribbons. Encourage teams to share photos on Slack or your internal social platform alongside a short fact about childhood cancer to turn visibility into awareness.
2. Participate in PJammin®
PJammin®, organized by the American Childhood Cancer Organization (ACCO), encourages participants to wear pajamas for the day in solidarity with children who spend weeks or months in hospitals during treatment. Pair the activity with a small participation fee or optional donation to create both awareness and fundraising impact.
3. Join a Fundraising Walk or Community Event
Many childhood cancer organizations host charity walks, runs, cycling events, or family festivals throughout September. Encourage employees to register as individuals or create a company team for events like the St. Jude Walk or local pediatric cancer fundraisers. Participating together strengthens team connections while supporting an important cause.
4. Volunteer Your Professional Skills
Many pediatric cancer nonprofits operate with small teams and limited resources. Employees with expertise in graphic design, marketing, content writing, data analysis, finance, legal services, translation, or technology can contribute through skills-based volunteering. These projects often create lasting value by helping nonprofits improve fundraising campaigns, streamline operations, or expand their reach.
5. Write Messages of Encouragement
Invite employees to write handwritten cards or record short video messages for children receiving treatment and their families. Hospitals and nonprofit organizations often coordinate these initiatives to ensure messages reach patients safely and appropriately. Small gestures of encouragement can make hospital stays feel a little less isolating.
6. Assemble Activity or Comfort Kits
Organize a team volunteering session to prepare activity kits containing coloring books, crayons, puzzles, journals, toys, blankets, or comfort items for pediatric patients and siblings. Many children's hospitals and nonprofit partners provide recommended packing lists to ensure donations meet current patient needs.
7. Attend an Educational Session
Learning is a meaningful form of participation. Employees can attend a lunch-and-learn featuring a pediatric oncologist, survivor, caregiver, or nonprofit representative to better understand childhood cancer, treatment journeys, and why research funding remains so important. These sessions often inspire greater participation in the rest of the month's activities.
8. Donate Blood or Platelets
Children undergoing cancer treatment frequently require blood and platelet transfusions throughout chemotherapy and recovery. Employees who are eligible can schedule blood or platelet donations individually or participate in a workplace blood drive organized with a local blood bank, making a direct contribution to patient care.
9. Take Part in a Wellness or Step Challenge
Encourage employees to walk, run, cycle, or complete wellness goals throughout September while raising funds for childhood cancer organizations. Companies can donate a fixed amount for every mile completed or milestone reached, giving employees a simple way to contribute regardless of where they work.
10. Support Through Matched Giving
Employees who prefer financial contributions can donate to a trusted childhood cancer organization while taking advantage of employer matching programs. Matching gifts significantly increase the impact of individual donations and allow employees to support research, family assistance programs, and hospital services without requiring a large personal contribution.
11. Share Awareness on Social Media
Employees can extend the campaign beyond the workplace by sharing educational posts, fundraising pages, or personal reflections throughout September. Using the gold ribbon and reputable childhood cancer organizations as references helps spread awareness while directing friends and family toward credible resources and ways to help.
12. Nominate a Charity for Company Support
If your organization has an employee-led giving or volunteering committee, encourage employees to nominate a local children's hospital or pediatric cancer nonprofit as the beneficiary of future fundraising, volunteer events, or year-round partnerships. Employee-led nominations often lead to stronger participation because teams feel a greater sense of ownership over the cause.
Wrapping It Up
Childhood Cancer Awareness Month is an opportunity for companies to make a meaningful difference in the lives of children and families navigating one of life's toughest challenges. While September is an important moment for raising awareness, the greatest impact comes from combining education with action. A campaign that helps employees understand the significance of the gold ribbon, supports pediatric cancer organizations, and creates opportunities to volunteer or give back is far more memorable than a one-time social media post.
If you're planning a workplace campaign, keep it simple and purposeful. Start by educating employees about childhood cancer and why the observance matters. Then, choose one or two activities that align with your company's culture, whether that's a Go Gold campaign, a fundraising initiative, comfort kit assembly, skills-based volunteering, or donation matching. Finally, measure and share the outcomes by reporting participation, volunteer hours, funds raised, or the number of families supported. Closing the loop not only recognizes employee contributions but also lays the foundation for stronger participation in future health awareness and volunteering campaigns.
Ultimately, Childhood Cancer Awareness Month isn't just about wearing gold for a day. It's about using your workplace to amplify awareness, support life-saving research, and remind families facing pediatric cancer that they are not alone. When employees rally around a shared cause, companies strengthen both their community impact and their workplace culture.
Frequently Asked Questions
When Is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month?
Childhood Cancer Awareness Month is observed every September in the United States. It was first federally designated in 2012 and has been recognized annually since, including through a unanimous 2019 U.S. Senate resolution.
Is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month the Same as National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month?
Yes. "Childhood Cancer Awareness Month" and "National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month" refer to the same September observance. The "National" designation reflects its federal proclamation history, dating back to 2012.
What Color Represents Childhood Cancer Awareness?
Gold. The gold ribbon was created in 1998 by a small group of parent-advocates and represents the full range of pediatric cancers rather than a single disease.
Is There an Official Childhood Cancer Awareness Month Theme Each Year?
There isn't a single trademarked annual theme the way some observances run. Instead, the month organizes around a consistent set of themes: "Go Gold," research funding equity for pediatric cancers, and ACCO's long-running "Kids Can't Fight Cancer Alone" message.
What Is the Difference Between Childhood Cancer Awareness Month and International Childhood Cancer Day?
They're related but distinct. Childhood Cancer Awareness Month is observed throughout September in the U.S., while International Childhood Cancer Day is a separate global observance held on February 15 each year.
How Many Children Are Diagnosed With Cancer Each Year?
Worldwide, about 400,000 children and adolescents are diagnosed with cancer annually, according to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. In the U.S. specifically, approximately 47 children are diagnosed every day, according to Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation.
Why Does Childhood Cancer Overlap With Blood Cancer Awareness in September?
Because leukemia, a type of blood cancer, is the most common cancer diagnosed in children. That overlap is why Childhood Cancer Awareness Month and Blood Cancer Awareness Month share both a calendar month and, often, workplace campaign infrastructure.
What's a Simple, Low-Budget Way for a Company to Participate?
A company-wide "Go Gold" day, paired with a short internal educational email, is the lowest-effort, highest-visibility starting point, and can be layered with a donation drive or PJammin event as the program matures.
How Can Companies Support Childhood Cancer Causes Responsibly?
Companies can start by working with established childhood cancer nonprofits and letting community needs guide the campaign. Beyond raising awareness, organizations can support research, family assistance, patient programs, or skills-based volunteering. It is also important to avoid using children's stories or images purely for emotional marketing without the appropriate permissions and context.
How Can Remote and Hybrid Employees Participate in Childhood Cancer Awareness Month?
Remote and hybrid employees can participate through virtual education sessions, online fundraising campaigns, digital "Go Gold" activities, remote skills-based volunteering, and virtual events such as PJammin. Companies can also provide flexible ways to participate so employees can support the cause without needing to attend an in-person office event.
