“It Takes A Village.” How Two Teens Forged their Own Path to Support Their Community
By Kendall Fulton
Two incredibly selfless seventeen year-old girls are doing their part to help families being affected by childhood cancer as they grow their non-profit organization–the Cancer Heritage Foundation. Ella Spanja and Violet Sosinski first began working on bringing their ideas to life during their sophomore year of high school and now, as seniors, they are partnered with Lehigh Valley Health Network’s Reilly Children’s Hospital to help out in any way possible.
When asked what inspires her, Ella recounts the emotional turmoil she faced while watching her grandmother battle cervical cancer. “Her cancer would go from being less aggressive to extremely aggressive in 2023, and knowing I could not do anything about it was devastating.” Ella’s grandmother has been described as a leader in her community. A belief that she consistently shared with the young co-founder was that, “it takes a village.” Ella expressed that her way of honoring these words and giving back to her “village” is through the work of the Cancer Heritage Foundation.
The young women admitted that the process of creating this foundation was not an easy feat. “Put simply, hard work is the answer.” Violet recalls the hours spent researching governmental titles and documents necessary for non-profits. Their age made it difficult to find partnerships and approval for fundraisers, but instead of allowing these setbacks to crush their spirits, they flourished from feedback. Violet even looks back on these times with a smile, stating, “Cancer Heritage Foundation showed me that even though some moments can be discouraging, you can find the good in helping others.” When they partnered with Lehigh Valley Health Network’s Reilly Children’s Hospital, the dream was finally a reality.
The co-founders now regularly partner with a variety of restaurants such as Chipotle, Panera Bread, and Playa Bowls to set up fundraisers for the children’s hospital. Spanja and Sosinski have also mastered the art of advertising. They encourage students from their own school and others in the surrounding area to contribute to the cause. Friends of the girls have stated that it is extremely fulfilling and encouraging to be able to help in ways that did not seem within reach at such a young age. Along with monetary support, the Cancer Heritage Foundation uses the money that has been raised to buy toys that are brought to the patients. Volunteers with the foundation also pay visits to the hospital to talk to and play with the children. The girls stated that the most rewarding part of this process is seeing and hearing how their monthly donations have helped families that had been struggling financially. Ella stated, “Although I could not help my grandmother, the knowledge that we are helping families in our community reminds me why I do what I do.”
Violet and Ella plan to grow the Cancer Heritage Foundation as they enter college by becoming registered as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization within the next four years. They are aiming to expand the foundation beyond their own community by opening chapters across the United States and continuing to partner with hospitals to raise money for oncology research and resources. Ella made her dedication to the cause crystal clear by stating, “I am firm in the belief that “No one fights alone,” and I will continue to honor our commitment to the foundation beyond my high school years.” The co-founders also plan to keep the community involved and encourage the youth by interviewing likeminded high school students to manage the chapters while they moderate.
Ella and Violet hope to inspire other young people to get involved within their own communities by acting as an example. Their advice for other passionate individuals who wish to become more involved is that, “failure only allows success to thrive.” and “If you know that you work hard to help others and can trust yourself then you can go miles.”
Follow Cancer Heritage Foundation on Instagram @ chfoundation_
