Spotlight on Education: McNeal Elementary Raises Over $7,000 for Payton Wright Foundation

BRADENTON – McNeal Elementary School in Lakewood Ranch recently held a "Hop to It, Feed the Frog" fundraiser for the Payton Wright Foundation. Thanks to the support and generous donations from parents, students, faculty and staff, the grand total from the fundraiser was $7,104.

The donations will be disbursed to various families throughout the country who are battling pediatric brain cancer, in order to help alleviate their financial stress, helping them with mortgage payments, gas cards and more.

Additionally, the Payton Wright Foundation will be holding its 6th annual golf tournament at the Lakewood Ranch Golf & Country Club on Friday, May 9. For more information head to paytonwright.org.

In 2013, the non-profit raised more than $100,000, which went toward helping more than 600 families nationwide. Latest statistics show more than 4,700 children were diagnosed with a brain tumor in the past year within the U.S.

The Foundation works hand-in-hand with physicians and social workers nationwide, in your region the organization works with the Children's Hospital of Colorado.

Established in 2008 by Patrick and Holly Wright, the Payton Wright Foundation honors the memory of the Wright's daughter, Payton, who they lost to a rare form of pediatric brain cancer in 2007 at the age of five.

As the Wrights learned when fighting for their daughter’s life, treatments are expensive. To alleviate the stress financial burdens add to an already stressful situation, the organization set out to create “no red tape” relationships with hospitals all over the country, making donating to families in similar situations simple.

You can find more of Payton's story in thisflip book.