THE HEART OF GOLD THAT KEEPS GIVING
Gold4Kids President Candin Hobbs, with her family
|
When a group of Tulsa parents formed Gold4Kids Cancer Foundation of Tulsa, they wanted to do more than put on an annual fundraiser – they wanted to build a community to support kids and their families affected by pediatric cancer in Northeast Oklahoma. Gold4Kids provides scholarships, leads local events, offers critical support for kids and families, and fuels groundbreaking research through donations to the Children’s Oncology Group (COG). The organization’s giving spirit honors the legacy and compassion of founding member Kathy Dargel.
PHOTOS COURTESY OF GOLD4KIDS
In 2015, a dozen people dedicated to ending childhood cancer gathered in a pizza shop in Tulsa, Oklahoma. They’d already been fundraising together for national childhood cancer organizations, including COG.
|
But they wanted to do something locally too, to support children and families affected by pediatric cancer in their community. So, they made a bold decision to form their own non-profit, Gold4Kids, with a focus on two goals: connecting and supporting families, and helping cure childhood cancer.
Over the years, their work has included fundraisers and community-building events like their Gold4Kids walk; scholarships for kids who have experienced childhood cancer; and donations to support research and better treatments.
Over the years, their work has included fundraisers and community-building events like their Gold4Kids walk; scholarships for kids who have experienced childhood cancer; and donations to support research and better treatments.
|
Creating strong community
Gold4Kids’ board members had all benefitted so much from local connections with other families experiencing childhood cancer that they wanted to do everything they could to foster a network of families who could support each other throughout northern Oklahoma. Candin Hobbs, President of Gold4Kids, fields e-mails and questions from families all over the state and helps connect them to others in similar situations. Candin’s son was treated for acute lymphocytic leukemia from age 2 to 6. |
Families reflect on the memorial butterfly garden.
|
“I know from experience that there’s nothing quite like being able to have friends to talk to who are going through a similar journey and worried about the same side effects or after-effects of treatment,” said Candin. “Our whole family has benefited from the continued friendships made during his treatment.”
Scholarships for kids
Gold4Kids awards four to 10 scholarships per year, totaling over $40,000, to kids who had childhood cancer in Northeast Oklahoma and are looking to go to college or technical school.
Reviewing applications is one of Candin’s favorite parts about being involved with Gold4Kids.
Scholarships for kids
Gold4Kids awards four to 10 scholarships per year, totaling over $40,000, to kids who had childhood cancer in Northeast Oklahoma and are looking to go to college or technical school.
Reviewing applications is one of Candin’s favorite parts about being involved with Gold4Kids.
|
“When my son was newly diagnosed, it gave me so much hope to read about these older kids going to college and being successful,” said Candin.
Years later, Candin still gets giddy when it’s time to call applicants and let them know they’ve been selected for a scholarship. “For many families, they’ve used up a lot of their savings to pay for treatment. And some kids have had to miss a lot of school or have experienced cognitive effects of treatment,” she said. “It can be a real challenge to simply graduate from high school. And that makes it extra gratifying to help with some financial support for college.” |
Bringing back the Gold4Kids walk
Gold4Kids has brought families together through various local events including holiday parties and retreats. This past fall, they brought back their Gold4Kids walk at a local high school, after a COVID hiatus. The walk celebrates survivors, encourages families battling childhood cancer, and honors the memory of children who have lost their battle.
This year’s walk drew more than 200 attendees and boasted special guests including superheroes, princesses, and Ms. Black Oklahoma. Other festivities included temporary tattoos, face paint, slime, games, a photo booth, a firetruck, a DJ – and even a petting zoo with snakes and monkeys.
The event’s success proved Gold4Kids can continue making an impact after losing one of its founders, Kathy Dargel, who unexpectedly passed away in July 2025.
Gold4Kids has brought families together through various local events including holiday parties and retreats. This past fall, they brought back their Gold4Kids walk at a local high school, after a COVID hiatus. The walk celebrates survivors, encourages families battling childhood cancer, and honors the memory of children who have lost their battle.
This year’s walk drew more than 200 attendees and boasted special guests including superheroes, princesses, and Ms. Black Oklahoma. Other festivities included temporary tattoos, face paint, slime, games, a photo booth, a firetruck, a DJ – and even a petting zoo with snakes and monkeys.
The event’s success proved Gold4Kids can continue making an impact after losing one of its founders, Kathy Dargel, who unexpectedly passed away in July 2025.
|
A passion for better treatments
“Kathy was the heart of gold of our organization. She was a retired oncology nurse who was always looking out for kids, but also their siblings and families, making sure to acknowledge all that they go through too,” said Candin. Kathy was adamant that if a gift was going out to a kid with cancer, their siblings would receive the same gift. She was the one who had T-shirts printed for siblings at their walks – and who organized “game night buckets” – filled with board games and snacks – to be left on families’ doorsteps during the pandemic. Kathy was passionate about whole-family care. And, given her years as a nurse, she was also passionate about better treatments and the importance of COG’s work. Kathy’s influence continues today, and her memory is alive with all the work that Gold4Kids does each day. |
Gold4Kids Founder, Kathy Dargel (left) is remembered at the Gold4Kids walk.
|
An “unrestricted” commitment to supporting research
Over the last decade, Gold4Kids has written several checks to COG, totaling $195,000 – a donation they’ve now named in honor of Kathy.
Over the last decade, Gold4Kids has written several checks to COG, totaling $195,000 – a donation they’ve now named in honor of Kathy.
Supporters gather at the Gold4Kids walk
|
“Kathy was always providing our group with powerful stats like ‘More than 80% of kids with childhood cancer are treated at COG institutions,’” said Candin.
Candin too knows the impact of COG’s research. “It’s so inspiring when I talk to a parent and learn their child is going to get a treatment that wasn’t available for my son – so they won’t have to undergo the same side effects that we went through,” said Candin. Gold4Kids has always designated their donations to COG as “unrestricted,” which means the money isn’t designated for a specific program, project or purpose – so the funds can be used where they’re needed most. |
As a fellow nonprofit, they know the tremendous value of giving an unrestricted donation.
“COG’s research provided so many children we know with not only better odds of survival, but also treatment with fewer side effects and late effects,” said Candin. “If we can trust the COG with our babies, we can trust them to put our funds to good use.”
“COG’s research provided so many children we know with not only better odds of survival, but also treatment with fewer side effects and late effects,” said Candin. “If we can trust the COG with our babies, we can trust them to put our funds to good use.”
|
How unrestricted donations help COG
Michelle Houlihan, Certified Fundraising Executive for The COG Foundation, explains that donations help fill important funding gaps that federal grants may not cover. For example, one study requires dental wipes for pediatric patients undergoing intense chemotherapy. These patients have weakened immune systems and are at high risk for serious bacterial infections that can start in the mouth. The dental wipes are potentially critical to prevent life-threatening complications. Federal funds often will not cover the cost of resources like this, which is why philanthropic dollars are so critical in filling the funding gap. |
|
Unrestricted donations also give the COG Foundation the flexibility to respond quickly to urgent funding requests from study leaders and disease committees. If long-term federal or private grants are reduced or delayed, these donations allow the Foundation to step in and keep critical research moving forward without interruption. For a family whose child is undergoing treatment, any delay is too long – and unrestricted funding helps bridge the gaps.