iCAN KIDS Walter Payton 2025 Challenge of 10

Dear Friends,

We’re excited to introduce iCAN (the International Children’s Advisory Network), a global, youth-led initiative that empowers young people to:

• Advocate for pediatric clinical research

• Amplify youth voices in healthcare

• Explore future careers in medicine

Our local chapter, iCAN KIDS Payton at Walter Payton High School (Chicago), brings together 25 passionate students (ages 14–18)—some of whom live with chronic conditions or disabilities, and all united by a shared mission: to make pediatric healthcare more inclusive, informed, and youth‑friendly.

What we do:

• Host guest speakers from Lurie Children’s Hospital

• Participate in focus groups with pediatric researchers

• Co‑create youth‑friendly informed consents, assents, and patient‑education materials

• Interpret and contribute to adolescent mental‑health research with UIC (we’re credited as contributors!)

• Assemble care packages for families at Ronald McDonald House

Why we need your help:

We’ve just launched our first local fundraising campaign to fuel:

1. Annual iCAN Summit participation

A weeklong gathering where youth from around the world collaborate with medical researchers, the FDA, patient‑education experts, and industry leaders (Pfizer, etc.) to shape pediatric protocols, consent tools, and telehealth solutions.

2. Chapter activities & materials

Guest‑speaker series, focus‑group coordination, and creation of accessible educational resources.

Donate today on our GoFundMe page (all gifts are tax‑deductible and any amount helps!)

GoFundMe: iCAN KIDS Payton Fundraiser

If you’d prefer to make a corporate gift or discuss business sponsorship opportunities, please contact

Sabina Schmidt Goldstein

[email redacted] |  (312) 555‑1234

Thank you for supporting iCAN KIDS Payton—your generosity empowers young people to drive real change in pediatric healthcare!

Warmly,

The iCAN KIDS Payton Team

icanresearch.org