ABOUT LIGHTWELL FOUNDATION
LOCAL FAMILIES FIGHTING TO SAVE THEIR CHILDREN'S LIVES
Originally called The Bozeman 3, the organization arose out of a unique bond between three families forged in their shared experience of fighting for the lives of their children diagnosed with pediatric cancer, far from the support and beauty of their homes in the Gallatin Valley of Montana. They met in the hallways of Seattle Children’s Hospital’s Oncology Unit in early 2012. While each child faced a different form of cancer, these children, along with their parents, possessed a resolve to fight.
It was simple things, like a mutual cherishing of the Bridger Mountains and hay fields, or shopping at the same grocery store, alongside the momentous things - knowing what it is like to cradle your child in a small room while waiting for test results or the responsibility of making treatment decisions and missing entire seasons at home – these are the shared experiences that bound together the families of Caden, Allistaire, and Stellablue. They wept together in those dark times when it seemed the cancer was winning and rejoiced together at the many victories.
Out of this came a common desire to find ways to support other local families who would some day face a similar challenge of a cancer diagnosis for their child and being thrust from their home to seek treatment. With the help of friends who also saw the need, The Bozeman 3 became a tangible, grass-roots, non-profit organization in 2014.
In 2022, having provided support to many more than the original three, 16 Gallatin Valley families to be exact, and recognizing the growth opportunities of the organization, The Bozeman 3 was renamed LightWell Foundation. Our hope is this new name will represent a silver lining in an unthinkable journey and a light in a far too often dark place.
It was simple things, like a mutual cherishing of the Bridger Mountains and hay fields, or shopping at the same grocery store, alongside the momentous things - knowing what it is like to cradle your child in a small room while waiting for test results or the responsibility of making treatment decisions and missing entire seasons at home – these are the shared experiences that bound together the families of Caden, Allistaire, and Stellablue. They wept together in those dark times when it seemed the cancer was winning and rejoiced together at the many victories.
Out of this came a common desire to find ways to support other local families who would some day face a similar challenge of a cancer diagnosis for their child and being thrust from their home to seek treatment. With the help of friends who also saw the need, The Bozeman 3 became a tangible, grass-roots, non-profit organization in 2014.
In 2022, having provided support to many more than the original three, 16 Gallatin Valley families to be exact, and recognizing the growth opportunities of the organization, The Bozeman 3 was renamed LightWell Foundation. Our hope is this new name will represent a silver lining in an unthinkable journey and a light in a far too often dark place.
OUR MISSION
The three-fold mission of LightWell Foundation is to financially support Gallatin County families whose child has received a cancer diagnosis, to provide peer support by connecting Gallatin County families whose children have or have had cancer, and to support pediatric cancer research.
NEIGHBORS HELPING NEIGHBORS
As small, locally-focused, non-profit, LightWell Foundation is run by an all volunteer board of about ten directors, each serving about three years. As such, overhead costs are low, and board members work hard to keep as many funds going directly to the families and pediatric cancer research as possible. Donors can feel good knowing their donations will help families right here in the Gallatin Valley going through the unimaginable and support much needed childhood cancer cures. Below are links to our annual financial reports.