Education Services

Education Services

Brett’s dedication to critically ill children does not stop with providing camp services. Nevada Childhood Cancer Foundation, identified a desperate area of need for their children; being critically ill with cancer prevented them from attending school and they were losing ground academically and socially. The Nevada Childhood Cancer Foundation worked with Clark County School District and Sunrise Children’s Hospital to provide a full time accredited K-12 classroom for their cancer patients. After putting together a budget that included hiring a Director of Education and a full-time teacher to work with CCSD to create an Individual Service Plan for each child, Jeff and the NCCF’s board of directors realized they needed a generous benefactor to underwrite this ambitious and extremely necessary/impactful program.

In 2008, Jeff went to his friend, Brett Torino, who was already funding Camp Cartwheel, and again without hesitation, Brett said, “Let me know what needs to happen and we’ll get it done.” Brett has been solely funding the NCCF education program since its inception.

“It’s been said, it takes a village to raise and teach a child,” says Jeff Gordon. “Our village is anchored by the Brett Torino Foundation, who responded with a huge heart by offering to fund the entire program. That’s why NCCF named the 340-square foot educational facility on the 5th floor of the pediatric oncology unit at Sunrise Children’s Hospital the Brett Torino In-Patient Classroom.”

Thanks to the Brett Torino Foundation, the classroom which is open five days a week from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., is equipped with school supplies, computers, a DVD player, and iPads. If a child doesn’t feel well enough to come to the classroom, a tutor goes to the child’s bedside.

Approximately 180 children are enrolled in the program every year. Gordon says it is the only place in the nation where a full-time classroom in a hospital was started and is operated by a local nonprofit and funded by a private donor, something NCCF and Brett Torino are very proud of.

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Sunrise Children’s Hospital Brett Torino In-Patient Classroom
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In addition to the In-Patient Classroom, the Brett Torino Foundation Education Services funds several other services through NCCF:

School Re-Entry Team

NCCF’s Director of Education, a licensed clinical social worker, and each child’s doctor and nurse, work collectively with teachers, school nurses, counselors, social workers, psychologists, and other Clark County School District staff members to facilitate each child’s return to the classroom.

Back to School in Style

NCCF and the Brett Torino Foundation provide extra support to those students reentering school after they have missed six months of school or more with a special celebration. The celebration generously gifts the children with a new backpack, a gift card for new clothes, a special lunch and most of all the emotional support and enthusiasm needed for this time of transition.

Lean on Me: Kidz supporting Kidz

Life-size puppets named Shane and Valerie help create a sensitive and understanding school environment for the children to return to by educating students and the school staff about the short and long term side-effects of cancer, sickle cell, hemophilia, and immunological disorders. They also learn the importance of acceptance and anti-bullying and appreciating people who are different and face challenges, a lesson that may have a lasting positive impact on them for the rest of their lives.

C.A.P.S. Program

C.A.P.S. Program

Nevada Childhood Cancer Foundation in conjunction with the Brett Torino Foundation founded the C.A.P.S. program in 2009. This program honors students who have shown Courage, Achievement, Perseverance, and Success in the Brett Torino Foundation Education Services Program. In his annual keynote speech at the C.A.P.S. Ceremony, Brett shares his passion for this exclusive program and the deserving children who are served by it and succeed because of it.

In Their Own Words...

“One of the first students to take advantage of this program struggled his entire life with different cancers and immune related diseases. At age nine he got to experience the Brett Torino Foundation Classroom for a brief time before losing his battle. Before he passed, he said to his mother, ‘I knew school would be just like this. I have never had more fun in my life.’ What a testament to this wonderful program.”
- Jeff GordonCEO of NCCF
- Jeff Gordon
“I thought life was over. No more school, no more friends or teachers. That hurt because I thought everybody forgot me. But my teacher came into my room with books and said, ‘Let’s start school.’ From that moment on, I knew I would graduate with my class. I made two A’s, two B’s, and two C’s in the first quarter, and I became intent on graduating with a 4.0 GPA. There are not enough words to explain how Nevada Childhood Cancer Foundation and the Brett Torino Foundation Classroom helped me.”
- Tealan, age 17AML Leukemia
- Tealan, age 17
“While doing chemo, I missed a lot of school. It was very hard not being a normal teenager. I had bad grades and lost a lot of friends. Nevada Childhood Foundation and the Brett Torino Foundation Classroom helped me with my education to the point where I got 10 credits ahead and received the NCCF Student of the Year Award.”
- Valerie, age 16Stage IV Brain Tumor
- Valerie, age 16
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Delighted for the second year to support @lvmpdfoundation for their Shop with a Cop event. Loved seeing so many smiles and happy faces, we are proud to build a stronger connection between kids in the valley and law enforcement! 🎄🫶🎁 @lvmpd @walmart

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Delighted for the second year to support @lvmpdfoundation for their Shop with a Cop event. Loved seeing so many smiles and happy faces, we are proud to build a stronger connection between kids in the valley and law enforcement! 🎄🫶🎁 @lvmpd @walmart

🌿🍲 Greenhouse Garden Recipes! 🍲🌿

Balsamic Crispy Brussels Sprouts with Dates & Almonds — a perfect blend of sweet, savory, and crunchy! 🌱🍯🥄

These Brussels sprouts get a flavor boost with balsamic glaze, caramelized dates, and crunchy almonds for a dish that’s as nutritious as it is delicious. Ready to impress family and friends? 💚

Grab the recipe, make it your own, and don’t forget to tag us in your tasty pics!

🥬 https://bretttorinofoundation.org/recipes/balsamic-crispy-brussels

See you next Monday for more garden-fresh inspiration!

#TRGreenhouseGardenRecipes #OrganicCooking #GlutenFree #SugarFree #TorinoRanch

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🌿🍲 Greenhouse Garden Recipes! 🍲🌿 Balsamic Crispy Brussels Sprouts with Dates & Almonds — a perfect blend of sweet, savory, and crunchy! 🌱🍯🥄 These Brussels sprouts get a flavor boost with balsamic glaze, caramelized dates, and crunchy almonds for a dish that’s as nutritious as it is delicious. Ready to impress family and friends? 💚 Grab the recipe, make it your own, and don’t forget to tag us in your tasty pics! 🥬 https://bretttorinofoundation.org/recipes/balsamic-crispy-brussels See you next Monday for more garden-fresh inspiration! #TRGreenhouseGardenRecipes #OrganicCooking #GlutenFree #SugarFree #TorinoRanch

A November Moment with the Founder

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A November Moment with the Founder

A September Moment with the Founder

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A September Moment with the Founder

A glimpse of behind the scenes filming with our ‘Moment with the Founder’ on location at Torino Ranch; stay tuned for the full video this Thursday. #TorinoRanch

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A glimpse of behind the scenes filming with our ‘Moment with the Founder’ on location at Torino Ranch; stay tuned for the full video this Thursday. #TorinoRanch

Last week, we had the immense pleasure of hosting the Nevada Childhood Cancer Foundation’s SEEK Teen Retreat, an annual therapeutic retreat with activities focused on self-reflection, personal growth, team building, and enhancing self-esteem for teen patients and their siblings. Although our motivation for supporting this program comes purely from a desire to offer these young teens the personal support they need, we occasionally receive heartfelt notes from campers that reaffirm we’re making a difference. These simple gestures mean the world to us—thank you to the camper who left this special token of appreciation. Your kindness reminds us that we’re on the right track, and we are happier and healthier because of you! With love from all of us at BTF, and Mr. Torino (aka Brett) wants you to know you’re an inspiration too! #torinoranch @nvccf

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Last week, we had the immense pleasure of hosting the Nevada Childhood Cancer Foundation’s SEEK Teen Retreat, an annual therapeutic retreat with activities focused on self-reflection, personal growth, team building, and enhancing self-esteem for teen patients and their siblings. Although our motivation for supporting this program comes purely from a desire to offer these young teens the personal support they need, we occasionally receive heartfelt notes from campers that reaffirm we’re making a difference. These simple gestures mean the world to us—thank you to the camper who left this special token of appreciation. Your kindness reminds us that we’re on the right track, and we are happier and healthier because of you! With love from all of us at BTF, and Mr. Torino (aka Brett) wants you to know you’re an inspiration too! #torinoranch @nvccf
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