One Spark of Hope at a Time
We Are dedicated to helping in the fight against childhood cancer
Our Story
We Fight in Ada's Memory
Ada’s Spark is dedicated to honoring the enduring memory of our beloved Ada, whose vibrant spirit continues to inspire us. Through our unwavering commitment, we strive to ignite positive change in the lives of those affected by childhood cancer and Leukemia. Guided by our collective experiences in research, drug development, and navigating the healthcare system, we are driven to support scientific breakthroughs, charitable initiatives, and educational endeavors.
Our mission encompasses raising money for established organizations (e.g. Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, the MACC Fund, UW Carbone Cancer Center) to support childhood cancer research, as well as offering comfort and joy to childhood cancer patients and their families through thoughtful gestures like our annual toy drive. Additionally, we extend our embrace to bereaved families, raising money for and volunteering with organizations like Agrace Hospice, Gilda’s Club, and Camp Hope to provide compassionate support and healing. Ada’s Spark shines brightly as a beacon of hope, illuminating pathways to resilience, empowerment, and enduring impact in the fight against childhood cancer, leukemia and beyond.
— Our Mission
Ada’s Spark is dedicated to illuminating pathways of hope and healing for children and families affected by leukemia and childhood cancer. Through funding pioneering research, advocating for equitable access to care, and providing compassionate support, we strive to honor Ada’s memory by igniting positive change and fostering resilience in the face of adversity.
— Our Vision
Our vision at Ada’s Spark is to create a world where the journey through childhood cancer is met with hope, resilience, and unwavering support. We envision a future where families find comfort and companionship in times of grief, where medical breakthroughs offer renewed possibilities for healing, and where the enduring legacy of Ada’s spark continues to inspire hope, healing, and lasting change.
Meet the board
At Ada’s Spark we believe that no child should lose their life or quality of life to cancer. We believe that no family should have to battle a childhood cancer diagnosis alone. We believe that bereaved families should have all the support they need.
Our 100% volunteer board consists of 6 parents (including Joel and Tami, forever Ada’s parents) inspired by Ada’s sparky personality and devastated by her loss. Our board has decades of research, fundraising, and non-profit experience and an unwavering desire to make childhood cancer a thing of the past.
Ada was a loving, funny, smart, feisty and determined little girl who could have done great things in this world. Her body can’t do those things anymore but we carry her spirit within us and fight for change in her memory.
Joel is Ada’s dad and the President of Ada’s Spark. With a PhD in Molecular Biology and a career in health data science, he brings his professional expertise and personal perspective to the fight against childhood cancer. Joel is committed to honoring Ada’s legacy by supporting her siblings, Oliver and Ellie, and her mother, Tami, in living the love-filled life Ada would have wanted.
Tami is Ada’s mom and the Treasurer of Ada’s Spark. She misses Ada’s spunk and is inspired daily by the way Ada fought for happiness while not feeling well. With a PhD in Molecular Toxicology, Tami works to ensure that medications are safe, reflecting her lifelong passion for protecting and improving the lives of others.
Mike is a childhood friend of Joel, husband to Kelly, and the Secretary of Ada’s Spark. He and Kelly lost a daughter to cancer when Kelly’s acute promyelocytic leukemia diagnosis likely resulted in a miscarriage. Mike has a PhD in Chemsitry and previously worked under an American Cancer Society postdoctoral fellowship researching strategies to treat early-stage cancer through immunology.
Luthien has been friends with Joel and Tami for decades and still remembers holding their first child, Oliver, when he was 7 days old, knowing that they were going to be amazing and dedicated parents. Luthien is delighted to bring her extensive experience in event planning, grant writing, and non-profit governance to Ada’s Spark, to honor Ada’s joyful memory and help provide support to children and families going through the worst times.
Lauren is the Swenson’s next-door neighbor and dear friend of the family. In her previous roles, she managed strategic giving and executed special events at the Alzheimer’s Association, Children’s Tumor Foundation, and Marquette University. While Lauren’s primary focus is raising her three children, she is thrilled and honored to dedicate her time to this worthy cause.
Kelly is Mike’s wife and a long-time good friend of the Swenson family. She has a PhD in chemistry and currently works in R&D at a biotech company that supports early drug discovery. Kelly and her family also have their own experience with blood cancer. In March of 2023, Kelly developed a rare subtype of AML called Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia that led to her miscarrying her daughter at 16 weeks. After eight months of treatment, she has been cancer free since October of 2023.
Kids Waunacure Cancer
Kids WaunaCure Cancer (KWCC) is an initiative of Ada’s Spark, founded by Ada’s big brother, Oliver. Oliver played a significant role in Ada’s treatment as both her bone marrow donor and a donor of Natural Killer (NK) cells for a clinical trial. Both donations were physically demanding. For the bone marrow procedure, Oliver underwent general anesthesia, experienced lingering pain, and spent a night in the hospital. For the NK cell donation, he endured six hours connected to an apheresis machine, with each arm attached to the device. Despite these challenges, Oliver was ecstatic about the opportunity to help his sister and never once complained. His courage and love inspire us every day.
Oliver is deeply committed to preserving Ada’s legacy and supporting Ada’s Spark. He came up with the idea for KWCC and raised over $600 in its first year through creative driveway sales, including a memorable “lemonAda” stand. If you’re a kid interested in joining KWCC or want to stay informed about upcoming events, please contact us!
Oliver is Ada’s brother, he was adored by her. Oliver is the Founder of Kids WaunaCure Cancer. He enjoys building contraptions, artwork, reading, hockey, and playing Minecraft. Oliver wants to see a world where there is no cancer.