On September 4, 2025, the Pediatric Cancer Foundation of New Jersey (PCFNJ) was officially announced. The nonprofit organization, founded by orthopedic oncologist Dr. James C. Wittig, aims to provide vital resources for children diagnosed with cancer and their families, while also funding research and educational opportunities for medical students, residents, and fellows.
Dr. Wittig explained that the foundation is the result of years of reflection and dedication. “It has been a tremendous honor to provide care for thousands of children in our area who were at risk of losing limbs and lives,” he said. “For nearly three decades, I served as a surgeon, teacher, mentor, fellow, and executive with a consistent focus on healing our tiniest cancer warriors and their brave families. I saw firsthand the challenges they faced after receiving the devastating news of a cancer diagnosis. True healing goes well beyond hospitals and operating rooms, and done with love and compassion, can support the entire journey for the child and their parents, siblings, grandparents, friends, and communities.”
He added that his first career sabbatical created the opportunity to formally establish the foundation, which he had envisioned many years ago. “We’ve been blessed with an incredible team of colleagues, friends, family, volunteers, and corporate supporters as we begin this exciting journey,” Dr. Wittig noted.
The foundation’s programs are designed to address multiple dimensions of care. Families will have access to wellness and mental health services, including therapy, meditation, yoga, and relaxation activities. Creative expression will be supported through Positively Creative, a program offering arts and crafts, musical performances, celebrations, and visits from comfort animals. PCFNJ will also fund grants for medical students, residents, and fellows pursuing research in pediatric oncology, helping to foster the next generation of innovations in cancer treatment.
Cynthia Artin has been appointed Executive Director, bringing decades of experience in the nonprofit sector to the organization. “It is the honor of a lifetime to contribute my time and experience to Dr. Wittig’s initiative, particularly given that the Artin family benefited from his experience and healing for many years,” she said. “He brings a very upbeat, positive vibe to the Foundation, creativity and inclusion, generosity and determination.”
The foundation has also named Arlene Kleinsorge as Family Ambassador. Kleinsorge, a co-founder and twice a patient of Dr. Wittig, emphasized the significance of patient-centered care. “I have seen firsthand what it means to receive a cancer diagnosis, and to be cured through the highest quality treatments delivered by experienced, compassionate teams led by physicians of Dr. Wittig’s caliber,” she said. “As a grandmother of seven, I am honored and excited to help identify and onboard children in New Jersey and their families, bringing them into the fold, identifying their needs, and coordinating activities, care, and comfort based on their needs and dreams.”
The foundation’s leadership extends to its board, which includes Dr. Altagracia Miranda, Brad Huntington, Christopher Wittig, Jeffrey Singman, and Suzanne Falla, PhD. Dr. Miranda noted the vision behind the organization: “Dr. Wittig’s vision for holistic healing is powerful, and with the help of the board, the advisory board, committees, sponsors, volunteers, and donors, we will develop programs that matter, research that matters, and compassion that makes how we deliver God’s love to our little warriors positive, gentle, and joyful.”
The establishment of PCFNJ comes at a time when pediatric cancer remains a pressing challenge. More than 400,000 new cases affect children under 20 worldwide each year, and in New Jersey alone, an average of 240 children are diagnosed annually. The foundation’s combination of family support, holistic wellness, creative engagement, and research funding positions it to make a meaningful and lasting difference.
By building a structure that serves both immediate family needs and long-term medical progress, the Pediatric Cancer Foundation of New Jersey reflects Dr. Wittig’s lifelong mission of healing. The foundation aims to change the way pediatric cancer is supported, not only in New Jersey, but over time, across the United States and beyond. For more information, visit PCF Launch Press Release.
