About The Sunshine Squad

Cate (the Great!) Naffah, an 8th grader, came up with the idea to create her own charity called ‘The Sunshine Squad’ after her own battle with childhood cancer.  

The Sunshine Squad’s mission is to “Help bring joy to kids and grown-ups going through cancer and other hard stuff”.   

Cate had a unique, sunshine-y approach to getting through treatment while a patient in the MACC Fund Center in 2015-2016.  Decorating her many hospital rooms became part of the family’s process, of settling in and getting control over something that they had control over in the midst of what seemed wildly out of control and challenging. Cate’s rooms were always a ‘happy place for healing’ which benefitted her and those supporting her greatly – including the hospital staff.  The idea of the Sunshine Squad sprouted from that experience, with the hope to take what helped Cate conquer her disease and to help others to do the same.  The Naffah family knows that not all families have the ability to approach their battle in the way or with the resources that their family did.  By the grace of God, and with much support from excellent caregivers, friends, family and this community, Cate was declared “N.E.D.” or “No Evidence of Disease” in February of 2016. With gratitude, faith and hope, we expect she remains and will remain cancer free.  With these great blessings, Cate and her family feel compelled to give back to those still in the battle.  

The main goal of this non-profit is to brighten the days and lives of people going through hard things.