Today we’d like to introduce you to Marta Blanco.
Marta, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
My journey with Sofia’s Hope began as a mother. My daughter, Sofia, was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma as a toddler. She bravely battled cancer and was declared cancer-free, but years later we learned that the chemotherapy that saved her life had caused irreversible damage to her heart. We lost Sofia when she was just 13 years old.
In the midst of unimaginable grief, I realized I wanted to turn my family’s experience into something that could help other children and families facing childhood cancer. What began as a way to channel that grief has grown into Sofia’s Hope, a nonprofit that has spent the past 13 years providing hope, support, and critical resources to thousands of children and families across South Florida. Our mission has always been simple: stand with children fighting cancer today while working toward the healthy tomorrows they deserve.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Starting a nonprofit without a fundraising or nonprofit background was intimidating, but the biggest challenge was learning how to transform personal loss into lasting impact. Every program, partnership, and milestone has come through perseverance, countless hours of learning, and the support of an incredible community.
Like many nonprofits, securing sustainable funding is an ongoing challenge. The needs of the families we serve continue to grow, and we’re constantly balancing immediate support with long-term initiatives like Pediatric Cardio-Oncology research and education. At the same time, leading an organization that was born from my daughter’s story means the mission is deeply personal. It can be emotionally difficult, but it’s also what keeps me motivated every single day. Knowing that our work brings comfort to families during some of the hardest moments of their lives makes every challenge worthwhile.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
As President and Founder of Sofia’s Hope, I have the privilege of leading an organization dedicated to supporting children and families facing childhood cancer. Together with our Board, volunteers, hospital partners, and community supporters, we provide comfort, care, and critical resources through more than 10 hospital-based programs that serve over 2,000 pediatric cancer patients and their families each year.
Our work extends beyond direct patient support. Sofia’s Hope is the only nonprofit in the country solely focused on advancing Pediatric Cardio-Oncology. We have helped drive the growth of this emerging field by supporting research, educational webinars, international conferences, and global virtual summits—all with the goal of protecting the hearts of children undergoing cancer treatment and improving survivorship outcomes.
Everything we do is guided by our mission: Hope. Support. Research.
How can people work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
Sofia’s Hope would not be where it is today without the extraordinary people and organizations that have believed in our mission. I am incredibly grateful to our village: our passionate team, and dedicated Board of Directors, volunteers, donors (removed hospital partners because you give them a shout out in the following paragraph), sponsors, and community supporters who have stood beside us every step of the way.
I’m especially thankful for the Child Life Specialists, social workers, physicians, and healthcare teams at our partner hospitals, whose collaboration ensures our programs reach the children and families who need them most. I’m also grateful to my family, especially my husband, Carlos, and daughter, Gabriela, whose love, and support have carried me through this journey.
Building Sofia’s Hope has never been a solo effort. It truly takes a village, and I am honored to work alongside so many compassionate people who share the vision of creating brighter futures for children facing cancer.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.sofiashope.org/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sofiashope/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sofiashope
- Twitter: https://x.com/sofiashopenpo
