The Power of Reconnection and Collaboration in the Face of Childhood Brain Cancer

By Nicole Giroux, Founder and Executive Director of the Lilabean Foundation for Pediatric Brain Cancer Research


Life can present startling coincidences. In the early 1990s, Meg Cortezi and I were high school classmates and teammates at Notre Dame Preparatory School in Baltimore, MD. Little did we know that a friendship that started in the halls of NDP would be rekindled in the halls of Children’s National Hospital in Washington, DC, thirty years later. Our former mutual worries about mundane high school things suddenly transitioned into the shared terror of having a child with brain cancer. 


In 2015, when Meg’s son Ben was diagnosed with medulloblastoma, an aggressive malignant brain cancer, my family was already several years into our daughter Lila’s brain cancer journey. Lila was diagnosed in 2009 at 15 months old with inoperable low-grade glioma. Several years later, my husband and I started the Lilabean Foundation for Pediatric Brain Cancer Research (LBF). Our foundation's singular mission is to fund collaborative and innovative research to discover safer and more effective treatment options for children with all types of brain cancer. Thirteen years later, I am proud to share that LBF has raised over $5 million and has funded some of the world’s top neuro-oncology institutions. 

I was completely shocked to learn of Ben’s diagnosis. What are the odds that two friends from a small class of 75 women both have children with brain cancer? This disease is so often categorized as ‘rare,’ and it’s instances like these that remind us that, in reality, it is far too common. The bonds formed in high school allowed us to reconnect immediately. Ben was in the throes of toxic treatments and there was no time to be wasted. Meg was quick to realize the importance of funding research to identify treatment options for kids like Lila and Ben. It wasn’t long before she became an incredible advocate and involved her family, friends and colleagues at TEKsystems in her advocacy.

TEK Systems quote at AWS Summit in white text and light blue background

In 2019, Meg became an LBF board member. Soon thereafter, TEKsystems began partnering with LBF more frequently and intentionally. Since 2020, TEKsystems has supported our mission and has acted compassionately towards the objectives of our foundation. TEKsystems has played an important role in raising awareness about the severity of childhood brain cancer and the dire need for private funding. For instance, most people don’t know that approximately 11 children are diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor every day in the United States.

TEKsystems’ support is helping to educate communities on these alarming statistics. And even though brain cancer is the deadliest form of cancer in children, the pediatric brain cancer landscape is grossly underfunded. TEKsystems continues to help LBF fill the federal funding gap with private support for institutions, including the Brain Tumor Institute at Children’s National Hospital, where Lila and Ben remain patients. The relationship between TEKsystems and LBF is an excellent example of the impact that is possible when partnerships are prioritized. 


Ben and Lila are two of many LBF HEROES. Their stories inspire. Meg’s willingness to share her family’s story has paved the way for LBF to connect with other families including TEKsystems’ colleague, Tim Brown, whose daughter Abby also suffers from low grade glioma brain cancer.

The Lilabean Foundation Heores Lila and Ben

At our 30 year high school reunion, Meg hosted a cocktail party for our NDP classmates to learn more about LBF. It was powerful to connect with old friends and share our stories of heartbreak and resilience.


It is surreal to think that Ben and Lila are now the same ages that Meg and I were when we first met. I am so grateful for Meg’s friendship and commitment to the Lilabean Foundation. Our partnership with TEKsystems is a testament to the power of turning suffering into hopeful action.


May is brain cancer awareness month and we hope that you will consider becoming an 11for11 member in honor of those approximately 11 children who are diagnosed with brain cancer each day. Please join us in our mission to give hope to children and families suffering from this terrible disease.

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LBF's Transformative Partnership with CBTN Drives Groundbreaking Advances Brain Cancer Research

The Lilabean Foundation’s Transformative Partnership with CBTN Drives Groundbreaking Advances in Pediatric Brain Cancer Research

March 12, 2025
The Lilabean Foundation (LBF) has played a vital role in advancing pediatric brain cancer research, providing significant support to the Children’s Brain Tumor Network (CBTN) based at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. From its origins as a small family foundation, LBF has grown into one of the most influential contributors to CBTN, driving innovative research and achieving new milestones in philanthropy. One of the most notable impacts of LBF’s support is its investment in Project Accelerate, an initiative designed to expedite research and enhance the Pediatric Brain Tumor Atlas. Through LBF’s backing, CBTN has been able to recruit essential data engineers and bioinformaticians, improving research methodologies and strengthening data models. This investment has helped break down silos and create more robust predictive models, optimizing diagnostic accuracy and advancing AI technology. This initiative is positioning CBTN to achieve transformative breakthroughs in precision care and treatment for pediatric brain tumors “The impact of The Lilabean Foundation's generosity cannot be overstated,” said Dr. Adam Resnick, Scientific Director of the Children’s Brain Tumor Network.” “With this partnership, we are paving the way for the next era of pediatric brain cancer treatment and care. Thanks to this continued support, we are one step closer to ensuring that children with brain tumors have the best possible outcomes.” Maximizing Research Potential and Driving AI Innovation: LBF’s contributions have also been instrumental in maximizing the impact of the National Institutes of Health’s (NIH) data generation initiative. With LBF’s support, CBTN was able to extract and ship over 7,000 specimens, enabling the standardization of critical molecular data. This data has formed the foundation for AI-driven technologies, putting CBTN at the forefront of AI research and allowing for discoveries that were once unimaginable. By integrating clinical, molecular, and imaging data into a single multimodal dataset, this collaboration is enhancing the ability to create more individualized and effective treatment plans for children with brain tumors. “The integration of this multimodal data is a game-changer,” said Nicole Giroux, Executive Director of The Lilabean Foundation. “It has the potential to dramatically improve how we understand and treat pediatric brain tumors.” Preparing for Future Breakthroughs: With LBF's continued support, CBTN is now poised for its next big leap in research. The foundation’s investment in Project Accelerate has led to the creation of an extensive multimodal dataset, which was instrumental in securing a first-of-its-kind award from the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H). This prestigious award, focused on pediatrics, combined with a new partnership with Amazon Web Services, positions CBTN for major advancements in AI capabilities and further opportunities for breakthrough research. A Legacy of Impact: LBF’s sustained commitment to CBTN is a testament to the power of philanthropy and the profound impact that a dedicated donor community can have on children’s healthcare. Their investments have not only laid the groundwork for groundbreaking research but are also shaping the future of pediatric brain tumor treatment and care, from bench to bedside. “We are incredibly grateful for the support of The Lilabean Foundation,” said Jena Lilly, executive director of CBTN. “Their partnership has been invaluable in driving forward our shared mission to improve the lives of children battling brain tumors. Together, we are creating a future where cures and better treatments are within reach.”
Bethesda magazine features The Lilabean Foundation hero in January/February issue

Bethesda Magazine Features LBF in January/February Issue

February 11, 2025
We are thrilled to be featured in the Bethesda Magazine January/February 2025 edition! It’s a privilege to share the work we’re doing at the Lilabean Foundation to support families and children and the heartfelt origin story of why the foundation exists. Grateful for the opportunity to amplify our mission and continue making a meaningful impact in the community. Thank you Amy Halpern and Bethesda Magazine for capturing and creating such a heartfelt feature. Click here to read the article and the January/February edition of Bethesda Magazine.
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