Thank you for supporting the MMA Charity Classic

Our Mission

For 18 years, MMA has been hosting the Charity Classic to benefit the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation and has raised close to 4 MILLION towards the Butterfly Fund. The Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation’s Butterfly Fund provides emergency financial assistance to families of children in treatment at partnering medical facilities. This all started when Walt Rowson, one of our Employee Health and Benefit producers approached Gaines Lanier and the JSL Board of Directors about having a corporate charity focus and sponsoring this golf event. Gaines and the Board agreed to try it for one year, and here we are now in our 19th year.

Peter J. KrauseChief Executive Officer & President
Southeast Region Marsh McLennan Agency

This year we are thrilled to celebrate the 19th anniversary of the MMA Charity Classic hosted by MMA. These events are the single largest revenue-producing events held for the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation each year. Thanks to you, last year’s virtual event was a huge success, so we’re doing it again! In addition, we are coupling the virtual fundraising event -Sept. 27, 2023 with a MMA SE Cocktails & Cornhole event on October 24th, 2023. Your sponsorship will cover both of the events.

We are asking for your support for the precious children and their families who are fighting brain and spinal cord tumors. PBTF needs our support. Please consider being a sponsor for the Butterfly Fund in 2023. The MMA’s Charity Classic Butterfly Fund provides emergency financial assistance to families of children in treatment at partnering medical facilities. Sponsors will be listed on this website, PBTF Social Media, MMA Social Media and will be recognized on the Auction website.

MMA Charity Kids 2023

Each year, as part of the tournament promotion, we feature a few of the children that are part of the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation family. As you read about our “2023 Charity Classic Kids”, we hope you will be inspired by their heroic stories of love, strength, devotion, and above all, hope.

Your Support at Work

Emergency Financial Relief for Families by Type of Need

The Butterfly fund gifted $456,962.42 in 2023.

GROCERY CARDS 8%

FUNERAL 11%

GAS CARDS 6%

Travel 7%

HOUSING 52%

Other 1%

UTILITIES 7%

CAR PAYMENTS/INSURANCE 8%

ABOUT US

MMA CHARITY CLASSIC

"Your child has a brain tumor” are shocking and terrifying words no parent should ever have to hear. Unfortunately, though, 13 children and teens receive this diagnosis every day.

“MMA Southeast has a dedicated and energetic PBTF Volunteer team who always go above and beyond to make sure the Charity Classic Virtual Auction and Cocktails & Cornhole events are top notch! We have over 30 colleagues who volunteer each year coming from 12 various offices throughout the Southeast region.”

Peter Krause Chief Executive Officer & President Marsh McLennan Agency | Southeast

This year we are thrilled to celebrate the 18th anniversary of the MMA SE Charity Classic hosted by MMA Southeast. These events are the single largest revenue-producing events held for the Southeast Region of the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation each year. Thanks to you, last year’s virtual event was a huge success, so we’re doing it again! In addition, we are coupling the virtual fundraising event (Sept. 15) with a MMA SE Cocktails & Cornhole event on October 19th, 2022. Your sponsorship will cover both of the events.

Now more than ever before, we are asking for your support for the precious children and their families who are fighting brain and spinal cord tumors. PBTF needs our support. Please consider being a sponsor for the Butterfly Fund in 2022. The MMA SE’s Butterfly Fund provides emergency financial assistance to families of children in treatment at partnering medical facilities. Sponsors will be listed on this website, PBTF Social Media, MMA Social Media and will be recognized on the Auction website.

For these Stars and their families, life changes in an instant. Surgery is often required right away, followed by daily trips to the hospital for radiation and chemotherapy. Physical, occupational, and speech therapy may be needed, and treatment can continue for several years. In the midst of all this chaos, life around the family continues. Siblings need to go to school and be cared for, and bills need to be paid — even though parents must take time off from work. Some parents must give up their jobs to meet the grueling demands of their child’s treatment. It is an extremely difficult journey for families

Previously the J. Smith Lanier Charity Classic, the PBTF Charity Classic, and now the MMA SE Charity Classic is in its 18th year, having raised over $3.3 million to benefit the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundatiion’s Butterfly Fund. As the world’s leading nonprofit dedicated to children and teens with brain tumors, the PBTF’s mission is to CARE for families along their journey, CURE every childhood brain tumor, and help families and survivors THRIVE. Your donation to the Charity Classic makes the PBTF’s muchneeded family support programs possible, including financial assistance through the Butterfly Fund, support groups, educational programs, and much more

MMA CHARITY CLASSIC

ADITA

Age: 11

Diagnoses Date: October, 2017

Tumor Type: Medulloblastoma

In 2017, Adita was a beautiful, smart, caring, healthy, strong and sweet child. She loved her school and dance class and her best friend in the world was her little brother Mario. While Mario is still her best friend today, a lot has changed. A few weeks before Adita’s diagnosis, she started to vomit for no reason and as quick as it came on, it also went away.
She lost her awareness of direction and coordination of skills at her dance classes. Mom took her to the pediatrician repeatedly, but labs and testing were “ok” and they sent Adita home. One day at school she fainted, and her pediatrician immediately told mom to go directly to the hospital. An hour later, Adita was going in for an MRI and an hour after
that mom received the news that would forever change their lives. She had a tumor behind her brain, by the cerebellum.

After two years of surgeries, chemotherapy, radiation, countless hospital stays, and more
than any child should ever have to endure, Adita is currently showing no evidence of disease. Every three months she goes in for her MRI and as her mother shared “We are still fighting this unpredictable and silent ghost.” Today Adita is back at school, but it’s different, it’s more difficult for her to focus and learn. Adita has wanted to be a dancer since she could walk, but the lasting balance effects from her tumor make this dream difficult. She admires the character of “Felicie”
from the movie LEAP, because she was a French orphan and she fought against everything to follow her dream to become a ballet dancer and one day dance at the OPERA at Paris,
and she did!

Aden

Age: 10 at passing

Diagnoses Date: December, 2018

Tumor Type: aPXA

In December of 2018, Aden was diagnosed with a brain tumor after experiencing some headaches and vomiting. Over the last 2 and a half years, Aden underwent 4 brain surgeries to remove the mass and underwent various treatments including proton radiation. Aden was a candidate for targeted treatments in a few different cancer centers while remaining under the care of CHOA. Aden and the family traveled to Texas later to Boston and finally ended at Duke University while also seeking different opinions from other institutions in the US and found that the tumor type (aPXA) was extremely rare. Aden was a fighter and even through his pain, he had a good outlook on life.

On Sunday, August 29th, he took his last breath here on earth and opened his eyes in eternal glory. Aden loved the outdoors and was an avid hunter but his true passion was golf. Aden aspired to become a professional golfer. Aden looked up to Tiger Woods and Abraham Ancer as his favorite golfers to watch. Aden loved his community and was a light to anyone who knew him.

NICHOLAS

Age: 22

Diagnoses Date: December 2008

Tumor Type: Germinoma

Nicholas McIntyre loves a good joke. He doesn’t need his NovaChat – the iPhone-sized device he uses to help communicate – for you understand his sense of humor. It just resonates through his dark, smiling eyes, his infectious laughter, and his “thumbs-up” he generously shares – a stamp of endorsement that says you are, indeed, funny.

Nicholas’s joy is anchored in his family – mom Kathleen, dad Andrew, and his favorite person, his sister Noelle. Diagnosed at just eight-years-old, it took the McIntyre family more than two years to receive a diagnosis and course of treatment. In 2009, Nicholas went through radiation, though it profoundly changed his life. “All those things that are so easy and natural that we don’t think about is a challenge for him every day,” shared Kathleen.

Nicholas has had to develop his own way of communicating and relies on the aid of others for simple tasks like getting dressed, going to the store, and other seemingly basic life skills. Nicholas’s family has had to also reconcile their dreams they had for Nicholas pre-diagnosis with their new hopes for his future. When Nicholas turned 18, instead of taking him to college, his parents ahd to go to court and seek legal guardianship over him. “ He should be looking forward to what he’s going to do when he grows up. I mourn that. I cry over that.” It’s also hard not to think of the what if’s. “What if my son didn’t have a brain tumor….”

Nicholas’s diagnosis has certainly been defining in his life, but it does not define who he is. He is a young man full of hope, hilarity, and humility. His genuine care for others is evident in every interaction he has and is a testament to the care and love he’s received from the PBTF community.

While Nicholas’s brain tumor may have robbed him of the traditional trappings of childhood and young adulthood, his family makes it a priority that he has purpose and meaning in his life. Prior to his diagnosis, Nicholas would say his greatest hobby was helping others. To this day, he remains committed to that. He shares his story to help other families because he knows that it takes a community of love and support to overcome the challenges, isolation, and heartbreak that come with learning their children have to fight for their lives. He fights for them, too.

LILI

Age: 7

Diagnoses Date: Month 00, 0000

Tumor Type: Optic Nerve Glioma

Lilli was just four years old when she woke up one morning seeing double and cross-eyed. A few days later, she was diagnosed with an optic glioma brain tumor pressing on her optic nerve and growing quickly. Lilli’s only treatment option was chemotherapy to stop the growth of the tumor that, if left untreated, could result in blindness in her left eye.

When she began her year of weekly chemotherapy treatments in February 2019, Lilli chose to wear a yellow Beauty and the Beast Belle costume for her first appointment. She was greeted with smiles and excitement. For 52 weeks, Lilli’s princess dresses became her suit of armor, giving her the courage to face treatments and frequent trips to clinic.

The night before each appointment, Lilli would spend time picking out the perfect dress to wear. She never repeated an outfit, which made every week a surprise for the hospital’s amazing care team. Lilli’s dresses were her way to share “princess joy” with everyone, transforming a very tough situation into something that her family could look forward to.

Through her bravery and compassion for other kids like her, Lilli inspired the formation of Costumes for Courage.  Friends and family gift costumes, ranging from princesses to superheroes, to children receiving treatment for cancer and other chronic illnesses. They hope that, just like it did for Lilli, a costume gives a child that extra bit of strength and courage when they need it most.

Today, Lilli has finished treatment and is living her best life. She goes in for MRIs every three months and will for the unforeseeable future. But that doesn’t stop this spunky girl from continuing to wear her costumes and share her joy with all around her.

MMA CHARITY CLASSIC

“Your child has a brain tumor” are shocking and terrifying words no parent should ever have to hear. Unfortunately, though, 13 children and teens receive this diagnosis every day.