Donate Now: While we've reached our initial $2 million goal, there is still work to do!

Through a special initiative called Project Stella, scientists at Fred Hutch are developing urgently needed treatments for children with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) — the deadliest of all pediatric cancers.

Project Stella is named for Stella Novotny, an unforgettable little girl who lost her life to AML when she was just four years old. Stella’s parents, Casey and Ed, launched Project Stella to help change the outcome for other children and families facing AML.

Thanks to the solid foundation the Novotnys built, Project Stella is able to reach other families affected by AML, such as Christina and Joe Siders. Christina and Joe have also teamed up with Project Stella to fuel cures for their 4-year-old daughter, Ella, who’s being treated for the same form of AML that Stella had.

Thanks to our visionary supporters, as of December 13, 2022 we have received gifts and commitments of more than $2,004,000 toward Project Stella's $2 million overall goal. While this success has fueled rapid progress in the research, we can't allow the momentum to slow, or stop, because of funding limitations. To have a chance of having a treatment ready for testing in a clinical trial by the end of 2023, we need to press on and raise the remaining funds necessary to do this important work. Because of the generous support of over 500 donors the research team has recently completed the creation of a potential new CAR-T Immunotherapy treatment option for these rare AML types. Immediately, additional funding is needed for the final testing required for submission for a clinical trial. Your gift will bring us that much closer to our goal and honor Stella's inspiring legacy by helping bring cures to Ella and so many other children.

For questions about making a gift to Project Stella through your Donor Advised Fund or via Stock, please contact:

If you’d like to mail in a check, please make it payable to “Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center” and include “Project Stella” on the memo line. Please mail the check to:

Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center
1100 Fairview Ave. N., Mail Stop J5-200
Seattle, WA 98109

Meet the Families Impacted by Pediatric AML.