Mason’s Mission

1. Expand the network of Hospitals that participate in Cord Blood Donation programs

  • Coordinate and collaborate with established cord blood programs to recruit and fund local hospitals to become cord blood donation centers.
  • Our initial target market will be hospitals in the greater Philadelphia area.
  • Expand to other hospitals in the Northeast United States

2. Promote education on the cord blood donation process:

  • Provide accurate, up-to-date information on current cord blood donation programs
  • Distribute already published material from established cord blood programs
  • Further develop original MSF publications to distribute to newly recruited and qualified donation centers.
  • Collaborate with regional obstetricians, hospital obstetrics departments, and maternity patients to increase the number of donated cords
  • Provide information to expectant parents outside of our immediate region which will direct them to qualified cord blood collection hospitals in their local area

3. Fund continued umbilical stem cell research

MSF to help support and fund continued Stem Cell Research to further treatment options and cure goals of the following diseases but not limited to:

  • Inherited metabolic diseases.
  • Hemoglobinopathies (Sickle Cell, Thalassemia)
  • Severe immune deficiencies
  • Leukemia
  • Lymphoma

4. M.A.S.O.N – Mason’s Awareness & Support for Osteopetrosis Network

Create a support network for families of children with Osteopetrosis, including:

  • Links for Physical and Occupational Therapy for patients with Osteopetrosis
  • Improve and update clinical information on Osteopetrosis (MIOP) made available to the public via the Foundation’s website at www.MasonShafferFoundation.org
  • Links to resources for updated clinical information
  • Increase the general awareness of the disease
  • Social networking to allow families to share their success stories, questions on MIOP and stem cell transplant, and personal experiences
  • Coordinate current cases with treating physicians and Transplant Units

5. Provide ancillary needs to family members during extended stay in-patient transplant treatment at A.I. duPont Children’s Hospital’s Blood and Bone Marrow Transplant Unit

  • Develop family and parent support groups
  • Donate family care packages
  • Computers and other electronic equipment that families can use during their extended stay
  • Music, Books, DVD’s, etc for entertainment while confined to the BBMT Unit