John Cary, executive director, MACC Fund

“When you have a chance to save a child’s life, it’s the greatest job in the world,” Cary explains. “How much better does it get to work with people who volunteer their time and are committed and passionate to be part of saving children?”

Founded in 1976, Midwest Athletes Against Childhood Cancer Inc. (the MACC Fund) is dedicated to funding research into childhood cancer and related blood disorders. During Cary’s tenure as executive director, the fund’s yearly income has grown from $250,000 to $3.8 million.

Pete Leider, controller at Wirtz Beverage, says a lot of the credit for that growth goes to Cary’s leadership and dedication.

“John has worked tirelessly for 28 years for the MACC Fund, growing it from an idea to a major charitable function within the Milwaukee metro area,” Leider wrote in his nomination of Cary as a Health Care Hero.

Cary says the fund’s success at raising money is simple to explain.

“You have something that strikes fear into everyone, which is cancer,” Cary says. “And you have a precious child, and you have people who want to make a difference and take time to care. We provide the gift of hope through research.”

Medical research into childhood cancer and blood disorders has made enormous strides. Thirty years ago, the cure rate for children stricken with cancer was 30 percent. Today, the rate is 80 percent.

“That last 20 percent is challenging and elusive,” Cary says, adding that the MACC Fund’s work continues in honor of those who didn’t survive cancer and to give hope to those who are fighting it.

“The real health care heroes are the kids, their families, doctors, nurses and medical staff,” Cary says. “I’m just the lucky guy who gets to hang around.”