Annual Report
A lean year of big heart — where nearly every dollar goes straight to Perthes kids and the families who love them.
A note from Earl Cole
When I was a kid with Perthes disease — in and out of wheelchairs, casts, and braces — I never met another child who understood what I was going through. Perthes Kids Foundation exists so that no child, and no parent, ever has to feel that alone again.
2025 has been another year of doing a great deal with very little. We are a lean, volunteer-driven organization, and this report reflects that honestly: nearly every dollar our community entrusts to us goes right back into our mission — camp, the travel that gets kids to camp, education, and the day-to-day work of keeping a global support network running.
Because of you, Camp Perthes continued across three countries, families around the world kept finding each other, and newly-diagnosed parents kept finding trustworthy answers when they needed them most. None of it happens without our donors, our medical advisors, and the volunteers who give their time so generously.
We still dream of the day a transformational gift lets us plan years ahead instead of month to month. Until then, we will keep stretching every dollar as far as it will go — because these kids are worth it.
With gratitude,
Our mission
Perthes Kids Foundation provides global advocacy, education, awareness, and support for children and families affected by Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease — a rare childhood hip condition — so no one faces it alone.
What your support made possible
🏕️ Camp Perthes
Our flagship program continued across the USA, United Kingdom, and Australia — giving kids a week where they meet others just like them, often for the very first time. Camp remains by far our largest single investment.
📚 Education & resources
We keep our doctor-informed guides, fact sheets, and family resources free and available worldwide, helping newly-diagnosed families understand Perthes without fear or confusion.
🔬 Research & the family voice
We continue bringing patient and family perspectives to the International Perthes Study Group, and share findings from the largest-ever survey of adults who had Perthes as children.
🌎 Community & advocacy
As a proud member of the rare-disease community, we connect parents, kids, and adults with Perthes across more than 60 countries — and keep building a family that spans the globe.
Financial summary
2025 figures are preliminary estimates pending our year-end tax filing. Audited 2024 totals are shown for comparison.
Where the money goes (2025 estimated)
Camp Perthes covers facilities, food, merchandise, prizes, and excursions. Awareness, marketing, and advocacy expand our reach to families who don't yet know we exist — meaning more than 4 of every 5 dollars goes directly to programs and outreach serving Perthes kids.
Statement of activities
| 2024 (filed) | 2025 (preliminary) | |
|---|---|---|
| Total contributions | $87,791 | ≈ $90,500 |
| Total expenses | ($87,774) | ≈ ($90,500) |
| Net for the year | +$17 | ≈ $0 |
Sustainability & vision
Like most small rare-disease charities, we operate close to break-even every year — a few hundred dollars either side of zero — and stretch each dollar with volunteer hearts and hands. Our goal is a multi-year lead gift or endowment that would let us plan two to three years ahead, grow Camp Perthes, and reach more newly-diagnosed families, rather than raising month to month. If you share that vision, we would love to talk.
Leadership supporters
We are grateful to every donor who sustains our mission. We especially recognize the leadership supporters whose recent gifts of $5,000 or more have made an outsized difference:
…and hundreds of families, friends, and first-time givers whose combined generosity carries our mission through every year.
Board of Directors
Help us get ahead of the need
Costs keep rising, but so does the number of families who find us. A recurring gift — or a transformational one — lets us plan for the kids who haven't been diagnosed yet.
Donate at pertheskids.org/donate ♥Perthes Kids Foundation is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit (EIN 47-3841121). All gifts are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. Financial statements and IRS Form 990 available on request · info@pertheskids.org · pertheskids.org
This report covers our USA 501(c)(3) entity. Our Camp Perthes UK (Charity No. 1188505, UK Charity Commission) and PKF Australia & New Zealand (ACNC-registered) chapters operate and file separately in their own countries; their financials are available through their national charity registers.