Tom Whitehead

Tom, Kari, and Emily Whitehead are co-founders of the Emily Whitehead Foundation, which raises funds and awareness for pediatric cancer research. The foundation was created in honor of Emily who was diagnosed at age five with an aggressive form of leukemia that failed to respond to chemotherapy. As a last hope, Emily was enrolled in a clinical trial and became the first child in the world to receive the pioneering cancer treatment called CAR T-cell therapy. The therapy worked, and Emily remains cancer free.

The Whitehead Family travels worldwide as keynote speakers to inspire others and advocate for research funding to develop less toxic childhood cancer treatments. When they aren’t traveling, Tom works as a journeyman lineman for a power company, and Kari is a Registered Dietitian. Emily attends high school and plans to become an artist or filmmaker. The Whiteheads live in Central Pennsylvania with their chihuahua named Luna.