MEDIA ALERT
Children’s Cancer Association Appoints Heidi Boynton as Regional Vice President, South
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE- Austin, TX – [January 8, 2026] – Children’s Cancer Association, the national nonprofit behind the acclaimed JoyRx Music program, is proud to announce the appointment of Heidi Boynton as Regional Vice President, South. In this role, Boynton will lead regional growth and partnerships while advancing the organization’s mission to empower all seriously ill children to express themselves, to play, and to make meaningful connections by enriching their treatment experience and improving their well-being with joy-based programs.
A seasoned nonprofit executive and long-time advocate for children and families, Boynton brings more than 20 years of leadership experience in organizational development, coalition-building, and transformational program growth. She holds a Master’s degree in Organizational Leadership with a specialization in Population Health, grounding her work in both evidence-based strategy and deeply human-centered leadership.
Before joining Children’s Cancer Association, Boynton served as Executive Director of Jacob’s Heart Children’s Cancer Support Services, where she deepened community partnerships, expanded services and access, and strengthened the organization by stewarding landmark philanthropic investments.
“Heidi brings a unique blend of strategic vision, compassion, and care,” said Jack Pipkin, CEO of Children’s Cancer Association. “Her leadership reflects the heart of our work, building communities and showing up for those who need joy most. We are thrilled to welcome her as a leader for our south region.”
Based in Austin, Boynton will focus on growing JoyRx programs across the southern region while nurturing partnerships that align with the organization’s values of innovation, heart, and generosity.
“What brings me joy?” Boynton shared. “Family, holding babies, children’s laughter, being outside, and being surprised by the beauty of life.”
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More information about JoyRx Music and Children’s Cancer Association in Austin can be found here.
For media inquiries please contact Hannah Esrock, Marketing & Public Relations Manager
A Mission Built on Joy | About JoyRx
Children’s Cancer Association was founded in 1995 by the Ellis family after their five-year-old daughter, Alexandra, died of cancer — with the goal to create something extraordinary: an organization with a new vision for what pediatric cancer support services might look like.
Each year, our free JoyRx Music®, JoyRx Mentorship®, and JoyRx Nature® programs are shared with approximately 40,000 seriously ill children, teens — and their families — across the nation.
Our trauma-informed programs are based on research and best practices, aligned with Child Life Specialist goals, and are informed by family feedback. We work closely with care teams to provide engaging enrichment activities that help transform the pediatric experience. Simply put: joy makes sick kids feel better.