Our Mission

Supporting Adolescent and Young Adult Cancer Patients and Their Families at UNC Hospitals

In partnership with UNC’s Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center the Foundation established UNC’s AYA Program in 2015 as one of the first in the country with this focus.

Niklaus & Lucy Steiner, Lauren Lux

We are heartbroken by the death of Eric Montross. We simply would not be where we are without his kindness, generosity, commitment, creativity and humor. He always brought these wonderful traits with him, whether to Be Loud! board meetings or onto the stage at Be Loud! concerts. There are no words to fully express our deep love, admiration and gratitude for him, and we send much love and light to Laura, Andrew and Sarah as we hold them close to our hearts.

If you’d like to help honor the memory of Eric, please consider buying a special Eric Montross shirt that Chapel Hill Sportswear made available just in time for the Duke game. All proceeds will come to Be Loud! at the request of the Montross family. We are so grateful for all this generosity. Here’s the link to the shirts, which are available only for a limited time.

Our Story

The Be Loud! Sophie Foundation was founded by the Steiner family to honor their daughter Sophie and to support the unique needs of adolescent and young adults (AYAs) facing cancer.

We want to help them maintain their dignity, identity and independence in the face of this overwhelming illness.

The Program

UNC AYA 
Cancer Program

The UNC AYA Cancer Program Team provides unprecedented support to 13- to 39-year-olds at UNC living with cancer, making it one of the largest and most comprehensive AYA programs in the country.

The Latest

News

New Video

Please take a moment to watch a new video that spotlights the UNC AYA Program and the Be Loud! Sophie Foundation.

Be Loud! has given us our north star – Sophie’s voice and legacy. Sophie reminds us to focus on the experiences and perspectives of the young people we serve, to learn from each individual, and to take what we’ve learned and use it to make things better for the next patient.

– Lauren Lux, UNC AYA Program Director