FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

If you're looking to donate, please visit our Donate page. If you are looking to volunteer, visit our Volunteer page.

Have a question you don't see answered below? Email Us.

Visiting the Fields

Avon, Ohio
The new Maria's FIeld of Hope in Avon is located off of Jaycox Rd, along the highway. When in bloom, the field is open from sunup to sundown. There is no fee to visit the field, but we do accept donations as we raise money for childhood cancer research.

Sandusky, Ohio – Cedar Point 
Maria’s Field of Hope at Cedar Point sunflower field is located next to Cedar Point’s Express Hotel, 1201 Cedar Point Dr. You don't need to enter the park to visit the field.

Avon, Ohio 
There is parking located next to the field.

Sandusky, Ohio - Cedar Point 
There is parking located next to the Cedar Point’s Express Hotel, 1201 Cedar Point Dr.

Maria’s Sunflower Field of Hope next to Cedar Point is expected to bloom in September. Maria’s Sunflower Field of Hope in Avon is planned to bloom end of September for Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. We recommend staying tuned in to our social media and website for any updates to this information. 

The sunflowers will last 2-4 weeks once in full bloom, Mother Nature holds their calendar. We make regular updates on social media.

Facebook  •  Twitter  •  Instagram

Due to weather, we are unable to predict the perfect day to visit the field. We do recommend visiting during the week when it’s less crowded. We make regular field updates on social media.

Facebook  •  Twitter  •  Instagram

Each year we hold a Celebration of Life event at bloom time to celebrate the lives of all children who have passed away from cancer. There is usually a fireworks display at this event and all are welcome to attend. Follow us on social media or our website for updates.

There is no fee to visit the fields, but we do accept donations as they help us bring more targeted, life-saving treatments to children battling deadly brain tumors. Every dollar you donate brings us one step closer to a cure. 

Donate Now

The fields are open from sunup to sundown. Visit Maria's Shop at the field seven days a week from 10 am - dusk per volunteer staff availability. To volunteer at Maria's shop, click here.

We do welcome pets at the fields. Please make sure they are friendly and clean up after them. 

Yes. Many volunteer opportunities are available at the field from working in Maria’s Shop to helping us care for the field. Please visit our Volunteer page for more details and to contact us. 

To Dedicate a Sunflower at one of Maria’s Sunflower Fields of Hope you may visit our shop located at our field or you can do that online here.

A special section of the field is designated for those who dedicate a sunflower online. Ask at Maria’s Shop to locate this section at the field.

We do not sell our flowers at the field as they are for everyone to enjoy. There is a shop located at the field where you can purchase merchandise. 

Please do not pick the flowers at the field, they are for everyone to enjoy. 

You and your family are in our prayers. You can submit your child’s photo and your family’s journey here. Our Family Liaison will contact you shortly after submission. 

Avon, Ohio
Things to do in Avon, Ohio.

Sandusky, Ohio - Cedar Point
Things to do in Sandusky, Ohio.

Photography & Events

We are happy to welcome photographers to Maria’s Field of Hope! We do ask that professional photographers who plan to shoot special occasion photos (engagement and wedding photos, senior photos…) in our field, please first obtain a Sunflower Shutterbug Pass to support Maria’s Field of Hope.

You do not have to purchase a shutterbug pass if you are taking personal photos.

We do welcome special occasion photos, but do ask that you or your photographer obtain a Sunflower Shutterbug Pass to support Maria’s Field of Hope.

We are not able to close the field for private weddings. We do welcome small weddings, as long as it doesn’t disturb other guest or the flowers. 

We discourage any activity at the field that would disturb or destroy the flowers and other guests.

Sunflowers

After Maria was diagnosed with a deadly brain tumor the Sunflower became her symbol. The Sunflower beautifully represents the Prayers from Maria Foundation.

  • In the language of flowers, the Sunflower is the Flower of Hope.
  • Like a child, the Sunflower in full bloom radiates beauty and happiness to all who encounter it.
  • The Sunflower is a spiritual flower – it follows and turns to face the Sun. It derives its energy from the Sun. It mirrors the Sun.
  • The Sunflower stands through the dark of night waiting for the Sun to rise. Like the Sunflower we are confident “the sun will rise” and we will bring an end to childhood cancer.
  • The Sunflower seems to be with us for too short a time; taken from us too soon.
  • Like these children, the Sunflower, though it dies, continues to give life through the seeds it leaves behind. The weary Sunflower bows its head to the Sun. Its seeds fall to the ground to produce more flowers and nourishment for birds and people.
  • The Sunflower detoxifies and enriches the soil that it grows in.
  • The golden color of the sunflower is reminiscent of the gold ribbon for childhood cancer.

Sunflowers are mostly annuals, though there are some perennial varieties. The annual sunflowers may also self-germinate from dropped seeds if you leave the heads on the plants throughout the winter. Maria’s Field of Hope plants annual sunflowers each year. 

A cover crop is a crop of a specific plant that is grown primarily for the benefit of the soil rather than the crop yield. Cover crops are commonly used to suppress weeds, manage soil erosion, help build and improve soil fertility and quality, control diseases and pests, and promote biodiversity.

Heliotropism, or the directional growth of a plant in response to sunlight, provides benefits to sunflowers. As plants follow the sun's movement, the leaves turn toward the sun, which optimizes their ability to photosynthesize. Mature sunflowers stop tracking the sun's movement and permanently remain facing east instead of moving east to west as they track the sun's movement.

Yes. Once the sunflowers are harvested from Maria’s Field of Hope, the barrels of seeds are bagged as Seeds of Hope for the Prayers From Maria Foundation. The Foundation sells the bags for bird seed and raises money for research.

The Foundation sells the seeds directly, in addition to partnering with several generous local garden centers who also sell the seeds with 100% of the profits going to the Foundation. See our website and follow us on social media for more details.