The Kids We Help
St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital
The mission of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is to advance cures, and means of prevention, for pediatric catastrophic diseases through research and treatment. Their research is shared around the world.
Founded by Danny Thomas who believed “no child should die in the dawn of life,” St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital opened in 1962. Since then, the survival rate of childhood cancer has improved from 20% to 80%, due largely to the research and treatment performed at this incredible institution.
Families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing or food, so they can focus solely on helping their child live.
Special Olympics
Special Olympics strives to create a better world by fostering the acceptance and inclusion of children and adults with disabilities. Founded in 1968 by Eunice Kennedy Shriver, the Foundation has two major objectives: to seek the prevention of intellectual disability by identifying its causes, and to improve the means by which society deals with citizens who have intellectual disabilities.
From the first camp held in her backyard for children with intellectual disabilities, Special Olympics has become a global movement that serves more than 6 million people worldwide.
Michael began his love of volunteering with severely disabled and terminally ill children when he was only 13 years old. As soon as he was old enough, he began volunteering with Special Olympics, and continued through college and as an adult.
Cystic Fibrosis Foundation
The mission of CFF is to cure Cystic Fibrosis and support those affected by this disease. Cystic Fibrosis is a genetic disease that causes thick, sticky mucus to build up in the lungs, digestive tract, and other areas of the body. It is one of the most common chronic lung diseases in children and young adults. It is a life-threatening disorder.
The CFF was founded in 1955, at which time children born with Cystic Fibrosis were not expected to live to attend elementary school. Thanks to CFF’s research and work toward development of drug treatments, those diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis are living into their 30s, 40s and beyond.
We collect quarters for CFF in memory of Michael’s aunt Cheri, who fought this debilitating illness for 23 years.
The Children’s Heart Foundation
Founded in 1996, The Children’s Heart Foundation is the country’s leading organization solely dedicated to funding congenital heart defect (CHD) research. Their mission is to advance the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of congenital heart defects by funding the most promising research.
CHDs affect nearly 40,000 babies every year, or 1 baby every 15 minutes. Approximately 25% of these babies will need surgery in their first year to have a chance at survival. 50 years ago, only 20% of babies born with critical CHDs lived to their 18th birthday,, and many of these babies would not have lived for more than a day. That number has soared to 69% today. Thanks in large part to the efforts of The Children’s Heart Foundation, survival rates and quality of life have improved dramatically. Today, more than 80% of babies born with CHDs live to their 18th birthday.
We collect quarters for CHF in memory of Michael’s first born child, Norah June, was born with a severe heart defect and fought like a warrior for every minute of her two days on this earth.
