The Mary Ruchalski Foundation
The Mary Ruchalski Foundation The Mary Ruchalski Foundation The Mary Ruchalski FoundationHelp Fight Pediatric Cancer!
2024: The Year in Review
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2024 was another successful year for The Mary Ruchalski Foundation as we continued to raise awareness for Pediatric Cancer. Throughout the year, we hosted numerous Play4Mary events across various sports that Mary loved, including basketball, lacrosse, softball, soccer, volleyball, and swimming. Hundreds of boys and girls participated in these events, coming together in memory of Mary and learning that they, too, have the power to make a meaningful impact.
In addition to the sports events, 12 runners participated in major races, including the Long Island Marathon, the United Airlines Half Marathon, and the TCS NYC Marathon and over 160 people joined us for our annual 5K.
September was another month of spreading awareness for Pediatric Cancer, as we marked Pediatric Cancer Awareness Month in memorable ways. We lit multiple town and school trees gold and had several communities display thousands of lanterns and gold bows. Point Lookout was the newest town to join our efforts, lighting up their town. Additionally, many of Mary’s friends and classmates honored her memory by displaying lanterns at colleges across the country. The highlight of the month was our second annual Hearts of Gold Gala, which raised over $70,000 and was attended by more than 350 guests.
On Thanksgiving Eve, the band MANNCHILD hosted a concert at the Tap Room in Rockville Centre, which was attended by over 400 people and raised more than $8,000 for our cause. It was a wonderful way to kick off the holiday season.
This year, we issued five research grants amounting to $178,000 and provided $37,000 in grants and other support to pediatric patients and their families. In just over six years, the Foundation has provided more than $1 million in funding for these areas, and we are grateful for the continued generosity that makes this possible.
We would like to extend our deepest gratitude to everyone who helped make 2024 such a successful year for our Foundation. Your support continues to inspire and drive the mission forward, and together, we are making a difference.
Sincerely,
The Mary Ruchalski Foundation
2023: The Year in Review
It was so heartwarming this year to hear Mary’s name mentioned by those who knew her and those who didn’t who wanted to hear more about her. It means so much to our family when we see a car with our magnet, children wearing our t-shirt, a little girl wearing a #BeLikeMary headband or stickers on someone’s equipment.
Because of your involvement, we provided $200,000 in Research Grants, $35,000 in Financial Assistance to families impacted by Pediatric Cancer, provided meals on two occasions to hundreds of families staying at the Ronald McDonald house in NYC and provided gifts for children staying at Memorial Sloan Kettering during the holiday season.
This year, we continued to spread the word about Pediatric Cancer Awareness in multiple ways. Throughout the year, hundreds of boys and girls participated in Play4Mary events such as basketball games, lacrosse games, lacrosse clinics, softball games, soccer games, volleyball games and swim meets all in memory of Mary. It was great to see these events inspire the participants as everyone realized that they have the power to make a difference. Additionally, we had 11 runners participate in either the Staten Island Half Marathon, United Airlines Half Marathon or the TCS NYC Marathon, over 180 participants in our 5K, and we marched in the RVC St. Patrick’s Day Parade.
During September, we continued to spread awareness about Pediatric Cancer by lighting multiple trees gold and with the community displaying 1000s of lanterns and bows. This year, Mary would have been a freshman in college. Many of her friends at colleges all over the country displayed lanterns in her honor. We capped off Pediatric Cancer Awareness Month by hosting our first ever Hearts of Gold Gala which was attended by over 400 people and raised over $75,000.
In November, a Giving Library was donated to St. Agnes Cathedral School by Mary’s fellow classmates from the Class of 2019. This will spread Mary’s love of reading to the students of St. Agnes.
Besides all the events we run, it is so inspiring to see children running lemonade stands, little girls making bracelets and hair ribbons and stores holding events all in memory of Mary.
We would like to thank all of our supporters who helped make this year a great success!!
Purpose
Raise Funding
Raise Awareness
Raise Awareness
The Mary Ruchalski Foundation raises funds for pediatric cancer research and to help support families who have a child undergoing treatment. Through December 31, 2024, we have issued $817,000 in Pediatric Cancer Research Grants and provided families with over $215,000 in grants and other support.
Raise Awareness
Raise Awareness
Raise Awareness
Pediatric cancers are rare. We aim to raise awareness on the facts of pediatric cancer to others. The more awareness we can raise, the more people are informed and can help raise funds for pediatric cancer research.
#BeLikeMary
Raise Awareness
#BeLikeMary
#BeLikeMary was created by Mary's friends after she passed. #BeLikeMary means to live like Mary did by spreading kindness around to others.
Our Impact
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
Through December 2024, we have presented
Dr. Chris Vakoc at the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory with $550,000 in Research Grants. His team is working on rhabdomyosarcoma research and is making real progress!
Go to the link below to read about the progress that they are making!!
Light it Up Gold for Childhood Cancer Awareness Month
Rockville Centre and numerous other towns, schools
and organizations are lighting their trees gold in honor of
Childhood Cancer Awareness month this September.