We are honored to have been chosen as the “NonProfit Of The Year” by the Greater Toms River Chamber of Commerce! Please consider joining us at the Days Hotel Toms River – Jersey Shore on Thursday, October 17 for the 55th Annual Awards Reception presented by The Jay and Linda Grunin Foundation celebrating Dana Weihs Lancellotti of Ocean County Tourism as “Distinguished Citizen Of The Year,” Design 446 as “Business Partner Of The Year,” BHI Insurance as “Distinguished Organization Of The Year” and Narcissus Florals as “Groundbreaking Business Of The Year.” More information about this event can be found at buff.ly/2GoidDh.
We are thrilled to recognize Kristin Moritz, Joyce Panzone & Jillian Elsasser (pictured to the left) with the 2018 David’s Dream & Believe Cancer Foundation’s (DDBCF) Beacon of Hope Award!
“In recognition of an outstanding individual or business instrumental in filling hearts with HOPE and shining a LIGHT in the darkness of cancer.”
Our 6th Annual Frank V. Panzone Jr. Memorial Cruisin for a Cure event held this past Sunday was another tremendous success. The day is always special regardless of the weather, and this year’s event included a surprise announcement that no rain or clouds would dampen.
Earlier this year, a unanimous “secret” vote by (all but one) DDBCF Board members moved forward the decision to honor long-time DDBCF supporters Kristin Moritz, Joyce Panzone and Jillian Elsasser from Panzone’s Pizza in Surf City and Panzone’s Pizza & Pasta in Beach Haven, NJ. The decision to honor these 3 amazing women was easy but keeping it a secret from Vice President of DDBCF, Kristin Moritz and DDBCF Advisory Board Member, Jillian Elsasser was the difficult part.
You would be hard pressed to find an event on the busy DDBCF calendar that does not include substantial support from these women, their family members and their respective businesses. Their consistent participation is unmatched and includes generous financial sponsorships, auction items, donated food, graphic design, event management and countless hours of service as a member of the DDBCF Board of Directors (Kristin) and member of the DDBCF Advisory Board (Jillian).
Beyond the highly visible event and volunteer support, what almost no one sees are the numerous meals delivered to families of DDBCF battling a cancer diagnosis or the donated catered food for holiday parties that benefit cancer patients in the middle of their treatment plans. In fact, the first ever DDBCF fundraiser which took place at the Ship Bottom Firehouse in December 2010 after the Ship Bottom Christmas Parade was catered for free by the Panzone Family and Panzone’s Pizza!
Our DDBCF Family is a blessing to so many including our patients and their families as well as all of us internally here at DDBCF and Kristin, Joyce and Jillian represent the very best of humanity. We also want to thank and extend our sincere appreciation to Kristin’s husband John, their son Johnny, Jillian’s husband Todd and their son Cole!
6th Annual Frank V. Panzone Jr. Memorial Cruisin for a Cure Wrap-Up
On behalf of the DDBCF Board of Directors; I would like to thank our sponsors, riders, party guests, volunteers, businesses and individuals who donated food and activities for helping to make the 6th Annual Frank V. Panzone Jr. Memorial Cruisin for a Cure our most successful Cruisin to date. Thanks to your “Generosity of Spirit,” we were able to raise more than $48,000 for families battling a cancer diagnosis. The image below includes every individual and business that donated to this event in some capacity – thank you ALL. It is because of your generous support, that DDBCF has been able to help 1,053 Families with over $825,000.00 in direct patient financial aid (January 2011 – March 31, 2018).
Kristin, Joyce, Jillian and their family members are living tributes to their patriarch Frank V. Panzone Jr. They celebrate and honor Frank’s life every day, and all of us at DDBCF are humbled by the fact that they have chosen to partner with us on our mission to serve as Beacons of Hope for families battling a cancer diagnosis. Congratulations ladies and THANK YOU!
David Caldarella
Co-Founder & Chief Executive Officer
Founder of David’s Dream & Believe Cancer Foundation Honored with Jefferson Award
2014 Jefferson Award Hnoree
Manahawkin, NJ. Friday, June 9, 2014 – David Caldarella, founder of David’s Dream & Believe Cancer Foundation, has been honored with a 2014 New Jersey State Governor’s Jefferson Awards in the category of Founders/Innovators. The Founders/Innovators category recognizes individuals whose vision and dedication result in the establishment of a new organization to meet unmet needs or new improved means of meeting those needs. Recipients of the New Jersey State Governor’s Jefferson Awards achieve measurable community impact, perform outstanding acts of public service without the expectation of recognition, serve as inspiration for others, personify dedication to a unique vision, and demonstrate tenacity of heroic proportion. Melanie Magaziner and Corinne Gray Ruff facilitated his nomination for this prestigious award, and David was selected from a pool of over 500 candidates by a panel that included The Community Foundation of New Jersey, The Star Ledger Powering NJ.com and the Governor’s Advisory Council on Volunteerism.
David was thrilled to attend the award ceremony on June 9 with his mother and girlfriend. He was touched, humbled and honored by the magnitude and meaning of the award. “Cancer gave me a purpose in life and David’s Dream and Believe Cancer Foundation is my vehicle,” David said. He also referred to the words of Mother Theresa – “I alone cannot change the world but I can cast a stone across the waters to create many ripples.” As the driving force behind the Foundation, which has donated in excess of $250,000 to cancer patients in just four years of existence, David has created ripples that have already changed the lives of many families affected by the disease.
The Jefferson Awards were created in 1972 by Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, Robert Taft Jr. and Sam Beard. It is America’s Highest Honor for Public Service, a Nobel Peace Prize for Public Service. To add to the enormity of the award ceremony, Sam Beard and New Jersey Lieutenant Governor Kim Guadagno spoke during the ceremony. Past national winners are a “Who’s Who” of American history makers including Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, Secretary of State Colin Powell, Barbara Bush, Senator Ted Kennedy, Oprah Winfrey, Peyton Manning and one of David’s favorite NY Yankees Mariano Rivera. In the June 15th Sunday Edition of the Star Ledger a full-page recognized the 2014 Jefferson Award Honorees with the caption “Please join the State of New Jersey, the White House and the United States Senate in congratulating these outstanding individuals for their remarkable volunteer achievements.” The community applauds David as a champion for cancer patients, and as a Jefferson Award recipient.
About David’s Dream & Believe Cancer Foundation
David’s Dream and Believe Cancer Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that raises funds to provide financial assistance and services to families primarily in New Jersey affected by a cancer diagnosis. David Caldarella, founder and Stage IV cancer survivor, established David’s Dream and Believe Cancer Foundation in 2010. The Foundation has committed all of its resources to assisting the community in the fight against cancer, and holds many events throughout the year to raise funds to support this cause. In addition to the Jetty Coquina Jam – an all-female surf contest on LBI where 100% of the proceeds are directed back to local breast cancer patients, DDBCF holds the “Frank V Panzone Jr. Memorial Cruisin’ for a Cure” presented by Panzone’s Pizza & Pasta, “Crabbin’ for a Cure” presented by Mud City Crab House and the “Island Gala & Casino Night” presented by the Sea Shell Resort Resort & Beach Club. The foundation also participates in Chowderfest and various other community festivals. To date, the Foundation has donated over $250,000 to families affected by a cancer diagnosis.
Jefferson Award Medal
Jefferson Award Medal CeremonyJefferson Award Proclamation
