We would like to thank everybody for their support and attendance at the 3rd Annual LBI Summer Soiree to benefit David’s Dream & Believe Cancer Foundation. We were excited to celebrate our long standing friendship and partnership with the team from Jetty as we recognized them with our 2021 Beacon of Hope Award. The DDBCF Beacon of Hope Award was created in 2017 to recognize an outstanding individual or organization instrumental in filling hearts with hope and shining a light in the darkness of cancer.
“11 years ago we ran our first event together, the Coquina Jam. We raised around $7500. Last year we raised $88,000. This year, we raised $100,000. Both the Jetty Rock Foundation and DDBCF aren’t going to stop running events, and we’re not going to stop growing, it’s truly a special partnership – but, the other partner that we both have is the community. It’s all of you guys that donate, and show up to fuel our passion so that we can all help people together.” Jeremy DeFilippis, CEO Jetty/Treasurer & Director JRF
A special thank you to Tom, Jaimee, Brittany and the entire staff at the Sea Shell Resort & Beach Club for another beautiful evening.
Tickets: Click HERE!
Includes: hors d’oeuvres, themed dinner menu, 3-Hour Top Shelf Open Bar and DJ Entertainment.
Single: $275
Pair: $500
The LBI Summer Soiree is our upscale summer cocktail party at the stunning Sea Shell Resort & Beach Club featuring scrumptious hors d’oeuvres, a themed dinner menu, 3-hour top-shelf open bar and DJ LAX from Prime Event DJS to keep you moving all night long on the dance floor.
Our 2021 LBI Summer Soiree was just recently confirmed so we are not having sponsorships or an auction this year but we will be celebrating our long-standing friendship and partnership with the Team from JETTY as we recognize them with our 2021 DDBCFBeacon of Hope Award.
The Jetty Rock Foundation is the non-profit arm of the Jetty brand. This charitable organization was formed in June of 2013 as a direct result of Jetty’s massive Sandy Relief efforts. The approved 501(C)3 Charitable Organization allows the Jetty brand to continue to be a vehicle for fundraising by using its design, screen printing, and event prowess while providing a formidable channel to get direct aid to those in need. Jetty is a Certified B Corp with CMO Cory Higgins recently being appointed an advisory board member to the Surf Industry Manufacturers Association.
“I’ve known Jeremy for 25+ years now and am so thankful for his support during my cancer battle more than he will ever know. JETTY has played an integral role in supporting DDBCF over the past 10+ years. I will never forget Coquina 2011 and the positive impact it had on DDBCF. I am so grateful for their continued support and partnership and it is an honor to present JETTY as the recipient of our 4th Beacon of Hope Award at this year’s Summer Soiree.” -David Caldarella
Please join us for a night of fun on the beach and get your TICKETStoday!
We want to take a minute to thank some of our Advisory Board members who recently stepped down after their service. Our Advisory Board members assist with fundraising campaigns and raise awareness for David’s Dream & Believe Cancer Foundation’s Mission of Hope for families battling a cancer diagnosis.
Since our inception in 2011, DDBCF has been able to provide in excess of $1.6 Million Dollars to 1,800+ families battling a cancer diagnosis and that is not possible without the volunteerism of our Board of Directors, Patient Advocates and Advisory Board THANK YOU ALL!
We are thrilled to announce that the Inaugural LBI Summer Soiree presented by D. Finelli Construction is SOLD OUT! Thank you to everyone who has reserved their spot for “Boardwalk Nights” at the Sea Shell Resort & Beach Club – if you’ve missed this opportunity but would still like to support our mission as A Beacon Of Hope, please visit bit.ly/DonateDDBCF.
We also want to warmly welcome and extend our sincere thanks to The Jordan Family for their generous support of the Soiree. Bill and Kirsten Jordan were introduced to DDBCF a few years ago at the Island Gala by the Reynolds Family and since that initial meeting have been unwavering in their support for our families battling cancer.
We return to the Sea Shell Resort & Beach Club for the 6th year of this re-branded event and are so excited that Jaimee Hughes Boyle and Brittany Hughes Solon were also recently welcomed to DDBCF’s Volunteer Advisory Board. The Hughes Family supports DDBCF at multiple events throughout the year and have done so since our first year of existence. We are grateful for their steadfast and generous support!
The LBI Summer Soiree “Boardwalk Nights” is our take on an upscale summer cocktail party at the breathtaking Sea Shell Resort & Beach Club. The event will be held from 7pm – Midnight on August 10th and will feature: live boardwalk games, scrumptious hors d’oeuvres, a robust buffet, creative cocktails with 3-hour top-shelf open bar, spectacular auction and live music with LBI’s Ted Hammock and Jason Booth in our outside Tiki Lounge with Philadelphia’s High-Energy Seven Piece Band LOVE 77 to keep you moving all night long on the ballroom dance floor.
We are excited to announce the formation of the David’s Dream & Believe Cancer Foundation (DDBCF) Advisory Board. The Advisory Board comprised of 20 volunteers dedicated to achieving our Mission of Hope for patients and their families affected by a cancer diagnosis.
In 2017, DDBCF reached an all-time milestone of helping 1,004 families battling a cancer diagnosis with direct financial grants totaling $778,381.91. Beyond the significant financial grants, countless families receive hope, emotional support, and wellness services through our generous corporate and individual donors. These goals could not have been accomplished without the inspiration from our patients and support from our volunteers.
The overall purpose of our new Advisory Board is to bolster support and awareness for DDBCF’s Mission of Hope. We thank each of our Advisory Board Members for committing to serve as Beacons of Hope to our patients and their families. We are honored to introduce our Advisory Board Members and invite you to learn more about each of them by clicking the names below:
The beautiful Sea Shell Resort & Beach Club is once again the venue for this year’s Gala. The Hughes Family and staff go above and beyond each year. Please understand that the first weekend in August is the PEAK of the summer tourism season on Long Beach Island but that does not stop the Hughes Family from hosting this event year after year. We appreciate their unwavering support but most of all we are grateful for their friendship.
Our event this year is presented by our friends at Informed Mortgage. The Informed Mortgage Leadership Team, Staff and their clients are responsible for positively affecting the lives of so many families battling cancer. They have set the Gold standard for charitable donations through a creative planned giving initiative and the result has been a record-setting donation of $50,275.00to DDBCF over the past 2.5 years! Please call the Informed Mortgage team for all your mortgage and refi needs. 609-597-0007.
We are also grateful to have the support from our friends, the Reynolds Family and their team at Reynolds Landscaping, Garden Shop & Floral Market in Manahawkin. The Reynolds Family support our events and numerous other wonderful causes throughout the year but they have a special place in their heart for our Island Gala. The decorations and floral arrangements will once again be donated by Reynolds. Please contact Reynolds for all your landscaping needs. 609-597-6099.
Our entertainment lineup is set for the 5th Annual Island Gala with some familiar faces. We met American Idol Alum Cara Samantha a few years ago because of her cousin Jamie’s cancer diagnosis. Unfortunately, Jamie eventually lost her courageous battle with cancer. Cara will be performing during cocktail hour and under the stars in our outside “Hope Lounge.” A brief opening ceremony will take place with a “Surprise Performance.” Then everybody should get ready to dance the night away to Philadelphia’s High-Energy Seven Piece Band Love 77. The members of LOVE 77 are motivated by the mission of the Foundation and ready to bring the house down with some incredible Live Music!
Please join us on Friday August 4, 2017 at the Sea Shell Resort & Beach Club. Individual tickets: for $250.00pp. Event will take place from 7pm-midnight. Live Music, Hors D’Oeurves, Buffet, Auction and 3 Hour Top Shelf Open Bar. (Cocktail Attire)
Invites are being mailed to last year’s guests and the easiest way to secure your ticket for the 5th Annual Island Gala is to reserve your sponsorship today. You can do so by visiting the shop tab on our website or downloading a form below. Please make checks payable to DDBCF, 364 North Main Street, Suite 10D, Manahawkin, NJ 08050. Thank you!
Two new and highly successful DDBCF fundraising events were established in 2016:
a) The Inaugural Frank A. Cosimano Memorial Golf Classic presented by: Bergen Risk Managers and
b) Shave the Date presented by: Swing Graphics
The incredibly generous team from Informed Mortgage’s planned giving initiative set an all-time DDBCF record for Giving with an astounding $24,375.00 donated in the year 2016!
DDBCF welcomed 2 returning members back to the Board of Directors; Carmen Malatino and Kelly Powers; while three new Board Members Jason Cosimano, Steve Crisalli and former Director of Patient Advocacy Bill Raney were invited to serve as well. Office space for the Foundation was secured at 364 North Main Street, Suite 10D in Manahawkin, NJ.
Director of Patient Advocacy; Lauren M. Raney (7/28/1977-12/16/2016) was appointed by the Board of Directors as our Inaugural Trustee Emeritus.
2011 – 2016: 763 Families battling a cancer diagnosis have received $621,813.06 in Financial Grants!
All of us at David’s Dream & Believe Cancer Foundation want to thank our patients and their families for inspiring us each and every day. It was an extremely difficult end to 2016 with the passing of so many loved ones and friends of DDBCF including: Mallory, Anthony, Virginia, Melissa, Michael, Phyllis, Layard, Alice, Patricia and Lauren. Our thoughts, prayers and love remain with all of these families. In the midst of her own battle with cancer, Lauren Raney proudly served as an original member of our Directors of Patient Advocacy Board in hopes that she could offer support to other patients battling this deadly disease. What Lauren may not have realized before her passing on December 16th is that she not only offered our current patients support and hope but lifted the spirits of any and every person that was blessed to have crossed paths with her.. On December 20th 2016, the DDBCF Board of Directors unanimously voted to appoint Lauren M. Raney as our first ever Trustee Emeritus. Lauren will be forever honored for her service as a Director of Patient Advocacy while all of us trust that she will eternally watch over and guide us on this journey.
Thank you to our Executive Partners at Informed Mortgage. Informed Mortgage’s planned giving initiative has set a high standard for charitable giving thanks to the efforts of Stephen, Christopher, Michael, Informed Mortgage Staff and all their customers.
Thank you to the parents and kids from our youth group, Generation Dream. This motivated, talented and compassionate group of kids are determined to make a positive impact in the lives of our patients and their families.
Thank you to students from our Southern Regional High School group led by teachers Ms. Rebecca Posch and Mrs Jody McLennan.
Thank you to our community partners, Dawn and Pete from Swing Graphics and Ryan Johnson from Ryan Johnson Photography for their help with photo, images and multiple revisions to content.
A special thank you to our Board of Directors (Steve Crisalli, Dani Corso, Kristin Panzone, Bill Raney, Kelly Powers, Jason Cosimano, Tim Hall) who serve the mission of the Foundation on a 100% volunteer basis!
Please take a minute to look back on 2016 with us in the attached summary of accomplishments. Please know that if you attended one of our events, donated an auction item, sponsored an event, volunteered or made an individual donation – YOU are responsible for providing HOPE to a family diagnosed with cancer that desperately needs our help. THANK YOU! Our Mantra for 2017 is: #WeWill
We held our 4th Annual Island Gala “Hope Under the Stars”on Friday August 5th at the Sea Shell Resort & Beach Club. It was a beautiful night filled with HOPE Under the Stars!
The most critical information about David’s Dream & Believe Cancer Foundation (DDBCF) was conveyed to the crowd by Co-Founder, David Caldarella during the opening ceremony. 634 Families battling cancer have been supported by DDBCF over the past 5.5 years. 312 families in the first 4 years of existence and 322 in the past 1.5 years. A group of friends set out to assist 1-2 patients affected by a cancer diagnosis per year. DDBCF is currently on pace to offer solely financial assistance to a patient/family every 1.46 days in 2016 and if you add in the emotional support and hope – that number rapidly drops to 1 patient/family per day! Truly an incredible milestone for the DDBCF Family and the supporters that make this “Generosity of Spirit” possible throughout the year! THANK YOU!
The highlight of the evening was hearing from Co-Founder of David’s Dream & Believe Cancer Foundation (DDBCF); Tim Hall, Co-Chair of the Department of Otolaryngology at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital; Dr. David Cognetti and 3 of the new Directors Patient of Advocacy for David’s Dream & Believe Cancer Foundation: Dawn Aversa, Susie Buzby and Tina Angers. Tim spoke about the origin of DDBCF and in particular a story of Hope when his friend of 40 years David Caldarella was at his darkest point during his battle with stage IV head and neck cancer and one of his best friends Carmen Malatino created a CD of recorded voicemail’s from family, friends and Dr. David Cognetti encouraging David to Dream & Believe. Dr. Cognetti talked about his personal relationship with his patient David Caldarella and his recollection of the early stages of DDBCF all the way through today. Dawn, Susie and Tina spoke about their personal experiences with cancer as a caregiver in Dawn’s case and survivor’s in Susie and Tina’s and the positive impact DDBCF has had in their lives.
We want to start by thanking our partner and Platinum sponsors for the 4th Annual Island Gala: Informed Mortgage. Everybody in attendance heard David explain the planned giving initiative created by Informed Mortgage in collaboration with Dani Corso from Volatile Media Management and Communications Director for DDBCF. Informed Mortgage donates $25.00 per every closed loan out of their Manahawkin office to DDBCF. This partnership has resulted in planned giving donations of $27,500.00 to DDBCF from the Informed Mortgage team in Manahawkin, NJ. Please give them a call today for any of your mortgage or refi needs especially with all-time low interest rates!
Thank you to the Reynolds Family and Reynolds Garden Shop, Nursery, Floral Market and Landscaping for their continued support of DDBCF and their Gold Sponsorship of the 4th Annual Island Gala. The absolutely breathtaking “VIP” floral arrangements and stunning landscapes surrounding the “Hope Tiki Garden” were simply Amazing!
A special thank you to Tom Hughes, Jaimee Boyle and Brittany Solon from the Sea Shell Resort & Beach Club. This incredible family and their staff continue to care for this event as if it were an event for a family member and we cannot thank them enough.
The artwork and graphics for the event including flyers, posters and invites were all beautifully done by Dawn and Peter from Swing Graphics. We want to thank Typestries and Copyrite for all of our printing needs. Thank you to LeAnna Gerety from LeAnna Theresa Photography and Tony Coon from Darn Swell Media for the photography and video.
Our Board of Directors and volunteers are second to none and this event puts their selfless giving for our families battling cancer on center stage. Their generosity of spirit for the families of DDBCF battling a cancer diagnosis goes far beyond, “Paying it Forward” and for that we love them!
Thank you to our guests and sponsors. You are “Vehicles of Hope” to so many!
Platinum Sponsors:
Informed Mortgage & Bill & Kirsten Jordan
Gold Sponsors:
Reynolds Landscaping, D. Finelli Construction & Southern Ocean Medical Center
Silver Sponsors:
Thomas V. Massa DMD & Associates, Paul Jr. Designs, Ocean First Bank/Ocean First Foundation & Dan & Karen Raugh
Bronze Sponsors:
Panzone’s Pizza, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Lou’s Electric, Anderson Insurance Agency, G. Anderson Agency, Walt McCollum Plumbing, Heating & Cooling, SOMC Foundation, The Van Dyk Group, Lumby Family, Bruce & Beth Fisher, Invisalign, Perry & Barbara Kaplan, Phillip & Christine Kaputa, John & Dee Vanderslice, Brandon Systems, Zelus Consulting Group & Rue Insurance.
Mark your calendars now for the 5th Annual Island Gala on Friday August 4th 2017!
We are beyond excited for the 4th Annual Island Gala to benefit: David’s Dream & Believe Cancer Foundation at the Sea Shell Resort & Beach Club on Friday August 5th, 2016. This year’s theme is “Hope Under The Stars!” Our patients and families affected by a cancer diagnosis inspire us on a daily basis. This year’s Gala will be very special as we introduce some of our brand new Directors of Patient Advocacy. This is a group of individuals directly affected by a cancer diagnosis and positively impacted by the support from David’s Dream & Believe Cancer Foundation.
The beautiful Sea Shell Resort & Beach Club is once again the venue for this year’s Gala. The Hughes Family and staff treat this event as if it were a special event for a family member. We appreciate their continued support and friendship.
Our entertainment lineup for the 4th Annual Island Gala is second to none! We met American Idol Alum Cara Samantha a few years ago as a result of her cousin Jamie being diagnosed with cancer. Unfortunately, Jamie eventually lost her courageous battle with cancer. Cara will be performing during cocktail hour and under the stars in our outside “Hope Tiki Garden” too. A brief opening ceremony will take place after cocktail hour. Then everybody should get ready to dance the night away to Philadelphia’s High-Energy Seven Piece Band: Love 77. The members of LOVE 77 are motivated by the mission of the Foundation and ready to bring the house down with some incredible Live Music! Our favorite Emcee, Live Auctioneer and Friend: James Donahower is back to host the entire evening for us this year.
We want to thank our friends at Reynolds Landscaping for their continued support and efforts supporting this special event.
Please join us on Friday August 5th, 2016 at the Sea Shell Resort & Beach Club. Individual tickets will go on sale shortly for $250.00pp. Event will take place from 7pm-midnight. Live Music, Hors D’Ourves, Dinner and 3 Hour Top Shelf Open Bar. (Cocktail Attire)
Invites have been mailed to last year’s guests and the easiest way to secure your ticket for the 4th Annual Island Gala is to reserve your sponsorship today. You can do so by visiting our website at www.davidsdreamandbelieve.org, click the Donate tab, under donation type click (enter your own donation amount)(enter sponsorship level amount), under donation events click Island Gala in the drop down. You can also download form attached below. Make checks payable to DDBCF, 364 North Main Street, Suite 10D, Manahawkin, NJ 08050. Thank you!
We want to continue highlighting our business sponsors that have donated in excess of $10,000.00 in 2015 and have made a long-term commitment to support David’s Dream & Believe Cancer Foundation!
Our friends at the Sea Shell Resort & Beach Club stepped up their donations to DDBCF through various forms of giving in 2015. It came in the form of event sponsorships, memorial donations and this year’s 19th Annual Sea Shell Resort & Beach Club Striped Bass Derby. The icing on the cake for the families of DDBCF was Mike and Jaimee Boyle’s Holiday Party. They asked their friends to attend the party but requested no gifts and only donations for a particular husband and daughter family of DDBCF that are currently living in a motel after the wife/mother passed away from cancer earlier this year. It’s the “Generosity of Spirit” displayed by the entire Hughes Family and their amazing staff throughout the year that affords DDBCF the opportunity to assist those families like the one above affected by a cancer diagnosis!
We have held our Island Gala at the Sea Shell Resort & Beach for the past 3 years. The partnership between the two organizations grows stronger every day. A special thank you to Tom, Jaimee and Brittany for working so dilligently to ensure our Island Gala is a complete success each and every year. It’s a testament to the Hughes family and their staff when our guests inform us they felt like they were attending a family party. That’s exactly how all of us feel and we really hope you support the sponsors like the Sea Shell Resort & Beach Club that make giving to the families of DDBCF a priority for not only their business but also in their personal lives!
