David’s Dream & Believe Cancer Foundation Patient Support Fund

From left to right: Lora Rhodes, LCSW, Michelle Phillip, Adam Luginbuhl, MD, David Caldarella, David Cognetti, MD, and Danielle Corso

November 11, 2010, I heard the words every patient diagnosed with cancer wants to hear: “There’s No Evidence of Disease!” Those amazing words were uttered by the same surgeon who had to inform me I had Stage IV Head and Neck cancer in April 2010. Dr. David Cognetti and I have been able to share many milestones together along the way since 2010 including our joint service for the National Institute of Health’s Head and Neck Steering Committee, a Haiti Mission Trip, the 2020 Head and Neck Cancer Symposium and Dr. Cognetti’s recent promotion to Chairperson of the Department of Otolaryngology, but most importantly family outings to the annual Villanova University/Georgetown University basketball game in Philadelphia. A lifelong friendship was born out of a horrible cancer diagnosis. I am beyond grateful to share that same bond with many members of the Jefferson Health Department of Otolaryngology, Medical Oncology and Infusion Center & Jefferson Radiation Oncology at Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center.

Dr. Cognetti and the entire team have also played a critical role in supporting David’s Dream & Believe Cancer Foundation over the past 10 years. We share something else incredibly special beyond our friendships. It is a shared vision and commitment to improve the lives of patients and their families from the moment of a cancer diagnosis. Our Foundation recently gifted a financial contribution to the Department of Otolaryngology at Jefferson to establish the David’s Dream & Believe Cancer Foundation Patient Support Fund. The goal of the fund is to provide a life preserver to patients facing overwhelming financial burdens. We are grateful for this partnership and that the mission of DDBCF has been adopted for this fund.

It has always been about patients and their families, and this partnership will allow us to continue to serve New Jersey residents as they receive cancer care in Pennsylvania.

David Caldarella
Stage IV Head and Neck Cancer Survivor
DDBCF Co-Founder/CEO

Thank You – Advisory Board

THANK YOU!

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.

Thank you to Brittany Solon and Jaimee Boyle from the Sea Shell Resort and Beach Club. Thank you to John Brancato from JAB Inspections. Thank you to James Donahower. Thank you to Erin Buterick from The Union Market & Gallery and thank you to Robin Harvey from the Scott Harvey Auto Group. 

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!

 

84 Lumber Donation

84 Lumber

84 Lumber

84 Lumber Donation

84 Lumber donates $5,000 grant to David’s Dream & Believe Cancer Foundation (DDBCF) for breast cancer awareness month.

84 Lumber Manahawkin’s store manager, Michael Wallace met with Co-Founder and CEO, David Caldarella from DDBCF. The gentlemen met in front of the newly painted and pink 84 Lumber sign that raises awareness for breast cancer awareness month on Route 9, in Manahawkin directly in front of the 84 Lumber complex.

We are so grateful for our existing partnerships as well as new ones like the one with 84 Lumber that help us to provide financial assistance, wellness services and hope to families battling a cancer diagnosis in NJ.

Please contact CEO, David Caldarella to learn more about partnership opportunities…
david@davidsdreamandbelieve.org or 609-489-0011

 

 

Zack Of All Trades – Fundraiser

Zack Of All Trades will be selling Limited Edition t-shirts, with 50% of proceeds going to David’s Dream & Believe Cancer Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to providing relief and aid to NJ families affected by a cancer diagnosis. Shirts will be $18 (plus $7 if shipping). This cause is especially close to our business’s heart, and we want to do all we can for others who might need help in the same situation. We are also accepting any and all donations to the cause.

Please contact Zack of all Trades to place your order today! 

Together we can make a difference!

Zack of All Trades LLC is a fully licensed and insured family owned and operated, commercial and residential general repair and remodeling company. We offer a long list of services which include minor and large-scale projects, as well as property management contracts. Our company employs a team of individuals who each in their own way specialize in a trade.

Zack holds multiple licenses & can handle a diversity of projects. Zack specializes in Property Management solutions and General Remodeling and repair services for Homes and Business.

Please call ZACK for everything from small household repairs to major remodeling projects!

Zack Of All Trades
45 Westchester Drive
Little Egg Harbor 08087
OFFICE: (609) 857-3871
CELL: (732) 710-5714

Becoming A Survivor Champion!

Becoming A Survivor Champion!

BECOMING A SURVIVOR CHAMPION!

We are proud to partner with the Head & Neck Cancer Alliance and the American Head & Neck Society on a Survivorship Series for individuals and families affected by oral, head & neck cancers.

In early 2019, CoFounder & Stage IV Head & Neck Cancer Survivor David Caldarella of David’s Dream and Believe Cancer Foundation was nominated to serve on the 2020 National Head and Neck Cancer Symposium by Dr. David Cognetti of Jefferson Health. He was selected to serve, and worked behind the scenes with the committee on the symposium, which was set to take place this month in Chicago. As a result of coronavirus, the partner organizations pivoted to create a virtual gathering open to participants throughout the country.

The final webinar in the series, “How to Be A Survivor Champion,” will take place on Wednesday August 19, 2020 at 4:30pm. Deadline is Friday August 14th at 10am. If you or your family are interested in learning more about life after a diagnosis, we encourage you to attend.

REGISTER HERE: headandneck.org/survivorship-webinars

Sing for Hope

Sing for Hope

SING FOR HOPE

As the world shuts down around us, you have the opportunity to become A Beacon Of Hope for those reaching for light in the darkness of cancer!

Please join David’s Dream & Believe Cancer Foundation for a very special 10-week LIVE streaming concert series called Sing for Hope. Every Friday at 8pm starting April 17th thru June 19th for evenings of music & hope! 100% of funds raised through our Artist Spotlight will benefit NJ families affected by a cancer diagnosis!

Please visit bit.ly/SingForDDBCF to make a donation.

3 ADDITIONAL WAYS TO DONATE
>> Text SingForHope to 91999.
>> Venmo DDBCF: @davidsdream
>> Mail check made payable to: DDBCF, 364 North Main Street, Suite 10D, Manahawkin, NJ 08050

100% of funds raised during our 10-week Livestream Artist Spotlight will benefit New Jersey families affected by a cancer diagnosis!

THE LINEUP
April 17 : Sahara Moon Music (text Sahara to 91999)
April 24 : Cara Samantha Music (text Cara to 91999)
May 1 : Calista Quinn (text Calista to 91999)
May 8 : Brendan Walsh (text Brendan to 91999)
May 15 : Owen D Music (text Owen to 91999)
May 22 : Allison Stella Music (text Allison to 91999)
May 29 : Morgan Reilly (text MorganReilly to 91999)
June 5 : Ted Hammock (text TedHammock to 91999)
June 12 : Chris Fritz (text Fritz to 91999)
June 19: Eli Menezes & Courtney Gayle (text Eli to 91999)

Sahara Moon Cara SamanthaCalista QuinnBrendan WalshOwenAllison StellaMorgan ReillyTed HammockChris FritzEli

 

 

OUR STORIES:

Bill RaneyKelly MateyDawn AversaDanielle NeaultGreg SableJennifer HornikSusie BuzbyBridgit Romano

 

 

 

 

 

DDBCF Crisis Action Plan – COVID-19

Special Announcement: COVID-19 Impact on DDBCF Operations – PLEASE READ

March 23, 2020

Dear Patients, Donors, Volunteers & Friends of DDBCF,

Our mission at David’s Dream & Believe Cancer Foundation (DDBCF) has always been to serve as Beacons of Hope to those in darkness, and the entire DDBCF family HOPES that you and yours are healthy and safe during this global crisis.

Recognizing you are collectively concerned, stressed, tired & overloaded with information, we especially thank you for taking just a moment to learn how DDBCF has been impacted and is responding to the COVID-19 Pandemic. The bullets below help summarize the key updates of our crisis mode of operation – we have made these decisions in order to continue delivering on our mission for many years to come.

Crisis Mode of Operation – DDBCF Board of Directors approved the following measures: Friday 3/20/20

  • Staff: CEO David Caldarella moves to full time volunteer status with a temporary lay-off. Office Manager Michelle Phillip will be part-time working remotely from home responding to any urgent patient needs or questions.
  • Patient Grants: 51 current requests remain unanswered and new requests are currently frozen
  • Patient Programs & Activities: Temporarily suspended until further notice.
  • Events: April: Easter Pancake Breakfast & Lakewood Blueclaws – Cancelled. May: Summer Kick Off – Postponed. June: Cosimano Golf Classic – Cancelled & Run for Hope: TBD.

In closing, although these changes are painful and difficult, they are also TEMPORARY. With your friendship, the continued support of amazingly generous Planned Giving Partners, DDBCF will emerge as a stronger and even more brilliant BEACON OF HOPE for our patients and their families battling a cancer diagnosis.

As noted above, there are currently over 51 patients and their families currently suffering with critical needs – if you are able to provide any additional financial support at this time, please know that our current Crisis Mode will enable us to immediately pass 100% of every dollar directly to one of those patients. We thank each one of you for your past, present and future support.

God Bless you and your families!

Carmen Malatino
President & Co-Founder
David’s Dream & Believe Cancer Foundation

On Behalf of Board of Directors

Team Dream

Team Dream

WHAT IS TEAM DREAM?

Team Dream was established to invite athletes of all levels, of any sport with an opportunity to convert those miles into high impact fundraising events, to benefit patients and their families in NJ battling a cancer diagnosis. Rally up your friends and raise money, while you run, walk, ride or participate in any event that keeps you moving. You can create a team or participate on your own. With every mile, you will be making a difference.

You don’t have to participate in an athletic event to join Team Dream! You can also make a difference by creating an activity of your own and asking your family and friends to support you. Hold a birthday or anniversary fundraiser, a yard sale or lemonade stand, or just any event in honor of someone you love. There are countless ways to fundraise in support of those affected by a cancer diagnosis, and it’s so easy to start!

HOW TO PARTICIPATE:

To become a virtual fundraiser as an athlete or through an activity. Click one of the buttons below to create your own personal fundraising page or create/join a team. And don’t forget to please share your personal fundraising page with your family, friends and supporters!

Become a SUPERHERO today! Please join Team Dream and positively impact the lives of patients and their families in New Jersey battling a cancer diagnosis!

CREATE A FUNDRAISER
JOIN/CREATE A TEAM

Click on the Button below to DONATE!

DONATE TODAY

ABOUT US:

David’s Dream & Believe Cancer Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that raises funds to provide financial assistance, support services and Hope to New Jersey families affected by a cancer diagnosis.

From 2011- 2020- we have provided $1,498,423.44 to 1,691 families affected by a cancer diagnosis, with countless more receiving support services and hope.

Tax ID# 27-3314182

Michelle Phillip – Office Manager

We want to thank the nearly 200 applicants who applied for our Office Manager position at David’s Dream & Believe Cancer Foundation (DDBCF). We met so many kind, generous, professional and impressive candidates throughout the interview process and we are so grateful to each and every one of you.

We are extremely excited to introduce Michelle Phillip as our Office Manager. Please join us in welcoming Michelle to the DDBCF family on her first official day, Monday January 6th.

Welcome Aboard Michelle!

 

One Million

David Caldarella

On behalf of David’s Dream & Believe Cancer Foundation (DDBCF), I am humbled to announce a bittersweet milestone. Yesterday, a 17-year-old boy battling a cancer diagnosis became the 1,222nd patient/family to receive financial assistance, which brings our all time Direct Financial Giving to $1,000,564.25!

This bittersweet milestone could not have happened without Co-Founder Tim Hall and our past and present 100% volunteer Board of Directors. Our new Executive Director Danielle Corso has been a valued addition to the team and tremendous support system internally. Our Mission of Hope giving partners including Informed Mortgage and event sponsors afford us the opportunity to offer financial assistance in the amount of One Million Dollars to 1,222 patients. Our Patient Advocates, Advisory Board Members, Service Arm Partners and Generation Dream Student Groups all serve to support our families battling this deadly disease that affects 1 in 2 men and 1 in 3 women.

There are 3 individuals who did not know it at the time but they’re the reason DDBCF even exists today and they would be my nephew Timothy and nieces Isabella and Sabrina English. 8 years ago during my stage IV head and neck cancer diagnosis I read that “Kindness is the shadow of God in Man” and I commented that those shadows were never more present than during my battle with cancer. I would change that now to express those shadows are never more present than every single day that we interact with the courageous individuals who are battling a cancer diagnosis and manage to inspire all of us at DDBCF. Patients and their families remain the sole focus of everything we do at DDBCF.

You will be hearing and seeing many posts over the next couple of weeks spotlighting the various aspects of DDBCF that make up the “little engine that could.”

I am so grateful for your trust and generous support of our mission here at DDBCF. In spite of this milestone, we are seeing a continued avalanche of patient requests and your ongoing giving is crucial!

Thank you so much,

David Caldarella
CEO, Co-Founder & Stage IV cancer Survivor