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