Thousands of Ill Teens to Receive Kits, in Memory of NJ's Alicia DiNatale

Critically ill teens from across the nation will receive special Teen Kits from the Alicia Rose Victorious Foundation (ARVF), thanks in part to two grants from the Investors Bank Foundation and the Roma Bank Community Foundation.

ARVF was founded in 2002, after Alicia DiNatale, daughter of Chairman Mario and Executive Director Gisele DiNatale, succumbed to cancer after a 13-month battle. Mario and Gisele wanted to honor their daughter by helping teens who faced cancer and other serious illnesses. Since its inception, ARVF has raised more than $2 million to fund more than 65 teen lounges in hospitals, and to create and ship thousands of Teen Kits across the country.

“We have 66 Teen Centers across the country and have shipped tens of thousands of Teen Kits. Thanks to Investors Bank, we can do more; every little bit helps,” said Mario DiNatale. “I’d rather have [Alicia] back, but we still can do awesome stuff.”

On Martin Luther King Jr. Day, which begins Teen Cancer Awareness Week, more than 100 volunteers gathered at the Voorhees Town Center, where ARVF is headquartered, to make the Teen Kits, which are shipped to hospitals for recently diagnosed teens. Each kit comes in a cinch bag with several items inside including a journal, playing cards, and ARVF’s signature Bandana Pillow, to give teens something to entertain themselves and a creative outlet, as well as items they can bring home.

The funds from Investors Bank were used to supply the materials for the Teen Kits; ARVF estimates it will ship about 2,000 kits this year alone. This is the fourth year that the non-profit has been hosting events for volunteers to make the kits and stuff the Bandana Pillows.

ARVF applied for the grants from the Investors Bank Foundation, which supports non-profit organizations that enrich the diverse communities served by Investors Bank; Roma Bank became part of Investors Bank in December 2013. ARVF received a $5,000 grant from Investors Bank and a $2,500 grant from Roma Bank.

“Everyone knows someone who has been touched by cancer, and it is always such a devastating and all-consuming disease, especially when you are talking about children or adolescents,” said Angela Venti, Investors Bank Assistant Vice President/Marlton Branch Manager. “Investors Bank is proud to support the Alicia Rose Victorious Foundation in its mission to make teens a little bit more comfortable at a time in their lives when they may be facing an uphill battle.”

The volunteers on Martin Luther King Jr. Day stuffed more than 500 pillows, which will be sent out to local, regional, and national hospitals.

About Investors Bank

Investors Bank is a full-service community bank that has been serving customers since 1926. With more than $20 billion in assets and over 135 retail branches in New Jersey, New York City and Long Island, Investors Bank delivers personalized services and products tailored to the needs of its customers. Investors’ consumer banking services include complete deposit products, online banking, home equity loans and lines of credit and a full array of mortgage loans. Serving the business community, Investors provides deposit accounts, cash management services, business loans and lines of credit, and commercial real estate financing solutions to small and middle market companies, professional services firms, municipalities and other businesses. Investors Bank. Member FDIC and Equal Housing Lender.

About Alicia Rose Victorious Foundation (ARVF)

The Alicia Rose Victorious Foundation is a non-profit, charitable organization. ARVF provides activities, programs and events that enhance the quality of life for teens with cancer and other life-threatening illnesses. Since its inception, ARVF has successfully partnered with 99 children’s hospitals in 37 states throughout the country, funding more than 60 Teen Lounges and providing more than12,000 Teen Kits to critically ill children. To learn more, visit www.victoriousfoundation.org.