LI's Sarah Grace Foundation Hosting School Supply Drive For Kids With Cancer

HICKSVILLE, NY — The Sarah Grace Foundation is collecting school supplies for children battling cancer. The deadline is Aug. 11.

There are two options to donate: online on "You Give Goods" or in person at Ray Leventhal Clothing, at 355 S. Oyster Bay Road, Plainview.

"As with all of our programs, The Sarah Grace Foundation strives to improve the quality of life of children with cancer and ease the stress and emotional impact of their diagnosis," Matt Weippert, co-founder of the Sarah Grace Foundation, told Patch.

Most children with cancer will be tutored in-hospital or at home but still need the same school supplies as healthy students, Weippert explained.

"Additionally, due to severely compromised immune systems, everything presented to these children must be new," Weippert said. "Our foundation has been providing back to school backpacks and supplies to children with cancer since 2006."

Supplies needed include: backpacks (5-Below or equivalent; 24-pack Crayons; 12-pack colored pencils; No. 2 pencils; 10-pack ballpoint pens; 3-ounce hand sanitizer; 10-pack magic markers; glue sticks; Elmer's glue; 3-count erasers; kids scissors; two pocket folders, solid color; one-subject wide-ruled spiral notebook, solid color; Marble composition books; boutique tissue boxes; paper towels; 12-inch rulers; 3-inch post-it sticky notes; 1-inch ring binders; $15 Staples gift cards; and $15 Target gift cards.

The Hicksville-based charity was founded by Matt and Marissa Weippert 20 years ago. They launched the not-for-profit in memory of their daughter, Sarah Grace, who died of acute lymphoblastic leukemia on Nov. 9, 2002. She was 12.

"Sarah was home and hospital schooled until she passed away and at that time there weren’t any programs to provide for the supplies she needed," Matt said. "The drive to fulfill the 'gaps' in these children’s lives is what has moved The Sarah Grace Foundation forward for the last 20 years."

The foundation is the Weipperts' way of keeping their daughter alive, Matt previously said. Since its inception, the foundation launched signature programs and introduced some new initiatives.

The family got the news that Sarah Grace was diagnosed with cancer on Feb. 7, 2002, when they were told her white blood count was over 1 million.

Sarah required more high dose chemotherapy, cranial and full body irradiation, and a bone marrow transplant while she fought. Sarah’s brother, James, then 10, was a perfect match and donated a liter of marrow to help his sister. Sarah rallied after the transplant and regained some of her strength.

"All indications were we had won the battle," the Weippert family wrote.

Six weeks after transplant, Sarah relapsed and her leukemia was more aggressive than it had been originally.

"Sarah battled fiercely to fight off her disease. She fought hard – and she kept smiling. Sarah never knew how sick she was; she would wake up after each bone marrow aspiration, spinal tap, or surgery and immediately announce, 'I need a craft and a snack!' ... Throughout her illness, Sarah matured into a brave young woman and a courageous fighter who was always smiling and never complained. Sarah had a unique love of life and a strong desire to live. She enjoyed crafts, music, ballgames and in Sarah’s memory we want to ignite that same spark in other children."

The Sarah Grace Foundation provides children fighting cancer with "escape hatch" suitcases filled with fun items; colorful beads; ballgame tickets; holiday parties and activities; outings; and more. It also helps families with financial aid; funeral expenses; meal and transportation allowances; and more.

The foundation recently sponsored a "Spring Into Summer Walt Disney World Vacation Raffle." The fundraiser raised more than $1,900 for the foundation, which sold 116 tickets for a chance to win a five-day, four-night stay in a Walt Disney World Deluxe Studio along with a $500 Disney gift card. The drawing was held on June 21st to coincide with the first day of summer. The winner of the raffle was Natalie Ranallo.

The foundation recently distributed items to pediatric cancer center patients and staff including 20th anniversary drawstring backpacks and penlight flashlights symbolizing that Sarah’s light continues to shine. Additionally, the Foundation has continued its programs including The Escape Hatch, Chemo Duck, book replenishment through Sarah Grace’s Book Angels, spring and summer craft shipments and tickets to New York Mets games.