Massapequa Family Honored For 'Paying it Forward' at Irish Eyes Gala

MASSAPEQUA, NY - A foundation started by a local Massapequa family was honored by the Kelly Cares Foundation, established by Notre Dame head football coach Brian Kelly and his wife Paqui, at its 6th Annual Irish Eyes Gala on Monday.

The Massapequa-based KeiraStrong Foundation, which supports families going through pediatric cancer treatment and other life threatening diseases, was honored among others including: John W. “Jay” Jordan, Notre Dame Trustee and Co-founder of the investment firm The Jordan Company and Jerome “The Bus” Bettis, professional football Hall of Famer and Founder of The Bus Stops Here Foundation, at the New York City event.

The foundation, which received the "Spirit of Giving Award” at the event, was created by the family and friends of local resident Keira Enright after she was diagnosed with leukemia in 2012 at just 7 years old.

The KeiraStrong Foundation fundraises through annual golf outings and lacrosse tournaments.

Keira’s parents, Jim and Heather Enright, both teachers and proud parents of their three children - Keira, her twin Connor, and their younger brother Aiden, were extremely honored to receive the award.

"Four years after our daughter Keira was diagnosed with leukemia, it is an incredible honor to be recognized by the Kelly Cares foundation," Heather said. "We were on the receiving end of an incredible amount of support and generosity from family, friends and colleagues as we faced the challenges of childhood cancer. Now we are fortunate to be on the giving end and our goal is to give back to organizations that provide support to families facing childhood cancer. We think of Paqui Kelly and how she too went from receiving support to giving it and that truly is what the spirit of giving award symbolizes to us."

Keira, now 11 years old, will celebrate her second anniversary of being treatment-free in May.

"KeiraSTRONG was started by the generosity of our friends and family who began to fundraise in any way to help us get through this difficult time," Jim said. "So when we (Heather and I) finally sat down a few months into our daughters cancer battle, we decided to Pay it Forward- and show Keira how something positive could come out of something so difficult."

This past summer the foundation, which carefully selects where they donate based on where they believe the money will make the biggest impact, donated $10,000 to the Make-a-Wish foundation in New Hyde Park.

KeriaSTRONG has also donated to Sunrise Day Camp–Long Island, the world’s first full-summer day camp for children with cancer and their siblings.

According to Jim, when Keira attended camp there, "a miserable morning getting sick would turn into a cheerful afternoon with her talking about her friends, swimming, and arts and crafts."

“I could not be more proud of the work the KeiraStrong Foundation is doing to relieve the burdens felt by families who are facing such difficult situations while fighting pediatric cancer,” Paqui Kelly said. “When I first met Keira I was amazed by her maturity and everything she has endured in her young life. As survivors, we will always have a special bond, and I applaud the entire Enright family.”

At the event, Keira received a signed Taylor Swift guitar as her family cheer her on, after the foundation was honored.

The gala raised a total of over $1 million to support causes locally, nationally, and globally.

Photo 1 by Stuart Ramson/Invision for Kelly Cares Foundation/AP Images

Photo 2 and 3 from the Make-a-Wish donation courtesy of the Enright family