Celebration of Life

Abington— 4.21.16 — On Friday, April 8th, the Ukrainian Educational Center in Jenkintown was filled with over 300 supporters, volunteers, recipients, and friends of The Breathing Room Foundation. The Breathing Room Foundation’s cornerstone event, Celebration of Life, remembers Diane Fitzgerald, co-founder of the organization, and honors an outstanding volunteer.

This year’s winner of the Diane Fitzgerald Award for Volunteerism was Ed Furlong. Ed volunteered over 450 hours in 2015 alone, making more than 225 of meals, gift cards, clothing, comfort bags and holiday gifts throughout the city of Philadelphia.

“It is not unusual to find Ed sitting on a stoop in Philadelphia, talking to a cancer patient and their family.”, Mary Ellen Fitzgerald, Executive Director of The Breathing Room Foundation, commented. “He goes above and beyond to show our recipients that someone cares.”

Speaking on behalf of the organization was Mark Burstein. He and his wife, Stephanie, told the crowd about the overwhelming support The Breathing Room Foundation provided for their family, as their youngest child, Jacob, battled cancer at the age of 1. Jacob is now a healthy, cancer-free, two year old!

Along with enjoying Philly-themed food from Innovative Catering Concepts, the caterer for Pope Francis’ visit to Philadelphia, guests danced to the music provided by Bare Knuckle Boxers and D. J. Bob Mills, of Philly Event Group, struck a pose in the photo booth donated by Chariot Valet, and took their chances on more than fifty raffle baskets and a 50/50. The Single Volunteers of Bucks County lent their time and talent to make this another successful night!

Presenting sponsors were Lincoln Investment and The Waldele Family Foundation, Inc. Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Helweg and Rowland Funeral Home, Plumbers Union 690, Eventricity, Westphal Solutions, and Personal Touch sponsored the event as well.

Over $21,000.00 was raised this year at Celebration of Life. The Breathing Room Foundation will use these funds to provide families in the Philadelphia region struggling with cancer with utility bill payments, groceries, medical expenses not covered by insurance, transportation to and from treatments, and more. It is the goal of The Breathing Room Foundation to provide their families with whatever it is that will allow them a bit of “breathing room” from their daily struggle against cancer.

To donate to The Breathing Room Foundation or to volunteer, you can visit their website, www.breathingroomfoundation.org or call 215-277-1006.

The Breathing Room Foundation

The Breathing Room Foundation is best characterized as neighbors helping neighbors impacted by cancer. Established in 1997 by the Fitzgerald family as a way to thank the community for the support they were given during Diane Fitzgerald’s six year battle against breast cancer, the Breathing Room Foundation has grown from supporting seven families the first year to serving 1,285 families in 2015. Our mission is to provide care and support to families affected by cancer. We recognize that a cancer diagnosis affects every aspect of a family’s life: emotional, physical, spiritual, and financial. We strive to provide a family with whatever it is that will allow them a bit of “breathing room” from their daily struggle against cancer. It is our hope that this will allow them to concentrate all of their efforts towards regaining their physical health. www.breathingroomfoundation.org

For more information, press only:

Susan Kennedy

susan@breathingroomfoundation.org

215-277-1008

For more information:

www.breathingroomfoundation.org