JMCE raises $25,000 for Hasbro Children's Hospital

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It’s a known fact the Johnston Memorial Cancer Events (JMCE) ranks among the state’s top cancer-related fund-raising non-profits.

The JMCE golf tournament and other related events have raised upwards of $125,000 to help children who are battling cancer at Hasbro Children’s Hospital in Providence.

However, what will be the JMCE’s most ambitious fundraiser ever since a small group of friends started raising money in memory of Laura DeAngelis, Anna Mazzulla and Sal Gelsomino, who succumbed to cancer, has created an extraordinary buzz inside the children’s hospital.

What was supposed to be the JMCE’s annual check presentation to the Hasbro Development Department last Wednesday morning turned into an emotional experience as well as a record-setting donation.

First, JMCE officials presented Michele Branigan, Hasbro’s Senior Major Gifts Officer and Campaign Manager Senior, with a check for $25,000, the most money the Johnston Memorial Cancer Events non-profit has ever raised in a one-year span.

Second, there was what Branigan and Development Associates like Marisa Podbros and Vitoria Bernardo called a “marvelous and memorable milestone” that will enable the JMCE to have an increased day-to-day presence at Hasbro Children’s Hospital.

“Today is special for each and every person who has donated money for various JMCE events,” Linda LaFazia, the Johnston-based group that has a unit at Hasbro named for its three original passing members, told a small gathering in the hospital’s lower lobby. “Today’s check for $25,000 will be part of a five-year commitment we have signed on with Hasbro.”

There was a sudden sound of applause followed by embraces and handshakes from JMCE attendees and hospital officials.

“We have committed to donating a total of $100,000 over the next five years,” LaFazia further explained by saying the day’s $25,000 check will be included in that total. “While we feel this is a lofty goal, it’s one we can follow through on.”

But people who are closely connected with the JMCE have no doubts the $100,000 goal is indeed reachable, especially since the annual golf tourney – which will tee off for its 10th Anniversary Golf Tournament on Saturday, May 6 at Connecticut National Golf Club – is expected to be another sellout.

“We’ll have other special fundraisers as well,” LaFazia said. “Our mission is to keep raising money to help children who are battle cancer as well as to make sure the names of Laura, Anna and Sal never die.”

Meanwhile, LaFazia – as well as Branigan – announced that money raised during the JMCE’s five-year campaign “will be used to renovate not one but two rooms in the kids’ cancer section unit with state of the art upgrades and make the rooms more family friendly.”

She also noted that Hasbro Children’s Hospital is undergoing a renovation process and that “we, the JMCE, are very excited about this outstanding opportunity and as usual the wonderful people at Hasbro who have always been very, very supportive of our organization.”

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