Fund Recipients
SAMANTHA LORENE CALAFIORE MEMORIAL FUND, INC.
Our SLiCe of Heaven

Donation of a defibrillator to a Passaic County high school.

Donation of a defibrillator to a Morris County grammar school/church.

Morris County family with two children dealing with the tragic loss of their mother.

Bergen County family handling the needs of their daughter born two months
premature and with a rare disorder.

Passaic County family installs a wheelchair lift for their nine-year-old son who has
been diagnosed with spinal muscular atrophy at the age of two.

Morris County family starts up an organization to provide information and support to
families dealing with catastrophic illness or injury.

Warren County family whose eleven-year-old daughter is recovering from radiation
therapy after being diagnosed with brain cancer.

Warren County family needing specialized education so that they can more
productively challenge their four-year-old autistic son.

Passaic County family handling the needs of their daughter who has a rare liver
disease.

Morris County family whose eight-year-old son was diagnosed with a rare form of
leukemia, which includes two types of the cancer.  Most importantly, the disease is
now in remission.

Morris County family whose eleven-year-old son was diagnosed with leukemia.  Their
church sponsored a bone marrow drive and he is going through chemotherapy.  (With
much sorrow, Sept. 2004 he passed away)

Donation of a defibrillator to a Morris County grammar school which, including the
regular classroom regiment, also has a class for special needs children.

Morris County family whose thirteen-year-old son needed a bone marrow transplant
after being diagnosed with leukemia.

Morris County family whose seven-year-old son was diagnosed with a brain tumor.  
Their son has endured surgery, staph infection, a feeding tube, and chemotherapy.  
He is learning disabled with permanent vision impairment.  He has been able to return
to school with assistance from his aid.

Supported a Morris County family, including their eleven-month-old daughter, thru
Morris County Operation Holiday program 2003.  This program aids less fortunate
families and families trying to overcome emotional and physical abuse.

Supported NJ athletes with disabilities, by participating in the Special Olympics 21st
Annual Torch Run 2004.  

Sponsored a Morris County five-year-old boy who participated in a Buddy Walk to
benefit his school.  His school is designed to support the needs of exceptional children.

Passaic County family dealing with the devastation of their three-year-old son stricken
with a severe form of bacterial meningitis.  The boy has endured a coma, strokes,
seizures, kidney failure and potential brain damage.  He has a very long road in a
rehabilitation program where he will have to relearn his motor skills

Morris County family whose ten-year-old son was given a life saving liver transplant
after being diagnosed with end stage liver disease.

Sponsored a Morris County resident as she participated in a walk for her five-year-
old niece who was diagnosed with neuroblastoma.  She is receiving large doses of
chemotherapy and is in need of a bone marrow transplant.

Supported four families thru the Morris County Holiday Operation Program 2004.  This
program aids less fortunate families and families trying to overcome emotional and
physical abuse.  Also thru this program we were able to donate 18 Samantha Bears
to share with the children.  

Supported a Morris County 5K memorial run/scholarship fund to honor a seventeen-
year-old girl and her family after her sudden death at her school.

Morris County family whose son has been battling a very rare and aggressive
cancer.  Found evidence of further cancer on his liver and lungs.  He has gone thru
heavy chemotherapy, two surgeries, cat scans, and weekly blood work.

Aid a Passaic County family as they try to overcome the loss of their home to an
accidental fire, more devastating, the loss of two of their children.

Morris County family as their seven-year-old son was diagnosed with an inoperable
brain tumor.  He will require a minimum of 30 radiation treatments, followed by
chemotherapy.  

Donation of a defibrillator to a Bergen County high school.

Supported NJ athletes with disabilities by participating in the Special Olympics 22nd
Annual Torch Run 2005.  

Middlesex County family whose three-year-old son has been diagnosed with a
cancerous tumor that has entwined itself around his kidney and adrenal glands.  He
has been undergoing chemotherapy and radiation to shrink the tumor so they can
operate.  As a result of the treatments he is weak and cannot make the journey home.
He will stay in the hospital until he gets stronger.  

Hudson County family whose four-year-old son has been diagnosed with leukemia
and has been going thru chemotherapy and continual testing.  

Support a Morris County charity fund as they raise monies to aid ailing NJ
youngsters.  The family that started this fund had gone thru their own battle.  Their
son was diagnosed with leukemia eight years ago.  Now the family, along with their
son, want to give back after all the support they have received over the years.

Passaic County family as they continue to give their eleven-year-old son the
equipment that’s required for him to receive the exercise he needs.  At the age of two-
years-old the boy was diagnosed with spinal muscular atrophy.

Morris County family whose nine-year-old daughter has been diagnosed with
neuroblastoma, a rare form of cancer.

Passaic County family whose seven-year-old son requires occupational therapy after
being diagnosed with sensory integration disorder.  This disorder gives him difficulty
with balance, perception and coordination.  Since being able to continue his therapy,
he is now learning to ride his bike.  

Gloucester County family whose seventeen-year-old daughter was diagnosed with
pancreatitis which led to an extended hospital stay, blood transfusions and a period of
time on a ventilator.  She has endured several surgeries including the removal of her
gallbladder, pancreas, spleen, partial colon and small intestine. She is currently home
recuperating and will have to have another surgery in two months.

Essex County family whose two-year-old son has been diagnosed with a rare
disease in which white blood cells are above normal in the intestinal tract.  If not
treated, scar tissue forms.  He is unable to eat solid food and needs prescription
formula for nourishment.  Several times a year he has to go out of state for treatments
and the costs are extensive.

Supported five families thru the Morris County Holiday Operation Program 2005.  This
program aids less fortunate families and families trying to overcome emotional and
physical abuse.  

Morris County family whose two-year-old boy was diagnosed at one year old of a
rare genetic disorder that affects energy producing cells in his body.  There is no cure
and the disease has not been extensively researched.  He has visited three hospitals
hoping to find treatment and cure.

Morris County family whose son at the age of ten years old had a life saving liver
transplant.  (At that time, the Samantha Fund was able to give financial support to the
family).  Now, at the age of twelve, their boy is in need of another transplant.  A duct
connected to the new organ is leaking causing reoccurring bacterial infections in his
blood stream.  

Morris County family who created a foundation devoted to raising funds for pediatric
cancer research and patient and family services.  Their foundation is named after their
son who was diagnosed with leukemia in 2003.  (At that time, the Samantha Fund
was able to give financial support to the family).   Unfortunately, their son passed
away when he was eleven years old due to complications caused by a virus.  

Morris County family whose five-year-old boy was diagnosed with ALL type
leukemia.  The little boy has two years of chemotherapy ahead of him.

Supported a Morris County high school and a Morris County family as they started a
yearly scholarship fund in memory of their sixteen-year-old girl who was murdered in
a neighbors home.    

Three Warren County families who lost all their belongings in a condo house fire.  

Supported a Morris County camp that has been operating for 57 years.  The camp
runs five sessions every summer and is free to youngsters who are blind, visually
impaired or have multiple challenges ages five to eighteen.  

Sussex County family whose 55-year-old father was stricken with a rare form of
meningitis (neisseriameningitis).  He and his wife are parents to twelve children.  He
now resides in a rehabilitation institute in Essex County.

Passaic County family whose thirteen-year-old boy had surgery to have a tumor
removed and tests showed it was not cancerous.                                

Supported ARFC (Aids Resource Foundation for Children) in Essex County.  Their
mission is to provide cost effective family-centered services to children coping with
the impact of HIV/AIDS.  In September 2006, the Samantha Fund chose to donate much
needed school supplies to their after school program.

Passaic County family whose boy has cystic fibrosis.  

Supported a Morris County family after a drunk driver killed their mother one mile away
from home.  All three of her children (15, 14 and 10 years old) were in the vehicle with
their mother.  The children were hospitalized with injures and since have been
released.   

Supported MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Drivers), which will go toward all the NJ
MADD Chapters.  

Morris County family in dire need to have their home modified in order to make it
handicapped accessible.  The family has three-year-old triplet boys born with bilateral
Periventricular Leukomalacia, precursor to cerebral palsy.  Also, their mother was
recently diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.

Passaic County family whose six-year-old girl was born with a low red blood count.  
She also had a problem with her pituitary gland and she was not growing normally.  
Because of this, her muscles and bones were weak and she was unable to sit up.  
She stopped speaking and at the age of two she couldn’t walk because of poor
balance.  Her sensory area of the brain has deteriorated and there has been no
diagnosis and no known cure.  Currently, no further atrophy has shown in her
cerebellar region of the brain.  

Morris County family whose two-year-old girl was recently diagnosed with a brain
tumor.  She is undergoing chemotherapy.  

Bergen County family whose son has “late infantile” batten disease, a neuro-
degenerative disorder.  As yet, there is no cure and no extensive treatment.  

Sussex County family whose four-year-old daughter was diagnosed with leukemia.
(Sadly, she passed away this past fall).  

Monmouth County family whose baby boy was diagnosed prenatal with severe aortic
stenosis, the narrowing or obstruction of the hearts aortic valve.  Five days after
birth, he suffered a partially collapsed lung.  Eight days after birth he had a heart
transplant.  

Bergen County family whose 11-year-old son has an inoperable brain tumor.

Passaic County family whose one-year-old daughter was diagnosed with acute
lymphoblastic leukemia.  She has undergone weekly chemotherapy treatments and in
the fall had a bone marrow transplant.  

Bergen County family whose father died suddenly leaving behind his wife and four
young  children, one who has been diagnosed with cerebral palsy.

Ocean County family whose three-year-old daughter was diagnosed with
communication and motor speech disorders.  She cannot communicate and is learning
sign language. She needs speech therapy and the costs are high and not covered by
families insurance.

Supported a Passaic County family with the cost of funeral services for their six-year-
old daughter after she was struck by a car just steps away from her home.  

Morris County family whose father died suddenly leaving behind his wife and two
small children.

Passaic County family whose nine-year-old boy has been diagnosed with sensory
integration disorder.  He has difficulty with his perception, coordination and balance.  
He needs occupational therapy on a regular basis.

Morris County family whose 12-year-old daughter was diagnosed with chronic
myelogenous leukemia.  She underwent brain surgery and is going thru
chemotherapy.  A bone marrow drive was held to help find a match.  

Morris County family whose 13-year-old son was diagnosed with leukemia.  At the
time, his sibling was a bone marrow match.  

Passaic County family whose father died suddenly leaving behind his wife, who has
advanced stages of multiple sclerosis, and five children, the youngest being 11-years-
old.   

Morris County family whose 16-year-old daughter has a rare brain disease.  This
disease causes the blood vessels to wrap around the nerves causing shooting pains
throughout her face.  She has undergone surgery and more brain surgery is likely in
the future.  Because of the pain she can no longer attend school.   

Essex County family whose two-year-old son was diagnosed with leukemia.

Bergen County family whose five-year-old son was diagnosed with Duchenne
Muscular Dystrophy.  

Supported five families thru the Morris County Operation Holiday Program 2007.  This
program aids families trying to overcome hardships, illnesses and emotional and
physical abuse.  Also donated 12 Samantha bears to be distributed.  

Morris County family whose 10-year-old daughter was diagnosed with acute myeloid
leukemia.  As the family deals with their daughter’s needs, the father was diagnosed
with cancer and in need of seven weeks of radiation.

Morris County family whose 5-year-old daughter was diagnosed with leukemia.

Bergen County family dealing with their son’s neuro-degenerative disorder.  As yet,
there is no cure and no extensive treatment.

Sussex County family whose mother passed away leaving two sons and a husband.
A fund was started to support the future education for their sons.

Morris County family whose 7-year-old son was diagnosed with mitochondrial
disorder, which causes damage to cells of the brain, heart, liver, kidney and
respiratory system.

Passaic County family whose 12-year-old son became severely disabled after being
hit in the chest by a baseball sending him into cardiac arrest.  He is under going
advanced medical treatments and various types of therapy costing astronomical
amounts of money.

Supported five Morris County families thru Operation Holiday 2008.  Operation Holiday
aids families trying to overcome hardships, illnesses, emotional and physical abuse.  
We also donated 12 Samantha bears to the children of the families.

Morris County family whose 4-year-old daughter was born with severe trachea
malaysia.  She has undergone seven procedures in the last four years.  She is
undergoing rehabilitation therapy and has already begun to show signs of recovery.

Morris County family whose 7-year-old boy was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic
leukemia over three years ago.  The mother left her job after her son’s diagnosis.  This
young boy has conquered three years of treatment.

Essex County family whose 4-year-old daughter was diagnosed with kidney cancer
and had to have one kidney removed.  She’s undergoing weekly chemotherapy and
her Mom has taken a leave of absence from her job.  The cancer was diagnosed early
and her prognosis is positive due to her Mom’s vigilance.

Bergen County family whose 8-year-old boy was diagnosed with a rare form of
childhood cancer.  The boy needed surgery, followed by chemotherapy and radiation.
The prognosis with treatment is excellent.

Hudson County family whose 13-year-old daughter had lacerations to her spleen and
kidney and then had to have her kidney removed after an accidental sleigh riding
accident.

Morris County family whose 1-year-old daughter was diagnosed with chronic kidney
disease.  She has undergone many medical procedures and will receive dialysis until
she is old enough to receive a transplant.

Sussex County family whose mother died after being diagnosed with lung cancer and
two inoperable brain tumors.  She leaves behind her husband and their 11-year-old
quadruplets.  The mom’s two greatest wishes were for her families’ home to be
secure and for her children to have the opportunity to go to college.

Bergen County family whose 4-year-old daughter was born with a rare congenital
brain disorder.  This disorder has left her with speech delays, not able to walk, not
able to eat solid foods, and she suffers from severe seizures.  She is currently
undergoing extensive genetic testing to determine any underlying disorders
.
Supported NJ athletes with disabilities by participating in the Special Olympics Annual
Torch Run 2008

Warren County 6-year-old girl diagnosed with brain cancer. She completed 30
radiation treatments and underwent homeopathic treatment.  Sadly, in November 2009,
this beautiful girl passed away.

Essex County 3-year-old boy diagnosed with Dravet Syndrome, a rare and severe
seizure disorder. He suffers from multiple seizure types, developmental delays and is
non-verbal.

Passaic County 6-year-old boy diagnosed with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. This is
a severe recessive form of MD characterized by rapid progression of muscle
degeneration, eventually leading to loss of ambulation.  

Morris County 13-year-old boy diagnosed in 2008 with a cancerous brain tumor.  He
has endured surgery, radiation, chemotherapy and blood transfusions.  

Passaic County 5-year-old twins who lost their mother unexpectedly. Their father has
endured their loss while coping with his own disability.

Sussex County 2-year-old girl born with an extremely rare eye disease called Peter’s
Anomaly, which has left her essentially blind. She underwent 2 corneal transplants,
has had 12 surgeries in 21 months, and additional surgeries are pending. She has
developed some vision but it is limited at best. The family travels to NY at least once a
week and the little girl is currently on seven different eye medications.

Monmouth County 14-year-old girl fighting osteosarcoma (bone cancer). She has
undergone chemotherapy after multiple surgeries, including one to save her femur and
one to remove a tumor from one of her lungs.

Supported Essex County’s AIDS Resource Foundation for Children, specifically, their
Academy Street Firehouse after School Program. This after school program for
grades 1-12 provides a safe and nurturing environment while supporting children in
academics, enrichment, cultural development and psychosocial services. Most of the
children come from low-income families affected by HIV.

Passaic County 2-year-old girl diagnosed with stage-4 neuroblastoma. She is
presently undergoing chemotherapy and requires regular blood transfusions.

Morris County 8-year-old boy who suffered a severe traumatic brain injury. He is
wheelchair bound and deals with other serious issues. With a portion of our donation,
the family purchased a massage chair for him.

Morris County 9-year-old boy with severe autism, which required his mother to leave
her job to care for him and to make sure he receives therapy and medication.  

Bergen County 6-year-old boy diagnosed with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.
Muscular Dystrophy is a broad term used to label gene-related disorders that affect
muscles throughout the body.

Passaic County 2-year-old boy born with Cerebral Palsy. He is currently undergoing
very expensive therapy that is not covered by insurance.

Sussex County 14-year-old girl diagnosed with Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia.
Presently, there is no cure and a drug found helpful in treating this disease along with
routine blood testing is not covered by insurance.  

Passaic County 6-year-old boy with meningitis who has had two major strokes that
have left him with right side paralysis and substantial hearing loss.

Bergen County 6-year-old girl with a brain tumor. Over the past several years she
has had chemotherapy and radiation. Many of the drugs needed for her quarterly
MRI’s are minimally covered by medical insurance.

Supported Morris County Operation Holiday, a very closely monitored organization that
assists families in need during the Holiday Season. The children’s wish list consists
mostly of clothes and the parents ask for necessities such as gift cards to food and
clothing stores. The Samantha Fund chooses families each year where the need is
focused on the children. This year the Samantha fund was able to give generously to
seven families.

----A grandmother taking care of her 11-year-old granddaughter since infancy. The child
was recently diagnosed with seizures and had a severe allergic reaction to the
medication causing Steven Johnson Syndrome, a life threatening condition, which
causes painful blisters over the body.

---A single, disabled mother who provides a home for her 16-year-old son who has
cerebral palsy.   

---A single mother who suffers from traumatic stress as a result of abuse she received
as a child. She is motivated to recover and make a better life for her 14-year-old boy.  

---A single mother who recently was injured and unable to work who is trying to
support her 14-year-old boy and 9-year-old girl.  The family has had to rely on the food
pantry and in jeopardy of losing their home.  

---A single mother of four children, ages 4, 10, 15 and 16 who was recently was laid
off.
---A single parent receiving inconsistent child support for her 11-year-old son has to
utilize the food pantry.

---A grandmother living on a fixed income while being the sole guardian of her 12-year-
old grandson.
Recipients are listed in chronological order and
the list is updated yearly to coincide with the
release of our annual newsletter.
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