Shine Gold 2025

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Please select up to three organizations that you believe should be considered as beneficiaries for this year's Shine Gold campaign. All of these organizations applied and have not been supported in past Shine Gold campaigns.
The Michael Napoleone Foundation: Provides assistance to families facing the financial challenges of a pediatric cancer diagnosis, as well as support for youth activities in our local communities and pediatric cancer research efforts. Any funds received from Shine Gold would go towards assisting families battling pediatric cancer with things such as paying bills, buying groceries or gas gift cards, etc. The MNF team works directly with the Hem/Onc social workers and child life staff in WNY to gather information and take care of families when they need it.
C.A.R.E. at Sillwater Farms: We would use the funds to purchase fruit trees for future bereavement tree plantings as well as be applied to our annual “picnic” day for children treated at Roswell. We supply these children with fresh air and a chef prepared meal. Funds to offset those costs would help us expand our reach. In addition, one of our long term goals is to build a cabin to allow children along with their parents to spend the night here and help with the animals on the farm for life-changing therapy.
Riley's Warriors Inc.: Spreading Holiday Cheer One Room at Time with A Little Piece of Home Lighting the Way. Riley’s Warriors Inc., was founded by pediatric cancer survivor Riley Greene who was diagnosed with Burkitt’s Lymphoma at the age of 12. Our mission is to ignite the magic of the holiday season for pediatric cancer patients and their families. We believe that every child deserves a beacon of hope and happiness, especially during the darkest of times. With love, kindness, and a dash of festive cheer, we deliver holiday room decorating bags that transform dreary hospital rooms into winter wonderlands that feel more like home. Our goal is to bring smiles, holiday magic, and a sense of normalcy to these brave young warriors, reminding them that they are not alone, and that joy is always within reach.
Reagan’s Rainbows of Hope: Reagans Rainbows of Hope aims to bring comfort and joy to pediatric patients in local hospitals in the WNY area. Reagan knows what it feels like to be hospitalized for an extended amount of time, and wants to help brighten the days of others. If selected, we would use the funding received from the Shine Gold campaign to help brighten the days of pediatric patients in WNY hospitals (Oishei and Roswell Park). We would purchase the items for the comfort bags we provide. We also often provide care packages to the parents of these patients.
Wings Flights of Hope: We provide free flights for patients and their families that need to travel for their medical appointments. Funds from the Shine Gold campaign would go to cover operating costs (plane, insurance, fuel, mission coordination), as well as our goal to upgrade our plane. A new plane would provide faster flights for our patients. Wings is Giving HOPE one flight at a time.
Keeley Kares for Kids Inc: Keeley Kares supports children ages 2-13 diagnosed with cancer. We strive to promote normalcy and comfort by providing a cozy blanket, a journal to write about their journey and other various games and activities to keep them occupied during hospital stays or treatment days. One such item is the Purrble companion - a cuddly, interactive tool that helps you find calm in moments of stress, overwhelm, and other big emotions. Funds from the Shine Gold campaign would go towards bag costs and expanding the Keeley Kares programming into areas such as bell ringing celebrations, support for siblings of pediatric warriors, and events for families.
Making Memories That Last Forever: Making Memories That Last Forever provides funds to help patients and their families create special moments as they strive to overcome health hurdles. The foundation also offers financial support to transport the patients and families to other cancer centers in the United States who offer more advanced and experimental treatments. In addition to creating memories, we strive to create lasting relationships with each of the patients and their families. This relationship is at the center of our commitment to give back to those in need of love and support during their battle. Our goal, and with any funds from Shine Gold, is to provide emotional assistance that patient and families need throughout their journey in addition to creating lifetime of memories. If chosen, funds from Shine Gold would be allocated towards the pediatric cancer patients served.
Camp Good Days & Special Times: The mission of Camp Good Days & Special Times is to enrich the lives of children, adults and families who have been impacted by cancer or sickle cell anemia, through summer recreational camping experiences and year-round support services. Funds from the Shine Gold campaign would be used to support and grow our recently-developed program, Guys Doing Things (GDT). When trauma enters the picture, the mental health crisis besieging our tweens and teens is amplified. Our male pediatric population in particular was noted as struggling to find their place, let alone while facing a life-threatening illness, and thus GDT was formed, a program for boys with cancer. Our hope, with your support, would be to plan more activities that allow them to challenge themselves and grow together.
The Carmen A. Campolo Memorial Fund: We assist families battling cancer in the form of financial assistance for medical bills and costs associated with treatments away from home. We have a thorough process that identifies those who are in need of support and currently balancing day-to-day living expenses on top of medical bills. Funds from the Shine Gold campaign would be allocated towards families battling pediatric cancer specifically.
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