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The Promise Continues - A Gala Celebrating Ten Years of Saint Agatha Foundation 

Join us to celebrate the incredible legacy of Laurie Mezzalingua, recognizing her vision and celebrating the thousands of women and their families that have received assistance from the Saint Agatha Foundation. Dr. Santo Di Fino, a recently-retired local oncologist and breast cancer survivor, and Juli Boeheim, of the Jim and Juli Boeheim Foundation, will serve as the gala’s co-chairs. Carrie Lazarus of NewsChannel9 will emcee the event. 

Event Attire: Business/Business Casual. 

About the Foundation:

Laurie Mezzalingua, a breast cancer patient for 12 years, established the Saint Agatha Foundation to provide financial assistance to individuals in Central New York State who are afflicted with breast cancer. The Foundation is dedicated to providing support, comfort and care to breast cancer patients through financial assistance programs. The Saint Agatha Foundation provides support, allowing patients to focus on their treatment, not their bills.  

In 2018 alone, the Saint Agatha Foundation assisted 750 women and their families by providing grants to hospitals and organizations in six counties. Over the last decade, the Foundation has provided financial assistance to more than 6,500 breast cancer patients by providing grants in excess of $11 million to local hospitals and partner organizations.

The Foundation thanks our grantees and partners for their commitment to the Saint Agatha program and patients. Foundation grantees and partners include:

• Auburn Community Hospital, Bassett Medical Center, Chenango Health Network, Cortland Memorial Foundation, Crouse Hospital, Mohawk Valley Health System, Oneida Healthcare, Oswego Hospital, Rome Memorial Hospital, St. Joseph’s Hospital Health Center, Upstate Medical University, Camp Kesem, CancerConnects, Francis House, Sarah’s Guest House, Spanish Action League (La Liga), Susan G. Komen for the Cure, Central New York Affiliate, YMCA of Greater Syracuse, and Legal Services of Central New York. 

About the Need:

• The city of Syracuse is one of the 10 poorest places in the United States, according to data released recently by the U.S. Census Bureau. Watertown has a 40% poverty rate compared to 18% in NY State overall. 
• Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers among women in New York State. Each year in New York, more than 15,000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer and almost 2,600 women die from the disease. About 150 men are diagnosed with breast cancer each year in New York State.  The economic impact to breast cancer patients and their families can be devastating.