'Go Gold' For Childhood Cancer: LI's Sarah Grace Foundation Seeks Awareness

HICKSVILLE, NY — The Sarah Grace Foundation is working on several initiatives ahead of Childhood Cancer Awareness Month this September, it announced.

The all-volunteer charity, based in Hicksville, works to support and comfort thousands of children and their families through programs that help combat the struggles of pediatric cancer.

"Every year, over 4,000 children die from cancer," said Matt Weippert, executive director of the Foundation. "Roughly 46 children are diagnosed every day. We are all too familiar with their struggle, and we’re committed to doing all we can to improve their quality of life."

Matt and Marissa Weippert founded the not-for-profit in memory of their daughter, Sarah Grace, who died of acute lymphoblastic leukemia on Nov. 9, 2002. She was 12. The Sarah Grace Foundation has been helping families for 20 years.

The foundation is asking everyone to "“Go Gold For Our Children" and wear a ribbon during the month of September, as a gold ribbon is the worldwide symbol of childhood cancer awareness.

Ribbons can be ordered on the Sarah Grace Foundation website for $10 each.

"Your donation directly supports the programs the foundation runs to support children and their families, such as their hospital Book Carts, Chemo Duck, The Bead Program and toys for families during the holiday season," the foundation wrote.

Throughout the summer, the foundation has been sending crafts and activities to children fighting the disease. It recently provided new filled backpacks and school supplies to nine pediatric cancer centers as part of its "back to school" program. Over the last year, it has also
supported families with reimbursement for grocery expenses, utilities, patient co-pays and partnered with the New York Mets to supply local hospitals with tickets to various Mets home games over the course of the season.

As the weather gets cooler, the volunteers at the Sarah Grace Foundation are looking ahead to other programs, including Halloween Trick or Treat goodie bags; holiday toy drive and annual Holiday Extravaganza raffle, where people can purchase tickets for a chance to win various prizes every day of the month of November.

"The last few years have been difficult for everyone, but especially so on these families who were
already struggling," Weippert said. "Your support means the world to the families we serve and as we look ahead to the holidays and our plans for 2024, we hope to be able to continue
Sarah’s mission that has guided us the last 20 years."

The foundation views its 20th anniversary as a celebration of Sarah and a commemoration of a life cut too short.

"It is a milestone, but difficult to believe we have been doing this for 20 years and that our angel, Sarah, has been gone from us that long," Weippert said. "It has been a recognition of all the positive things being done in Sarah’s memory."

The foundation continues to sell washable face masks in both child and adult sizes on its website.
The masks are gray with a purple heart, purple writing, and are adjustable. You can purchase those, along with a gold ribbon pin or gold ribbon magnet, on the foundation's site.

For more information on The Sarah Grace Foundation, you may call 516-433-9745 or visit the website. Donations or requests for information may be sent to The Sarah Grace Foundation at 17 E. Old Country Road, Unit B, PMB 202, Hicksville, NY 11801.

Anyone who wishes to volunteer or provide support to the foundation in any way may also email matt.weippert@thesarahgracefoundation.org.