Sarah Grace Foundation Of LI Kicks Off Holiday Extravaganza Raffle

HICKSVILLE, NY — The Sarah Grace Foundation for Children With Cancer of Hicksville is preparing for September — Pediatric Cancer Awareness Month — with its annual Holiday Extravaganza Raffle and other events.

Throughout September, the foundation plans to share information about childhood cancer and distribute water bottles and childhood cancer awareness backpacks throughout the community.

The gold ribbon is the worldwide symbol of childhood cancer awareness. The Sarah Grace Foundation is asking everyone to "Wear Gold for Our Children" and support the cause by wearing a gold ribbon during the month of September. People may order their own ribbon on thefoundation website.

"Your donation directly supports the programs the foundation sponsors to support children with cancer and their families," said Matt Weippert, president of the Sarah Grace Foundation.

The Sarah Grace Foundation was founded in 2003 and is named in honor of Sarah Grace Weippert, who died of leukemia in November 2002 at the age of 12.

September is also when everyone goes back to school, and the foundation stated it would like to wish everyone a safe school year while sharing a reminder: Children with cancer are unable to attend school because of severely compromised immune systems, and many of them will be homeschooled or tutored in-patient. Throughout the summer, the foundation has been sending crafts and activities to local pediatric cancer centers, and recently provided new backpacks and school supplies to seven pediatric cancer centers as part of their "Back to School" program.

Foundation efforts were made possible through the collection of school supplies by Marcie Vort and her team at Ray Leventhal Clothing in Plainview, as well as community support for the foundation's online supply drive.

"The foundation is forever grateful to the community and the dedicated teams of volunteers who donate their time to the Sarah Grace mission," Weippert said. "We are incredibly grateful to all our supporters, and our dedicated volunteers who continually partner with us to coordinate donation pickups, sorting and delivery to the children we serve."

Once again, as the weather gets cooler, volunteers of the foundation will be looking ahead to other programs, including their Halloween Trick or Treat goodie bags, their annual holiday toy drive, and holding their annual Holiday Extravaganza Raffle.

"This is the 15th year now that we’ve held our holiday raffle," Weippert said, adding, "It’s a great way to support a child with cancer while also kickstarting your holiday experience."

Tickets are $25 and may be purchased online via the foundation website. Anyone purchasing a ticket will be entered into a month-long raffle with fantastic prizes, including: restaurant and retail gift cards, gas gift cards, cash prizes and more.

Each ticket stays in the drawing for the entire month of November, even if someone has already won, meaning one ticket gives people 30 chances to win. Tickets go on sale Sept. 15 on the foundation website.

As an all-volunteer charity, the foundation has worked with thousands of children and their families providing numerous programs to help combat the struggles of cancer and provide comfort and support to these children and their families.

"Every year, over 4,000 children die from cancer," Weippert said. "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."

Over the last year, the foundation continued to support families with reimbursement for grocery expenses, utilities, patient co-pays, funeral expenses as well as toys and games to provide some normalcy to the children who ask only to be children, not patients in a hospital.

Additionally, the foundation continues to support core programs such as "The Escape Hatch," "The Bead Program," "Sarah Grace’s Book Angels," "Chemo Duck," and more.

"This year has been difficult for everyone, but especially so for 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 2026, we hope to be able to continue Sarah’s mission that has guided us for more than 22 years. While it is a recognition of Sarah’s loss, it is also our ultimate tribute to her memory."

For more information on The Sarah Grace Foundation, people may call 516-433-9745 or visit the foundation’s 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.