After our golf outing ended in the Fall, a participant said that he won a trip in the auction and he asked if Michael’s Way would identify a family who would be able to enjoy it. We just love when this happens because it’s as close to being Santa Claus as we’re going to get!

So, we spoke with social workers to connect us to an Oncology family that would enjoy this weekend getaway. The trip included a two night stay at the Mohegan Sun, two dinner certificates and four tickets to the June 11th NASCAR race at Pocono Raceway.

Savannah is a 13 year old from Lancaster and relatively new to Pennsylvania, as her family recently moved from Kansas City. Savannah was diagnosed with Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (ALL) and is being treated at CHOP. She recently had a birthday and was planning on celebrating at a Carnival near home but she got sick. So, this was the perfect opportunity for her and her family to celebrate with the weekend away.

We heard from her mother, Stephanie, after their trip. She told us that Savannah had a blast! Her favorite part of the resort was watching the horses run around the track and eating at Johnny Rockets. They also went swimming and walked around town. Savannah bought a new stuffed penguin that she could bring to the hospital. At Pocono Raceway, Savannah and her sister got to eat plenty of ice cream and watch Danica Patrick race.

This was the first family trip since Savannah was diagnosed over 9 months ago. We are grateful to those very special people that give back to Michael’s Way and make events like this happen. Thank you to the W Family for treating Savannah and her family to a well deserved trip!

We absolutely could not have asked for better weather to kick off the 2nd Annual Michael’s Way Charlotte Golf Tournament. Last Monday, May 8th, we gathered at the pristine Charlotte Country Club to play a round of golf, eat dinner, raise money for the kids and — oh yeah, meet some Carolina Panthers!

Thanks in large part to safety Kurt Coleman, we had 7 players participate in the daylong fundraiser, including hanging out after golf to meet some very excited children. Families from Levine Children’s Hospital came to the Club for dinner, yard games, and to get photos and autographs with their favorite football players. The Panthers could not have been more kind and attentive, spending the evening tossing the football around, giving out hugs, sharing fist-bumps, and creating lasting memories for the kids.

On top of that, we were able to raise funds and further explain our mission to a generous group of returning friends and new faces. After dinner, Juliet Galton, a social worker at Levine, got up to give a speech about the realities these families face day-to-day, and she knocked it out of the park — or rather, sank a hole-in-one! She said, “The word cancer is the scariest word you will ever have to hear when it pertains to a member of your family. Especially your son or your daughter. I’ve heard it described as ‘an assault on our family’.” There was not a dry eye on the patio. We are so grateful to hear directly from those who work with these children on a daily basis and have them share their knowledge and compassion with us.

Then, we were honored and astounded as Kurt Coleman got up on the microphone to kickstart a round of donations — and he did it all by speaking directly from the heart. He explained to our guests what ‘Fund the Mission’ is: a special part of the live auction that allows participants to directly donate to the families’ most pressing needs. Kurt himself started off with a personal donation of $1,000 to Michael’s Way — and then pledged to donate another $1,000 for EACH interception he makes this season! We were blown away both by his generosity and his desire to make these children a focus the whole season long!

We are beyond grateful to all the Panthers that took time out of their very busy schedules to join us and help create a memorable day for all of the kids and families in attendance. Thank you to Brenton Bersin, Kurt Coleman, Colin Jones, Andy Lee, David Mayo, Jared Norris & Zack Sanchez!

This year’s event raised over $70,000 for Michael’s Way! We could not have done this without the support of our gracious sponsors, our volunteers, and the terrific staff at Charlotte Country Club. We have been given so much by so many generous people in a multitude of ways, and we appreciate all that you do! Thank you for supporting our mission, and remember to keep an eye on our awesome Panther friends this season!

We heard from a Charlotte Golf Outing participant the other day. Mr. Ed Hyman made his first hole in one on the 9th hole at the Cedarwood Country Club in Charlotte, NC. You might be asking why I am telling you this. He sent a picture of the ball that he used and it just happened to be the Michael’s Way golf balls that we gave out at our tournament in May. We were thrilled to hear that we could bring him some luck. To make the story even more exciting, his ball actually hit a tree, bounced on to the green and went in! An unbelievable shot. Congratulations, Mr. Hyman! Thank you for sharing your story with us.

You know it’s going to be a good day when you open your mail to find a wonderful note from an old friend attached to a generous donation. Greg DiPietro used to attend our annual Golf Tournament as a patient and this year he will return as a healthy and thriving adult. Him and his new wife, Kerri, sent us a letter that we would like to share. This kind of generosity is contagious and we wish the newlyweds a lifetime of health and happiness!

Dear Chris McElwee and The Michael’s Way Family,
On April 23rd of this year, I married my now wife, Kerri. Kerri and I were very thankful for the beautiful day it turned out to be! In lieu of favors at the wedding, we wanted to make a donation to a charity.

Given my past interactions with Michael’s Way, in particular allowing me to attend the golf outing (special thanks to Alfred Ferraro for hosting me) and to speak at the dinner after, Kerri and I wanted to give back to Michael’s Way by making this donation!

Kerri and I greatly appreciate the impact you make everyday on the families who’s children are battling cancer! As a pediatric cancer survivor, I can personally attest to the difference your organization makes!

Thank you,
Greg & Kerri DiPietro