Ron Foley Foundation
2022 Annual Report Vignettes
One Word

Annette Landers: Kindness

 As an employee of Traveler’s Insurance Company, Annette Landers was immersed in a culture of giving back and she enjoyed taking part in many of the company’s volunteer opportunities. So, when one of her co-workers recruited Annette to help a small non-profit that had been created in honor of one of Traveler’s own, she enthusiastically lent her support . Thus, her long-standing relationship with the Ron Foley Foundation was born.

“My first year I was assigned to the Ron’s Run for the Roses silent auction, and I did whatever they needed me to do. And then each year after that I learned more and more, absorbing as much as I could because I was so blown away by everything they were doing. I wanted to be a part of it all!” Now, in addition to working on the auction, Annette helps with everything from stuffing envelopes to mailing out the all-important patient support packages to assisting with other events the Foundation is involved in, such as the Hartford Marathon – and of course, recruiting her own set of volunteers (including her sister Charlene!) to be part of a mission that means so much to her.

“The Ron Foley Foundation touches people in such a special way, it’s like one big family helping other members of our family and spreading kindness wherever they go,” says Annette, noting that even during the pandemic and the additional challenges it presented, the Foundation found ways to be there for those who needed them, for example converting their annual Ron’s Run for the Roses Kentucky Derby Gala into a successful drive-in event. “That’s what family does, they find a way to make things happen for the people they care about.”

According to Annette, the Foundation’s founder, Barbara Foley, has the biggest heart in the world, and her positive energy permeates every event, every sponsor, every volunteer. “It’s just a wonderful organization filled with wonderful people doing wonderful things, and the friendships I’ve experienced along the way are the cherry on top. The Ron Foley Foundation isn’t just changing the lives of the people they help; it changes the lives of everyone involved. Who wouldn’t want to be a part of that?”

Jefferson Radiology: Hope

As the largest radiology practice group in Connecticut, Jefferson Radiology prides itself on providing a level of diagnostic and therapeutic radiology expertise unparalleled in the region. But sometimes those services result in difficult news for their patients – especially those with a pancreatic cancer diagnosis. Which is why partnering with the Ron Foley Foundation since 2012 as both a generous supporter and a Ron’s Run for the Roses event sponsor has been especially gratifying.

“A pancreatic cancer diagnosis is one of the worst things a family can face, and the Ron Foley Foundation gives these patients hope. Knowing support is available and that the Foundation will be by their side to help them live life to the fullest, it has such a dramatic impact on a patient’s outlook,” explains Caroline Leger, Jefferson Radiology’s Marketing Director. “We love working with organizations that are as committed to making a difference as we are.”

Though Jefferson Radiology’s altruism extends to over fifty charities, Caroline is quick to acknowledge the Foundation’s unique ability to find creative and engaging ways to bring people together for a worthwhile cause, sharing “They truly know how to elevate the experience. After each Run for the Roses, I hear from our radiologists how impressed they are with not only the event itself but the sense of community, enthusiasm, and support it engenders. They know they are part of something that is making a difference in people’s lives in a very direct and personal way.”

During his pancreatic cancer Ron Foley was a patient of Jefferson Radiology and after his passing they were honored to help Barbara in her quest to bring more awareness to such an awful disease and provide support and hope to those affected by it. According to Caroline, “I know the enormous amount of work, dedication and love involved in everything the Foundation does. I am so grateful for the opportunity to be a part of their extraordinary generosity to others. Some things just make us bigger than ourselves and supporting the Ron Foley Foundation is one of them.”

Joe Furey’s Story: Gratitude

As a meteorologist for WTNH News 8 covering New Haven and Hartford, CT, Joe Furey is used to making predictions about the weather. But nothing could have prepared him for the storm that resulted when his wife’s cousin Debbie was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer nearly seven years ago while in her mid-40s. “In one short year she went from being a busy, vibrant mother of two, to needing my wife Tracy’s help to perform even the most basic of tasks and passing away almost a year to the day of her diagnosis,” he shares.

While the family did their best to remain hopeful, they all knew the odds weren’t in Debbie’s favor. And because her youngest daughter was only about five at the time, Debbie wanted to make sure the last memories her little girl would have of her were filled with happiness and laughter, not the illness ravaging her body. According to Joe, Tracy left no stone unturned when it came to her cousin’s care, and she tirelessly sought out whatever resources were available to support Debbie in her fight. When she came across the Ron Foley Foundation, Joe said she could tell immediately it was a special place.

“The Foundation was there for Debbie in so many ways, but it was their last gift that really made an impression on me,” recalls Joe. “They organized and paid for a trip to Disney World, creating an experience Debbie and her girls would never forget.” When Debbie passed away a few days after the trip, her loved ones were both overjoyed by the dozens and dozens of smiling Disney photos displayed at her wake. “I couldn’t be more grateful.  It was a gift we could never truly repay, but I decided right then and there I would spend the rest of my life to trying.” Now, year after year, Joe has been the MC “extraordinaire” and auctioneer for the Ron’s Run for the Roses event, helping to not only raise money to support patients and their families but also awareness, especially as the incidence of pancreatic cancer is on the rise. “There are many organizations that lend their support to research and discovering more effective treatments, but what the Ron Foley Foundation provides is so personal and has a direct and immediate impact on these families. I know how much their support meant to us and I want to be a part of doing that for others. Whatever the Foundation needs, I’ll be there.”

 
Laura Donnelly’s Story: Compassion

As an oncology social worker specializing in GI cancers at Smilow Cancer Hospital in New Haven, Laura Donnelly meets her patients and their families at an extremely difficult time in their lives.

Every day Laura spends time with her patients, learning about who they are and the things they love and finding ways and resources to support them on their medical journey. And while all cancer diagnoses can be unsettling and frightening, pancreatic cancer is particularly devastating, which is why Laura is especially grateful for her department’s long-standing relationship with the Ron Foley Foundation, sharing, “As a social worker I have a list of organizations at my disposal to help guide and support my patients, but there are definitely those which stand out, and the Ron Foley Foundation is one of them.”

As one can imagine, finding out they have a cancer with an 11% (FACT CHECK) five-year survival rate is a shocking revelation. In addition to concerns about their health, the financial burden can take its toll, even with insurance coverage. But when Laura connects her patients to the Ron Foley Foundation, she can see how it changes their perspective.

“Being able to offer them a resource dedicated to their support, one that makes them feel so cared for and listens to their more practical concerns, it makes a world of difference to their stress level,” she explains. “And whenever I reach out to the Foundation, without fail, they are easy to get in touch with, responsive, overwhelmingly generous both financially and compassionately, and completely present in their desire to make an impact on someone’s life.”

While Laura is committed to giving every one of her patients 150%, there is only so much she can do for the individuals in her care. Having a place like the Ron Foley Foundation step in on such a personal level is a game-changer. “They have a real understanding and appreciation for what my patients are going through, and as a result the impact they have on their lives, and the lives of their loved ones, is truly remarkable. It’s a blessing to work with an organization that is as personally invested in each of my patients as I am, because they deserve nothing less.”

Michael W. Zaskey, Zasco Productions Story: Passion

When Mike Zaskey, President and Owner of Zasco Productions, first worked with the Ron Foley Foundation over ten years ago, their Ron’s Run for the Roses event only required a few TVs, a PowerPoint presentation, and some basic setup assistance. As the Foundation grew, it relied on Mike’s expertise and support to ensure each successive event was bigger and better than the last, ultimately incorporating a large LED wall screen and utilizing a full array of audio and visual capabilities.  Even covid didn’t stop Zasco or the Foundation for long, with Mike and his team helping to create a drive-in version of the event that was as safe as it was successful.

“Working with the Ron Foley Foundation is definitely a highlight for myself and my team,” shares Mike. “The level of passion we encounter from every single person involved in their event is unparalleled. Yes, we are there to do a job, but we can’t help but get caught up in the energy all around us. These are people who are going above and beyond to help others and you can see their heart in everything they do.”

As someone who works with quite a few non-profits, Mike is always impressed by the Foundation’s keen understanding of how important it is to deliver a quality event. “They recognize the importance of giving their supporters a fun time to thank them for their generosity. They don’t see obstacles, only opportunities for how they can make things better every year, and in turn, help more people. They are tremendously intelligent and thoughtful in the way they approach everything and it really makes a difference.”

Mike is grateful for the opportunity to lend his support to such a worthwhile cause and to an organization that knows how to get things done, saying “I am truly honored the Foundation has trusted me all these years with one of their most important fundraisers. As our relationship has grown, so has my admiration not only for what they do, but the way they do it. I look forward to being a partner in their mission for many years to come.”