3rd Annual Billy Keane Foundation Event

5k/1 mile family fun run/walk – Ridley Creek State Park, Area 17, Newtown Square, PA

On behalf of all of our Board, I wish you all many blessings in the coming year!  We all thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your support this year, and for giving us the opportunity to help so many people.

I was given the task of summarizing our many stories of giving to post on our website.  For the Billy Keane Foundation, we believe it is important that you see the good that is being done with your donations.  I find it interesting that we really don’t have to look very far to reach out to our community.  Every one of the families and individuals that we have helped are either “friends of friends” or family members of someone amongst all of you, our BKF donors.   This organization is really like one big family that is here to show love and support to each other when we need it.  I am honored to be a part of something so special!

When members of the Board are informed by our Gifting Committee that we have helped someone, we all feel this warm sense of fulfillment.  It is a truly amazing feeling!  There truly is more joy in giving, than in receiving!  I hope you all have this same feeling when you read this, Continue reading →

Two and a half years ago, Lisa Forlini drew strength from her family and friends during her battle with breast cancer.  Her husband, Jamie, and their three children, Meghan (a sophomore in college), Connor and Ian (both in high school), were beside her while she bravely fought and beat the terrible disease.  Lisa and Jamie returned to their lives of teaching and coaching swimming and diving for Maplewood Swim Club and Centennial Aquatic Club.  The young children that they coach learn from Lisa and Jamie about personal best and sportsmanship at every practice.  They have given so much to the community.

This summer, Lisa was having back pain and was struggling to walk.  After some testing in July, Lisa found that her breast cancer has returned and has metastasized to her bones.  X-rays showed that Lisa has a compressed fracture in her back along with six cracked vertebrae of the spine.   The cancer has made her bones very weak and easily broken.  Lisa will be enduring chemotherapy to treat this cancer.  She is a fighter and she has no intention of letting cancer win this battle!

Due to her injuries, Lisa is confined to the first floor of her home.  The Billy Keane Foundation has provided the Forlini Family with the funds necessary to remodel a powder room on their first floor into a fully functional bathroom for Lisa.  Not only will she will be able to use her handicap-accessible full bathroom with ease and comfort, but more importantly, without the risk of fracturing her very brittle bones.

Thank you for donating to the Billy Keane Foundation!  You have helped to make life a little easier and a great deal safer for Lisa!

THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!

On behalf of the Billy Keane Foundation, we would like to thank you for making our fund raising event, featuring Joe Conklin, a HUGE success!  We had an amazing turnout . . . standing room only — over 200 people!

Those that attended, those that donated, those that purchased auction items, and those that simply remembered Billy helped his legacy endure. It was truly a great night for an even greater cause!

The highlight of the evening was seeing, hugging, and catching up with so many of you, friends and family, all connected somehow through Billy Keane.  We loved being able to share stories about Billy once again, talk about how much we miss him, and in the end, do something amazing for the Philadelphia community.

Through your generosity, we were able to raise close to $50,000! Wow. We are so blown away.  We feel so blessed to have been given these proceeds and to directly help those that need it.

Now we need your help further.  Please help us reach out and make a difference!  As you hear of individuals or families in crisis, please think of the Billy Keane Foundation.  Please fill out a nomination form, or, pass our website along to someone who can complete the nomination form for a person or family who needs our help.

We look forward to posting more stories soon, about how the Billy Keane Foundation has made a difference, because of your generosity!

Continue reading →

The Billy Keane Foundation has several exciting announcements this month.  Before hitting the great work the foundation is doing, we want to announce that our annual fundraiser has been finalized!  Joe Conklin will be performing a night of comedy on June 11th  (please go to the “2011 Fundraising Event” link to find out more).  Also, we have officially received our 501c3 designation, so keep those corporate matching donations coming!

Now on to the works the Foundation has been doing over the past few months.  With the support of our donors (both individual and corporate), we have been able to help another family.  We know you will be touched by their story below.

Dan Webb

Dan is married to Missy and has two young daughters,  Jessica (10),  and Katie( 7).  Dan and his brother work in construction and are avid hunters and outdoorsmen.  He lives in Southampton (Bucks County), PA.    On October 4, 2010, Dan was deer hunting, and his deer stand collapsed.  He fell about 15 feet, and broke his 9th and 10th thoracic vertebrae.  They were able to surgically repair his vertebrae, but there was also a contusion to the spinal cord, which at this point in time, leaves Dan with no feeling in his legs, and in a wheelchair, which we pray will be short term.

Dan’s long term prognosis is still unclear, but he continues to make progress and work hard every day at Magee Rehab Center, to gain strength and use of his legs.  He is working so hard and is so loved by his family and friends that are supporting him.  We know you can do this Dan! 

The BKF has stepped in to make life a little bit easier for Dan and his family, by installing a much needed chair glide to the second floor of his home.  Dan will now be able to sleep in his own bedroom, a room he has not seen in 5 months! 

This is exactly the kind of help that makes the BKF seem so worthwhile.  If you are one of our donors, congratulations on being able to help Dan and his family in this way.  Your donations have helped make Dan’s life just a little bit easier!  Thank you! 

Keep working hard Dan!  You can keep up with Dan’s story on his caring bridge page at  http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/danwebb.

Patti Lariccia

Patti has been blind for most of her adult life.  Yet, she continues to give of her life, to others.  When you hear her story, you will feel so good that as a BKF donor, you were able to help Patti out . . .

(excerpt from letter from Patti to BKF)

“I am totally blind and own my house in Clifton Heights. I have a full time job as a Vision Rehab Therapist and I’ve been in this job for 22 years.  As a Vision Therapist, I work with newly visually impaired adults in teaching them daily living and communication skills so they can regain their independence.  I travel every day on public transportation with my faithful dog guide, Finigan.  I put my safety in the paws of this little golden lab every day.  He’s great and is my 5^th guide dog over a 25 year period.

I had a fall down some steps in my house last August and I broke both wrists.  I had surgery and am slowly recovering.  Unfortunately, right now, Finigan is staying at the school he came from since I can’t work with him yet.  I’m receiving OT and hope to be back with him by February. “

Because of her broken wrists, Patti  cannot use Finigan to get “to and fro” right now, and she has incurred excessive transportation costs to get to work every day.  Patti is in need of help, in paying some very important bills.  We are so glad that we are able to help you, Patti, so that you can continue to help others, and continue to be this amazing person that you are!  We hope your life is back to normal quickly!

God Bless all of our donors, who felt it in their heart to give to our organization.  Thank you to these recipients, who allowed us to share their stories, so that we can all  see the good things that have come from being a part of the Billy Keane Foundation. 

Billy would not only be proud, but would be blown away, by all that we’ve done in the past year in his name!  We can’t wait to see what lies ahead in 2011 and beyond . . .