Message from President, Joe Garassino Foundation
Cancer touches the lives of many in our community and it seems we all know someone who is battling this illness or a family who has been affected. Cancer is the epidemic of our time.
In 2013, I lost my only son, Joe, to an aggressive and rare cancer. The Joe Garassino Foundation was established in my son’s memory to help others fighting cancer in the greater Waterbury, Connecticut area. Due to the donations and generosity of our greater community, we have made a real impact in our community. We have donated $93,000 over the last 6 years to help many local people afflicted with cancer including:
- Sean Agunda - 30 years old
- Aiden Bigos - 9 years old
- Nicholas Burgio - 3 years old
- Liam Cahill - 7 years old
- Theresa Combs - 19 years old
- Sheila Cooper - loving wife
- Paul DeCarolis - Fireman
- Angelo DeFeo - 12 years old
- Jennifer Demuro - college student
- Téa Fernandez - 3 years old
- Matty Garcia - 8 years old
- Tim Gavallas - Policeman
- Javier Gonzalez - 16 years old
- Roosevelt Green - 21 years old
- Mitchell Kamph - 20 years old
- Brayden Marrero - 3 years old
- Khloe Martinez - 6 years old
- Ethan McGettigan - 3 years old
- Linval Mills - 14 years old
- Kim Tobin-Mix - mother of two children
- Griffin Moore - 22 years old
- Christopher Norcera - 43 years old
- Greg O’Brien - Communications Supervisor for Watertown Police & Fire Deptarments
- Jacob Roger Poulin - 5 years old
- Duncan Ralicki - 15 years old
- Kathleen Santiso - dear friend
- Jon Seniors - 17 years old
- Andrea Strachan - single mom
- Xander White - 5 years old
- Dorota Wilk - Taft Graduate, CFO Rumsey Hall, Hill School & Hopkins School
Recently Passed Away:
Sheila Cooper
Paul DeCarolis
Jacob Roger Poulin
The Joe Garassino Foundation has also supported local organizations including the Make-A-Wish Foundation, the Harold Leever Cancer Center of Waterbury, CT, the Elizabeth M. Pfriem SWIM Center for Cancer Care of St. Vincent’s Medical Center, Bridgeport, CT, and the TargetCancer Foundation.
The hole in my own heart will never heal, but together we can make a difference in the lives of families in our local community. Thank you for your help, without your generosity, compassion and contribution, none of this would be possible.
Sincerely Yours,
Mike Garassino
President, Joe Garassino Foundation