News & Press

Somerset, NJ -- It's been a four-year climb, but Saint Francis U has finally topped the Mount.

In a record-shattering conference-wide competition, the SFU Red Flash raised $5,820.14 to edge out three-time defending champion Mount St. Mary's for the NEC SAAC Money Wars crown.

“Each year our Student-Athlete Advisory Committee has looked forward to this competition and their success is a testament to their hard work, creativity, and passion for making a difference.  It was a total team effort,” said SFU SAAC advisor John Krimmel.

One hundred percent of the raised funds will go to the Children's Cancer Recovery Foundation. The Harrisburg, PA-located organization assists children under age 18 & their families who are facing the hardships of a cancer diagnosis.

SFU’s first-place dollar amount sets the all-time single-year record for a NEC school since the annual fundraising event began in 2010.

In fact, the top-three finishers in this year’s race all surpassed the record that the Mount set during the 2016-17 academic year.

Mount St. Mary’s most-recent collection efforts yielded a $5,137.59, a 28.3 percent increase over its winning total from last year.

Robert Morris claimed third place in this year’s Money Wars after donating $4,300.00 to the cause.

Collectively, NEC SAAC leaders from the league’s 10 core member institutions raised an all-time high $21,720.75.  That figure represents a 59.1 percent surge from the $13,650 that was contributed during the 2016-17 academic year.

“Winning Money Wars is ultimately exciting because of the difference it makes for the Children's Cancer Recovery Foundation and those that are touched by their efforts...the true winners in this competition,” said Krimmel. “Our student-athletes continue to see the bigger picture in making a difference in the lives of others.  We are so proud of our SAAC and all of our student-athletes at Saint Francis and look forward to continuing this partnership with CCRF!"

Saint Francis U, which last won the competition in 2014, had finished as the runner-up to the Mount each of the past two years.

With the annual collective donation having increased each of the past five years, the NEC SAAC’s efforts have resulted in a total of $88,228.84 being sent to CCRF since 2010.

“I’m so proud of the NEC SAAC members for the incredible dedication and commitment they have shown to the Children’s Cancer Recovery Foundation through the annual Money Wars fundraiser,” said NEC Commissioner Noreen Morris. “The NEC student-athletes continue to out-do themselves year after year, and their efforts continue positively impact so many young children’s lives. ”

About The Northeast Conference
Now in its 37th year, the Northeast Conference is an NCAA Division I collegiate athletic association consisting of 10 institutions of higher learning located throughout six states. Media coverage of the NEC extends to four of the largest markets in the United States - New York (#1), Pittsburgh (#23), Baltimore (#27), and Hartford/New Haven (#30).  Founded in 1981 as the basketball-only ECAC Metro Conference, the NEC has grown to sponsor 22 championship sports for men and women and now enjoys automatic access to 14 different NCAA Championships. NEC member institutions include Bryant, Central Connecticut, Fairleigh Dickinson, LIU Brooklyn, Mount St. Mary’s, Robert Morris, Sacred Heart, St. Francis Brooklyn, Saint Francis U, and Wagner. For more information on the NEC, visit the league’s official website (www.northeastconference.org) and digital network (www.necfrontrow.com), or follow the league on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, Instagram and Snapchat, all @NECsports.

About Children’s Cancer Recovery Foundation (CCRF)
Headquartered in New Oxford, PA., the Children’s Cancer Recovery Foundation improves the mental, social and emotional well-being of children with cancer and their families. The foundation delivers gifts to thousands of children each year through the Bear-Able Gifts program and emergency funds for families of children with cancer through its Helping Hands Fund. With a national pediatric-hospital partner network of more than 215 locations, the foundation directly helps more than 15,000 children affected by cancer and their families each year. For more information, visit ChildrensCancerRecovery.org.

New Oxford, PA –December 22, 2017 – The Children’s Cancer Recovery Foundation (CCRF), a
non-profit organization dedicated to supporting children under 18 and their families facing the
hardships of cancer, announces the appointment of Amy O’Leary as its Executive Director.

She will oversee development, management, and oversight of CCRF, including program services, fundraising, and outreach/public education.

O’Leary currently resides in Abbottstown, Adams County, and is a graduate of New Oxford High School. Her professional background includes experience working with local non-profit organizations, including financial management, human resources, and community outreach. She has been working with various local non-profits as a volunteer for over 15 years.  

“I was first introduced to CCRF when I organized and led a volunteer group with my previous place of employment. It was then that I immediately identified with the mission of the organization. Shortly after, I was asked and graciously accepted the offer to join the Foundation’s Board of Directors. Now being appointed as Executive Director, I am grateful to have the opportunity to expand the Foundation while helping children and their families who are impacted by pediatric cancer. Our New Oxford team is eager to begin growing our organization in such a remarkable community. With my newly appointed role and the New Year ahead, we plan to implement more community-based events. Please watch our Facebook page and our website for announcements. I am looking forward to working with the local community, and am hopeful to establish some partnerships,” said O’Leary.

“We’ve seen first-hand Amy’s work as a member of our board,” said CCRF Board President Martin Dumic. “Amy’s new role as CCRF’s Executive Director is a natural progression and recognition of her abilities.”

How can the community get involved? The Foundation is actively seeking members of the community to join our Board of Directors. If you have an interest, please contact Amy O’Leary or Suzanne Hollenbach. Toy Drives are another area that we rely heavily on the community for assistance throughout the year. Interested individuals and organizations can contact Madeline Clark to schedule a drive. To contact the Foundation, please call 717-688-7940.

About Children’s Cancer Recovery Foundation (CCRF):
Headquartered in New Oxford, PA., the Children’s Cancer Recovery Foundation improves the mental, social and emotional well-being of children with cancer and their families. The foundation delivers gifts to thousands of children each year through the Bear-Able Gifts program and emergency funds for families of children with cancer through its Helping Hands Fund. With a national pediatric-hospital partner network of more than 215 locations, the foundation directly helps more than 15,000 children affected by cancer and their families each year. For more information, visit ChildrensCancerRecovery.org.

New Oxford, PA — November 27, 2017 —The continued generosity of individuals and corporations across the United States has allowed the Children’s Cancer Recovery Foundation’s (CCRF) Bear-Able Gift Program to put smiles on the faces of children living with cancer. Those smiles help to make the life of a child with cancer more bearable and hopeful while receiving treatment.

During the 4th quarter, the Bear-Able Gift Program delivered 5,028 toys and gifts to 26 hospitals across the country to help brighten the lives of 2,465 children living with cancer. Volunteers from GFWC Mechanicsburg and Girl Scout Troop 80093 assisted the CCRF staff in packing and shipping each Bear-Able Gift!

This most recent toy shipment wrapped up the 2017 Bear-Able Gifts toy shipments. With the help of volunteers, CCRF sent a total of 28,333 toys to 10,685 children in 2017!

The Bear-Able Gift Program distributes items such as games, toys, crayons, coloring books, video games, puzzles, books and teddy bears — all kinds of things that make children smile — to hospitals and oncology centers across the country. The program makes CCRF the largest supplier of gifts to children in North America who have cancer. It relies solely on donations of new and unwrapped toys.

There are a number of ways in which individuals and businesses can help support CCRF’s Bear-Able Gift Program; they include sponsoring a toy drive or raising or donating funds. To sponsor your own toy drive, visit childrenscancerrecovery.org/get-involved/sponsor-a-toy-drive. If you would like to donate to CCRF's Bear-Able Gifts Program, please visit www.give-ccrf.networkforgood.com. For more information contact us at 

New Oxford, PA — August 31, 2017 —The continued generosity of individuals and corporations across the United States has allowed the Children’s Cancer Recovery Foundation’s (CCRF) Bear-Able Gift Program, to put smiles on the faces of children living with cancer. Those smiles help to make the life of a child with cancer more bearable and hopeful while receiving treatment.

During the 3rd quarter, the Bear-Able Gift Program delivered 6,499 toys and gifts to 32 hospitals across the country to help brighten the lives of 2,460 children living with cancer. Volunteers from the Visiting Nurse Association of Hanover and  GFWC Mechanicsburg assisted the CCRF staff in packing and shipping each Bear-Able Gift!

The Bear-Able Gift Program distributes items such as games, toys, crayons, coloring books, video games, puzzles, books and teddy bears — all kinds of things that make children smile — to hospitals and oncology centers across the country. The program makes CCRF the largest supplier of gifts to children in North America who have cancer. It relies solely on donations of new and unwrapped toys.

There are a number of ways in which individuals and businesses can help support CCRF’s Bear-Able Gift Program; they include sponsoring a toy drive or raising or donating funds. For more information, please visit childrenscancerrecovery.org/programs/bearable-gifts/, or contact us at 

 

NEW OXFORD, PA - From June 12th to June 17th, Ciocca Honda in Harrisburg, PA held a toy drive to benefit Children's Cancer Recovery Foundation's (CCRF) Bear-Able Gifts program. The toy drive was part of their Team Honda Week of Service. 

CCRF ships to a network of 215+ hospitals each quarter of the year. The Bear-Able Gifts program is in place to bring hope and joy to pediatric cancer patients and their families while they are fighting cancer in the hospital. CCRF holds annual toy drives with WINK 104 and NASH FM around the holiday season to replenish the toy warehouse after a whole year of shipments. However, by holding toy drives throughout the year, we can have a wide variety of toys to ship each quarter. 

Team Honda was able to collect 299 toys valued at $3,500 throughout the week. With this donation, CCRF will be able to send toys to 100 children in hospitals across the country. Customers that donated were entered to win a 4-pack of tickets to Hershey Park and/or Knoebels. On Saturday, July 17, Honda held a cookout to thank their customers and NASH FM broadcasted live from the dealership. 

This was the first toy drive Ciocca Honda hosted with CCRF and it was quite the success! We look forward to working with Ciocca for future toy drives and fundraisers. Thanks to Ciocca's toy drive we will be able to deliver more toys and smiles to children battling cancer than ever before.

To learn more about the programs and services offered by CCRF, visit childrenscancerrecovery.org and check out our Central Pennsylvania map that shows area businesses that are also hosting toy drives where you can stop by and drop off a toy.  You can also email  for more information on how to get involved.

ABOUT CHILDREN’S CANCER RECOVERY FOUNDATION
Founded by a stage IV lung cancer survivor in 1990, Children’s Cancer Recovery Foundation (CCRF) is an IRS recognized 501(c) (3) charitable organization, serving children under age 18. With a national pediatric hospital partner network of 215+ locations, the Foundation directly helped more than 16,000 children affected by cancer in 2016.

To stay up-to-date with CCRF, visit ChildrensCancerRecovery.org and subscribe to the monthly email newsletter.