JOE PARRELLO

Every year, we have the privilege of recognizing individuals who have made significant contributions to funding research for childhood cancer by presenting them with the "Heart of Gold" award. This year, we are proud to honor Joseph Parrello with our annual "Heart of Gold" award in recognition of his exceptional philanthropy and unwavering dedication to making a difference. Joe's tremendous support for the TLC Foundation has helped us advance scientific breakthroughs, offering hope to countless families. Beyond his contributions to TLC, Joe's generosity extends across the entire community where he lives and works, impacting countless local initiatives. His love for his family, his compassionate leadership, and his commitment to giving back embody the true spirit of this award.

WHITNEY SIMMONDS

When she’s not composing, teaching music, or directing, Whitney enjoys cooking, baking, video-chatting with her nephew in St. Kitts, and playing ice hockey. Whitney has been collaborating with TLC board member Jen Derocher and the Ty Louis Campbell Foundation on the Rockin’ for a Reason fundraiser for the past eight years. Through Whitney's love of music and working with students, the show has grown to feature student bands from towns across central Massachusetts and Rhode Island, has included faculty members and local musicians, and developed into a central part of the Nipmuc music program. For Whitney, providing students with professional-quality concert experiences and partnering with the TLC Foundation and the important work being done has been an incredible opportunity. Rockin' for a Reason could not be the success that it is without Whitney.

About the Beneficiary                                              

The Ty Louis Campbell Foundation is a nonprofit organization (EIN: 45-1858390) that funds innovative research and clinical trials specifically geared toward the treatment of the most aggressive childhood cancers. Our mission is to help fund the intelligence and technology that will improve long-term survival rates and minimize side-effects for children diagnosed with the deadliest cancers, while helping to care for families when their child is in treatment by providing financial assistance and uplifting experiences.

Pediatric cancer is the number one cause of death by disease among children. It doesn’t discriminate. It happens at random sparing no ethnic group, socio-economic class or geographic region. There is no known cause or prevention for most childhood cancers. One out of five children diagnosed with cancer will not survive, and the average age of death is only eight years old. Take the average life expectancy in the United States of 78 years old and that’s 70 potential years of life lost for each child that succumbs to the disease.

Children with cancer are most often treated with the same exact chemotherapies that are administered to adults – but sometimes at higher, more toxic doses because children’s cells regenerate faster. In the past 20 years only three new cancer drugs have been approved that are specific for pediatric cancer, yet, the incidence of invasive pediatric cancers is up 29 percent over the course of those same 20 years.

Pediatric cancer patients are robbed of their childhood fighting this disease.  Then, 65 percent of those who do survive more than five years suffer severe, long-term side effects as a result of the treatment they endured at such a young age. Ty Louis Campbell, for example, was unable to walk or play with his toys for two years – even when he was cancer free, because of how badly the treatment harmed his little body. He became paralyzed from head-to-toe and ultimately died in his parent’s arms after a valiant fight.

The reality of childhood cancer is simply too painful to imagine unless you’ve lived it. Increased awareness drives increased funding to support new medical research. There simply needs to be better treatment options for children.