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=Kelly Anne Dolan Memorial Fund=

The ‘’’Kelly Anne Dolan Memorial Fund’’’ (KADMF) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charity that helps families caring for children with serious illnesses, injuries and disabilities. The Fund was founded by Joseph and Margaret (Joe and Peggy) Dolan.

Mission
The Kelly Anne Dolan Memorial Fund helps families caring for children with serious illnesses, disabilities, and injuries. The Fund provides financial assistance for needs not covered by insurance, respite programs, and non-cash items to families in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware; advocates for and provides education and information to families nationwide. The Fund has assisted approximately 25,000 families since its inception in 1976 (1).

Social workers and healthcare professionals request assistance on behalf of patients’ families. Financial assistance is paid directly to vendors, avoiding misappropriation of funds (2).

History
The Kelly Anne Dolan Memorial Fund was founded on October 7, 1976 by Joe and Peggy Dolan (2) who established the organization two days after their oldest daughter, Kelly Anne Dolan, died from aplastic leukemia.

Throughout the five years of Kelly Anne’s illness, the Dolans learned of the hardships parents experience when a child becomes critically ill. Many lose jobs, homes, cars, and other services as a result of the physical time and financial costs of caring for the child. They also recognized that, no matter what the diagnosis, serious childhood illness created the same psychological, physical, and financial instability for families in crisis. The mission of the Fund stemmed from the realization that there were little to no resources to help families in these situations stay "afloat."

Since then, Kelly Anne Dolan Memorial Fund has endeavored to be a resource for families, providing financial assistance, respite programs, advocacy, and education.

Fund Allocation
Funds raised by the Kelly Anne Dolan Memorial Fund are allocated to the following programs:

1. Financial Assistance Assistance is provided for expenses not covered by insurance including utility bills, housing, transportation, adaptive assistance, funeral expenses, and more.

2. Nancy and David Ward Adaptive Assistance Program The program focuses on the needs of children with serious physical and mental disabilities. Assistance is provided for specific items (hearing aids, wheelchair adaptations, adaptive learning materials, computers, toys, and handicap-accessible renovations, etc.), uninsured therapies (horseback riding and swim/water therapy classes) and special disease- or disability-related camps.

3. Respite Events: Family Fun Days Family Fun Days are designed to provide relieve from some of the everyday stresses associated with caring for a child with a serious illness or disability. Patients, siblings and caregivers are invited to attend free of charge.

4. Holiday Adopt-a-Family Program The Holiday Adopt-a-Family program matches families in crisis with businesses, individuals and community organizations that provide clothes, toys, art supplies, bicycles, computer games, and gift certificates for the families.

5. Non-Cash Donations KADMF accepts donations of a variety of items needed by the families served. The donations enable the Fund to increase the amount of assistance given.

6. Education and Advocacy The Fund advocates on behalf of families caring for children with serious illnesses, injuries and disabilities, serving as a voice for change, understanding, and compassion to creditors, policymakers, insurance companies, and the media. A video titled Financial Management During Crisis educates parents about hospital services, the importance of understanding insurance benefits and claims, tips on budgeting and medical record keeping.

Young Friends Initiative
The Young Friends initiative is an outreach program of the Kelly Anne Dolan Memorial Fund. Its stated purpose is to create new partnerships and a sensitivity to the needs of families caring for children with serious illnesses, disabilities and injuries among young professionals in the greater Philadelphia area. By engaging in volunteer and sponsorship opportunities, special events, and networking, young professionals can make an impact on KADMF’s mission and families in crisis.

Awards
Lifetime Achievement Award (2013), to Executive Director Peggy Dolan, from the Philadelphia chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals(3), for her commitment to helping families in need MassMutual Citizenship Award (2011), with Entertainment Cruises, from the Philadelphia Business Journal(4), for a partnership between a business and nonprofit that is making a difference in the community Benjamin Rush Award (2010) from the Philadelphia Psychiatric Society(5) for advancing the cause of mental health Viktor Frankl Humanitarian of the Year Award (2005), from the National Association of Home Care and Hospice