Pictured from left to right are Linda Sweeney, Practice Manager, Cancer Center for Kids; Joe Castronovo, Miracle Foundation President; Dr. Mark Weinblatt; Patti Tenaglia, Miracle Foundation Co-Founder; Nicole Almeida, Child Life Specialist, Cancer Center for Kids; Kate Debold, Miracle Foundation Director and Glenn Schifano, Creative Arts Therapist, Cancer Center for Kids. The Miracle Foundation is proud to announce the awarding of a $50,000 grant to the Winthrop-University Hospital Cancer Center for Kids. This gift will fund a full-time Child Life Specialist for the Cancer Center for Kids and brings to a total $150,000 awarded by the Foundation in support of this vital position at the Center. "The role of a Child Life Specialist is critical and allows the child and the family to better cope with the challenges of cancer treatment," explains Kate Debold, Director of The Miracle Foundation. "We are very pleased to continue our support of a specialist dedicated to making the lives of these children a little easier," she added.

The Cancer Center for Kids was created five years ago by Drs. Mark Weinblatt and Philip Scimeca at Winthrop-University Hospital. The Center is Nassau County's only comprehensive pediatric cancer care center and sees about 50 newly-diagnosed children with cancer and actively treats 80-100 patients each year. In addition, there are several hundred patients in active follow-up. "The Miracle Foundation's generous support has been instrumental in allowing our Child Life Program to grow and help ease the difficult trials of so many children with cancer. The work of the Foundation is truly miraculous," stated Dr. Weinblatt.

The Miracle Foundation is dedicated to improving the lives of those diagnosed with cancer and finding a cure for this disease. Integral to its mission are improving patient care, increasing cancer awareness and funding worthy scientific research.

For more information, please call The Miracle Foundation at 516-873-0105, or visit www.miraclefoundation.com.