The Nemours Fund for Children’s Health, Wilmington, honored Michael and Ericka Hynansky, the Leukemia Research Foundation of Delaware and the Peter Powerhouse Foundation with Inspiration Awards. These awards are given to donors (individual, foundation or corporate) that show outstanding generosity and commitment to the community. Nemours leadership presented the awards at its annual donor reception on December 13.
- Michael and Ericka Hynansky – The Hynanskys pledged $1 million to support cerebral palsy (CP) research at Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children. This donation will establish the Nicholas T. Bracaglia Cerebral Palsy Research Endowed Fund, named for Michael’s cousin, Nicholas, who passed away from complications of CP at age 14.
- Leukemia Research Foundation of Delaware (LRFDE) – The LRFDE has donated a total of $1,125,000 to cancer research at Nemours, allowing Nemours to recruit talent in bioinformatics, resulting in exciting research advances and collaboration with the University of Delaware and Christiana Care Health System. Founder and President, Denni Ferrara, experienced the impact of childhood cancer firsthand when her daughter, Natalia, was diagnosed with leukemia at age 3.
- Peter Powerhouse Foundation – This foundation was founded by Peter Zucca, a two-time childhood cancer survivor. Peter initially raised $40,000 and purchased 200 patient wagons for duPont Hospital for Children. Then, he raised an additional $75,000, which Nemours used to secure Cinemavision goggles, which allow children to watch movies while they are receiving an MRI, which can reduce their anxiety and often allow them to go without sedation. Peter has also donated gift cards, Xboxes, books and toys.
“We are extremely grateful to Michael and Ericka, Denni and Peter for their generosity,” says Cathy Kanefsky, Chief Development Officer of the Nemours Fund for Children’s Health. “Their gifts help Nemours advance our care and their personal and powerful stories inspire us to constantly strive to create a better future for children.”
