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Because of your generosity and support, The Pat Agresti Memorial Foundation has donated over $135,000 to various families and organizations in need. We have touched many lives and continue to #payitforward. 

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Various acts of kindness and financial support characterize this Foundation’s efforts to assist individuals and families facing medical, financial and personal hardships. The Pat Agresti Memorial Foundation provides monetary donations, gift cards, and other aid to those battling illnesses, recovering from accidents, or coping with loss and other areas where help is needed.

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Here are some more examples of “Who We’ve Touched”: 

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• Dinner was sent to a family in our community who experienced the death of their mom. They were beyond grateful for the gesture and told us that something small like this made their day easier and brighter.

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• A donation was given to a local foundation dedicated to the research of autoimmune and blood disorder diseases. This special fund awards grants to institutions as well as individuals focused on the health and helping professionals.  

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• A donation was given to a local foundation which raises funding for pediatric cancer research. They also raise funds to help support families who have a child undergoing treatment and have helped many children and their families affected by this terrible disease. In memory of their daughter, their foundation emphasizes what it means to live like she did by spreading kindness and goodness around to others.

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• Household supplies and amenities were delivered to the home of a family trying to stay strong for a mom battling stage 4 ovarian cancer. The Foundation dropped off cases of water, paper towels, toilet paper, and other home goods and supplies.  When the mom lost her valiant fight, dinner was sent to this family as well as Stop & Shop grocery gift cards.

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• A donation was given to Good Shepherd Hospice. Good Shepherd Hospice provides patients with a variety of services and programs which are geared towards not simply maintaining, but greatly improving quality of life and independence. Good Shepherd Hospice is dedicated to supporting patients and their families in managing their conditions with dignity and ease. The center is designed to be sensitive to the sacredness of end-of life. Good Shepherd Hospice is one of the largest hospice programs on Long Island, caring for up to 400 patients every day. The Hospice Inpatient Center provides a safe haven for those that face challenging end-of-life issues.

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• A donation was given to The Lustgarten Foundation, the largest private funder for pancreatic cancer research related to the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of this horrific disease. 

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• The Foundation provided a donation to The Richard M. Brodsky Foundation. This foundation raises money for an AIDS cure or vaccine, as well as research to benefit those living with HIV/AIDS and to benefit those with brain cancer. The goal of this foundation is to raise America’s awareness that AIDS in an epidemic that has affected the lives of millions of people globally, especially in third world countries. Our beloved pediatrician, Dr. Richard Sartori, travels to Kenya each year to take care of those afflicted with AIDS and to help those with brain cancer. 

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• Stop & Shop grocery gift cards were sent to a co-worker of a member of Pat’s family who is battling breast cancer. She was surprised and thankful as she was unable to work and had experienced a loss of salary. She told us how she was “honored to be part of Pat’s legacy” and promised to #payitforward once she finished her treatments.

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• King Kullen grocery gift cards were given to a family of a young dad with three small children who died suddenly of a heart attack. We found out about this family through a special friend and volunteer for our Foundation and were happy to support this family through their darkest days. In addition, the Foundation was happy to pay for the meal after the funeral for the family. In a true #payitforward mindset, we catered the dinner from Parmagianni, a local restaurant that supplied all of the pizza for our softball tournament.

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• Whole Foods Market gift cards were presented to the family of one of our son’s college classmates. This Connecticut family was devastated when they received the news that their 27 year old son was battling a rare form of liver cancer. They have told us that these gift cards were “perfect as they are at Whole Foods 4x a week, maintaining a healthy diet.”

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• Gift cards to DeCicco's Grocery Store were given to a family of one of our son’s college classmates. This family lost their mom to a rare and sudden neurodegenerative disease, Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD). 

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• A co-worker told us about a family friend, a Suffolk County Police Officer, who was injured in the line of duty. Our foundation sent over Amazon Visa gift cards to assist the officer and his wife with their expenses. Happy to provide an update: this officer is fully recovered and back to work and he and his wife are expecting their first child.

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• One of our family members told us about her childhood friend who recently married the man of her dreams, the smartest, kindest most selfless person she’d ever met.  He was a new doctor working as a neurologist. In the most unimaginable twist of fate, this young doctor was himself diagnosed with glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer. Married less than a year, his wife took a leave from work and was at his side fighting this terrible disease.

  • Our foundation provided Uber and Lyft gift cards to this couple so that they could travel to his appointments and treatments. We also gave them Amazon gift cards to cover other expenses while they were both not working and focusing on his health care.

  • You can read more about this amazing couple here: https://www.udel.edu/udaily/2020/july/jon-finamore-scholarship-premed-philanthropy/  In her thank you note, she said “I hope you know that the amazing work your foundation is doing is life-changing and your gift cards are a saving grace.” She told me that “throughout our journey, we have been amazed by people like you who go through this and come out so positive and ready to help others. I hope to be able to pay forward your incredible kindness and generosity in both Pat’s and Jon’s names.”

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• As a frequent shopper at Fairway Market in Westbury, I had made friends with an associate behind the deli counter. After missing her for several weeks, I was told that she was hit by a car while walking to work and was recuperating at home, unable to work. The Foundation sent her a VISA gift card to assist with her needs while she was out of commission.

 

• A gift card to Parmagianni, our friend and pizza sponsor for the softball tournament, was given to a family who suddenly and tragically lost their dad.

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• Whole Food gift cards were sent across state lines to the family of a co-worker whose brother, a young healthy man, was hospitalized with an aortic aneurism. Happy to report that after several surgeries, he is doing great and back to work and exercising. In his thank you card, he stated: “as I reflect on what I am thankful for, your generous gift of the gift cards stands out as one of the kindest things anyone has done for me. I found it inspiring, knowing that you and your family have been through your own hardships. It gives me courage to see that not only can you get through life’s difficulties, but you can emerge with strength and grace and the ability to help others in Pat’s honor.”

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• Because we love their food as much as their generosity, the Foundation gave a gift card to Parmagianni to a neighbor afflicted with a chronic, debilitating illness.  She had surgery and was out of work while she was recuperating at home.  She wrote us a lovely note saying how she was so sick that she was unable to cook and how her husband was carrying the extra load for months. She added: “ Knowing Pat and his commitment to his family and his community, I hope to continue to emulate those same characteristics.”

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• Amazon gift cards were sent to the family of a co-worker’s friend who lost their dad to esophagus cancer. After a very short battle, the dad and sole provider, passed away. The family was extremely grateful for this assistance.

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• Our Foundation would not exist without the love and support of friends, family and sponsors. One of our long-time family friends lost their dear brother to colon cancer. The Foundation paid for the meal after his burial. The family was able to come together and remember their loved one and was very moved that we were able to assist with the cost of the dinner.

 

• The Foundation made a donation to Adopt-a-Family, providing Christmas gifts to those in need. 

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• To support the church and community he loved so much, our Foundation gave King Kullen gift cards to the St. Agnes Parish Outreach. Sister Kathleen wrote “this gift will enable so many deserving families to purchase the food they need so badly in the coming weeks.”

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• A co-worker of our son lost everything in a house fire.  Our Foundation sent over food as well as a gift card to Uncle Giuseppe’s Marketplace. We also gave this family a gift card to Home Goods. The dad was so touched. He told us he was able replace some of the necessary items which were destroyed. 

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• Uber, MasterCard and VISA gift cards were given to a friend of a family member. Our niece told us about her friend whose cousin was diagnosed with brain cancer. His mom, the sole caretaker, could not manage the financial burden of her son’s illness. Our gift cards helped her take care of her son, pay her expenses and get him to his doctor appointments. 

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• Target gift cards were sent to the sons of a co-worker who passed away suddenly. She was a single parent. People at work rallied with food and cash for the boys. We were told that the sons would greatly benefit from these Target gift cards. 

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• The aunt of a co-worker was diagnosed with colon cancer. She is single and did not have medical insurance. The Foundation sent her a check to assist with her medical costs. She wrote a note simply stating: “Your donation came at the perfect time. I cannot thank you enough!”

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• The Foundation, with the help of Pat's nephew, was able to secure and donate masks and gloves to Mercy Hospital at the peak of COVID-19. Our family friend who is a nurse at Mercy conveyed the hospital staff's appreciation. 

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• A co-workers niece was diagnosed with a rare form of pediatric cancer. The Foundation made a donation to help this family in their time of need. ​

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• The younger brother of a family friend was involved in a serious ski accident. The Foundation donated to the fund started by the family to help cover some of the medical expenses. 

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• A donation was made to Rockville Centre Little League, to support the organization so dear to Pat's heart.

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• A donation was made to the Rockville Centre Little League Challenger Division. The Challenger Division is an adaptive baseball program for individuals with physical and intellectual challenges. 

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• A scholarship has been set up in Pat's name at St. Agnes Cathedral School, where his three sons attended. The scholarship will be awarded to a young man attending Chaminade or Kellenberg who exhibits Pat's charitable and caring characteristics. 

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• When a young man from our community passed too soon, the Foundation made a donation in his name to the Tommy Brull Foundation, an organization to assist those with special needs.

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• A lifelong friend of Pat's niece lost her brother to leukemia. The Foundation sent gift cards to help out the family in their time of need.

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• The Foundation donated gift cards to a friend of the family who lost their husband to pancreatic cancer. 

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• Through National Grid, Mary attended Earth Day at Centennial Gardens in Floral Park. Supplies were purchased from the Foundation to enhance the gardens which honor the lives of the Hance sisters, who died in a wrong way crash.

 

• A monetary donation was sent to a former RVC resident who was a victim of abuse by a parish priest while he was an alter server more than 35 years ago. A foundation was set up to help him heal and assist him and his family financially.

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• A donation was made to the Rockville Centre Community Fund which provides assistance to local individuals and families in need of temporary assistance.

 

• The Foundation supported Bethany House, a not-for-profit that supports women and children by proving shelter and meeting the basic needs of their guests in a safe, home setting.

 

• A long time National Grid friend and co-worker told us about her good friend who is battling breast cancer for a second time. She is in need of financial assistance to help with her living expenses while she is out of work.

 

• We provided a monetary donation to our family friend’s cleaning woman who is battling breast cancer and will be out of work while recovering

 

• The Foundation sponsored a village banner to help beautify the RVC business districts.

 

• Pat’s forever friend told us about her cousin’s son who is battling Stage 4 lung cancer. He is a barber and we sent him Stop n Shop gift cards to help while he is out of work.

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• Pat’s favorite place on earth was the Ocean Club where we made wonderful memories and friends over the years. We heard about a special family whose young granddaughter is battling cancer. We provided Stop n Shop gift cards and Uber Eats gift cards to assist while they are in the hospital. The family was so grateful that they insisted on giving back to our Foundation and so he volunteered to be an umpire at our softball tournament this past September.

 

• Friends who become family … we are so lucky to have special, caring people in our lives. One of these gems sleeps out in the cold one night a year to support Covenant House which provides housing and supportive services to homeless youths. So proud to call you family!

 

• Our Ocean Club family friend told us about a young mom from Malverne with four young children. They lost their dad a tugboat captain in NYC in a work accident. We purchased gift cards from Cross Island Fruit a local grocer. When we were buying the gift cards, the manager said she was so touched by this story that the store donated their own gift card for this family.

 

• My National Grid work family told us about her brother’s father in law. He was a NYC police officer who worked with the bomb unit with a bomb sniffing dog. They worked on the Ground Zero pile for many months and unfortunately he developed colon cancer. The Foundation sent Visa gift cards to help the family while their dad is battling cancer.

 

• Our foundation would not exist without our caring and dedicated volunteers, especially those on the board.  One of our hardest working board members notified us about her doctor’s wife who was diagnosed with lymphoma. We sent gift cards to this family and they were so touched and grateful.

 

• A National Grid friend, an engineer, told me about his co-worker from Staten Island who passed from Covid. He was ready to retire and had just started to battle cancer and succumbed to Covid leaving his wife and four children. We sent gift cards to help the family in their time of need.

 

• Our sons’ pediatrician asked us to once again assist with his travel to Kenya with the Richard Brodsky Foundation, which helps third world countries battle AIDS and cancer. Dr. Sartori advised that our donation would be used to purchase medicine.

 

• A $500 check was sent to the family friend of a NG coworker who is battling breast cancer for a second time. She is alone and went through her emergency fund due to a home flood. She was extremely grateful and wrote us a beautiful and heartfelt thank you card

 

• A check for $250 was sent to the Hance Family Foundation, the Floral Park Family who lost their daughters in the horrific crash. Their program, Beautiful Me, promotes self esteem and empowerment for young women

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• Our foundation purchased a wonderful amount of Christmas gifts through Adopt a Family. One boy, in particular, literally had nothing and asked only for a pair of sweatpants. We got him that and so much more. We were able to purchase gifts for several families which brings us so much joy and makes us appreciate how lucky our families are

 

• A NG coworker lost his home and all his belongings in a fire. We sent him a check for $500 to assist with rebuilding his home for his daughter and grandmother

 

• One of our favorite supporters, Shari, told us about her son’s girlfriend who is a social worker. There is a young boy who was in need of $300 for eyeglasses so we sent a check for that plus a little more to give the boy some extra gifts for the holiday season

 

• Mary and Leeann, our champion of all things volunteer plus the hardest worker I’ve ever seen, went on a toy shopping spree to purchase toys to send to Kentucky ravaged by the tornado.  Matty’s Toy Shop in RVC was so touched by what we were doing, that they even donated some toys

 

• A check for $500 was sent to Experience Camp, a national program for grieving children. There is a one week overnight summer camp as well as other programs. On the day that we donated, there was a match day, so the donation was doubled to $1000, which pays for four campers

 

• Our dear friend suddenly lost a family member to a sudden aortic dissection. This man has three small children under the age of 7. We provided the family with $1000 in Stop n Shop gift cards

 

• The Gallucci’s grandson is an avid sailor, travelling all over the world. We have been asked to donate to the Ukranian Opti sailing team. The Foundation sent $500 to help the kids continue sailing for the rest of the season, since they cannot go home to the Ukraine. The support is used for food, gas and housing.

 

• A team member at S&P of our son Christopher lost his father suddenly. The co-worker is the oldest of five children. We sent gift cards for $250 to this family

 

• Another S&P colleague lost his father in law and our foundation donated $250 to the family

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• The Foundation made a donation of $1250 to the Rockville Centre Breast Cancer Coalition. This amount is given to each woman nd covers special things such as wigs, special clothing and reconstructive surgery.

 

• We always remember and love to support The Mary Ruchalski Foundation. We donated $500 for Mary’s Minions Cycle for Survival which raises money for rare cancer research.

 

• The foundation donated $250 to the RVC St. Patrick’s Day Parade. This organization chooses three charities each year to support.

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• Our friend at PC Richards who is always generous and supportive of our cause, told us about a fire fighter from his firehouse who suddenly passed. We sent a check to help his wife and six children

 

• Three of Mary’s former National Grid coworkers were involved in a boat explosion. Food and grocery gift cards were sent to one friend who was severely burned in the fire.

 

• We are happy to support of the Friend of Mercy 41st Annual Golf Classic

 

• In memoriam and appreciation of our community’s Mr. B on the RVC Rec Center, a donation was made to the RVC Conservancy for a project in Mr. B’s name

 

• Our Foundation is happy to support the Backyard Players & Friends, an inclusive, arts-based community program.

 

• Another National Grid friend asked for assistance for a family member battling breast cancer. We were so happy to help with her medical expenses during her loss of income as she was recovering.

 

• Someone in our community heard of our Foundation and requested financial assistance for a family whose 10 year old was diagnosed with cancer. A check was given for groceries and bills.

 

• Our niece asked for help for her friend’s husband who has esophageal cancer. We provided Wegmans gift cards as well as money for a dog walker.

 

• Christmas was Pat’s favorite time of the year. We continue to love and support the Adopt-a-Family.

 

• Our family vet was saddened when her young niece passed. She has two small daughters. We donated to a trust that is set up for the daughters for their future support.

 

• We continue to support our loving pediatrician as he travels to Kenya to care for young children, with medicine and supplies

 

• Our niece also told us of another friend who’s son was diagnosed with leukemia.  The family was so touched by the gift cards and food delivery

 

• Bethany House does wonderful work with homeless women. We are thrilled to be able to continue to support this wonderful cause.

 

• We were told about a friend of a friend, a single mom who was diagnosed with a rare form of soft tissue cancer.  We provided uber eats, grub hub and door dash gift certificates.

 

• Our nephew’s friend had to have her leg amputated due to complications from her illness. Our Foundation donated funds to help her during a financially trying time.

 

• We are blessed to have people donate various things to our raffles. One sponsor told us about his nephew who suddenly passed from encephalitis. The family set up a Go Fund Me page to assist with funeral and other expenses. We sent a check to the family during their time of need.

 

• We donated to the Atwell Family’s St. Atty’s Day Annual Fundraiser. This year, the recipient was a paralyzed Police Officer. The money we donated will help to build this brave hero a new home.

 

• Speaking with a National Grid coworker, it came to my attention that his friend at work was living out of his car because he sold his home on LI to build a dream house in Florida for his wife, diagnosed with Stage 4 breast cancer. I reached out to this wonderful family and he was beyond touched and grateful for the visa and publix gift cards

 

• I heard about a National Grid employee who travels with his ministry to Belize to help with medical and other needs. He was in tears when I told him we could donate to his wonderful mission

 

• My friend from National Grid told me about his best friend who sold his baseball card collection to help with the medical costs associated with his young daughter’s bone cancer. We sent the family a check to assist with all of their needs

 

• A friend of a family member told us about a business partner who lost his wife to cancer. The family was so appreciative of the donation we sent them to help.

 

• So happy to continue to support our wonderful community by donating to the Rockville Centre St. Patrick’s Day parade.

 

• In my bereavement group, I met a young widow. She has a daughter with a disability and came home to a flooded basement the day she came home from having her hip replaced . She cried when I presented her with a check to help with the restoration

 

• We are happy to be a sponsor of the Rockville Links Babes Against Cancer fundraiser - wonderful cause doing great work.

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• Work of our good work is getting out. I was asked how we can help a young girl who had to cancer her sweet 16 once she was diagnosed with brain cancer.  Along with others from our community, we were able to provide food and transportation to her beloved NY Mets game at Citifield.

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• Our kind and beautiful niece is a schoolteacher in Durham, NC. One of her young students is battling cancer and the Foundation supported his family during their time of need. 

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• A National Grid coworker told us about her 11-year-old nephew who is battling cancer and was hospitalized for many months. His parents took a leave of absence from their jobs and needed help. We provided them not only with a monetary donation but grocery store gift cards as well. 

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• ​A beloved friend and PC Richards employee suddenly passed and we provided a check. PC Richards has been a generous donor to our Tournament raffles every year.

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• Our daughter in law is a wonderful teacher and sadly her classroom aide passed away. We provided a check for her husband and three sons to make things a little easier for them.

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• We heard from my niece that her future husband’s cousin was battling leukemia and the Foundation provided gift cards for groceries and restaurants to help while he was out of work.

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• An Uncle Guiseppe’s food gift card was given to the dad of one of our boy’s good friends who was battling cancer. They were thrilled to use the gift card when their family all got together the day he came home from the hospital.

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• Our Rockville Centre community is truly special. The town came to the aid of a woman who was severely injured in a car accident. Once we heard about this brave woman, we provided gift cards to both King Kullen and Associated. At Christmas time, we purchased gifts for her son.

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• We continue to support the Adopt-a-Family program, purchasing gifts as well as presenting a check so that they may purchase gifts to make the holiday brighter for those in need.

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• The Foundation is happy to help sponsor our pediatrician as he travels to Africa every year volunteering to help children. The money we give him helps to purchase medical supplies and other necessities.

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• A beautiful family friend told us about a young woman battling breast cancer. We sent a check to help cover the cost of a cooling cap and wig.

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• PO Diller sadly lost his life in the line of duty. We contributed to a foundation set up for his wife and young son.

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• SIBS is a place in Baldwin set up for children 5-17 living with a sibling with cancer or other medical illness. We were so impressed with their facility as well as the good work they are doing, we were happy to provide a substantial financial donation.

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• We provided financial support to the family of our hard working and dedicated board member when he lost his niece to cancer.

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• RVC is a special community and we miss one of the small business owners in Town. We sent a check to his family to help with their needs after his passing.

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• Our son heard about one of his classmates from college who had a terrible accident. The Foundation is so happy to send him a check for transportation to and from rehab.

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• It is with tremendous pride and joy that our family attended the St. Agnes Cathedral Elementary School graduation mass and present the scholarship to a deserving young man.

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• When someone young passes, it is always hard but even harder when it is someone you know and love from the most wonderful family. We gave a check to help them during this hard time.

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• A National Grid friend and coworker’s son arrived three months prematurely. We sent a check to help cover the commuting and parking costs to and from the NICU as well as groceries and other costs while he took a leave of absence.

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• A member of our Ocean Club family has an infant daughter who was having health issues. They lived at the hospital for weeks and were so grateful for the check during this time.

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• The Foundation is blessed to have friends and family who help support us with time, talent, raffles and monetary donations.  One such friend, a retired schoolteacher, was contacted by the family of a former student who passed and his family needed help with his funeral expenses. 

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• Groceries were purchased for a wonderful family friend who fell on vacation and was hospitalized with many injuries. The family was so grateful for the love and support.

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• A very sad story of a young man from Massachusetts who was killed in a tragic accident came to our attention. We sent a check to the foundation set up in his memory.

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• One of our board members neighbors fell sick and was out of work and we happily provided a check to help her during this trying time.

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• A member of Mary’s bereavement group, Widowed Not Alone, was being evicted from her apartment with her wheelchair bound son. We sent a check to help them secure a new living place.

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• Grocery gift cards were given to the hospitalized dad of a family who generously donates one of our silent auction items every year.

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• We shopped til we dropped and purchased groceries and supplies to donate to Lindenhurst Fire Department hurricane relief.

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• Our son’s friend’s brother suffered a severe spinal cord injury which left him paralyzed and in tremendous pain. We helped finance to send him to a state of the art pain management facility.

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• One of our lovely friends who was battling breast cancer was so honored to receive gift cards for dinner for her and her family.

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• We are honored to support a young woman who had a brain tumor and is battling back in rehab so that she may continue in medical school.

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• We couldn’t run this foundation without the love and support of so many. One of our biggest cheerleaders is such a wonderful guy that he donates his time and money to Covenant House, where he sleeps out in support of homeless youths. We are so happy to sponsor him each year.

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• We know that Pat would be so proud to help those he knew and loved and even those he never met. We know he is so happy that we helped a dear family friend during a very trying time.

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• Another member of Widowed Not Alone was no only evicted, but her car was repossessed, and she therefore could not get to work to pay her rent. She was beyond grateful for the financial assistance.

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• We have mentioned how much Pat loved St. Agnes Elementary School. When one of their schoolteachers lost her husband and is searching for a kidney donor we immediately sent a check to help her and her two sons get by.

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• Heard about a young man, a veteran, who lost his wife in a hit and run accident and shortly after that, his young son was diagnosed with brain cancer. We hope our donation will help father and son.

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• Sadly, we heard of another young woman diagnosed with breast cancer. She was so touched of our generous donation while she recuperates.

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• One of our son’s friend’s moms suddenly passed and we sent a check to help with the funeral expenses.

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• Through our RVC community, we learned of a local chef who needed surgery and was out of work and did not have insurance. We are hopeful that our donation helped him get back on his feet.

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• When Bethany House put out an urgent request for help for one of their members who just had surgery, we purchased and delivered what this young woman needed to help her recovery.

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• We made a donation to Madeline’s Mission for the young daughter of a RVC police officer. May God bless Madeline and her dad.

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• A longtime friend battling stage 4 lung cancer is beyond grateful to the Foundation for paying for a cleaning service for her home as well as groceries while she is in treatment.

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• The following are organizations and foundations which we support annually:

  • The Rockville Centre Breast Cancer Coalition

  • The Kenneth Pribil, Jr. Foundation

  • RVC Community Fund

  • St. Agnes Cathedral Scholarship

  • Bethany House

  • The Mary Ruchalski Foundation

  • The Jillian Daly Foundation

  • Adopt-a-Family

  • The RVC St. Patrick’s Day Parade

  • RVC Little League

  • Global Hope International

  • RVC Basketball League

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