Anthony’s Avengers DIPG Foundation

We are so excited to announce that this year’s 4th Annual Swing For the Stars HomeRun Derby was our most successful yet!

⭐️We raised over $9,000 this past weekend!⭐️

⚾️Thank you to all of our sponsors for your generosity and support, this would not have been possible without you!

⚾️Thank you to our amazing volunteers who made this day smooth and amazing! A special shout out to our wonderful Volunteer Coordinator, Mary Kate!

⚾️Thank you to those who registered and participated in this Sunday Funday, and for showcasing those swinging skills. You helped us raise money to fund pertinent research for pediatric brain cancer. We hope you had a blast and can’t wait to see you next year!

⚾️Thank you to those who came out to cheer our hitters on, and donated to our raffles and split the pot. We are so grateful you chose to spend your day at the park with us.

⚾️Thank you to Nicky V's Mt. Greenwood for always supporting our community’s little cancer warriors.

Congratulations to our 2024 Home Run Derby Champions:
🏆Brennan (8 & Under)
🏆Liam (9 - 11)
🏆Patrick (12 - 14)
🏆Jack (15 - 19)
🏆Ryan (20 & Up)

We are forever grateful for the love and support shown by so many. One day, we will find a cure!

We are absolutely blown away by the support of this community. Jack’s 10th Annual Lemonade Stand was a huge success. Thank you to those who stopped by last week and to those who contributed in other ways.

This year Jack raised $2,314.15 for pediatric brain cancer research!!!

Jack, Shane, and Dawn….there are no words to express our gratitude for all that you do. You continue to support and walk beside us in this fight. We are forever grateful for you! Jack, thank you for being the best friend a boy could ever ask for. You continue to keep Anthony’s memory alive through the work you do to find a cure for DIPG. 🧡🍋🧡

Volunteers make everything possible. We are so grateful to this group that made yesterday’s event a HUGE success. Thank you!!! 🧡🧡🧡

Set up has begun…….
Sunday Funday kicks off at 11am
4th Annual Swing For the Stars HomeRun Derby

Our dear friends from Tom Hopkins Foundation have been a pillar of support since Anthony’s diagnosis. We are so grateful to have them as this year’s Walk-Off Sponsor for our 4th Annual Swing For the Stars HomeRun Derby. Thank you for your generosity and support in our continued fight, and thank you for all that you do for so many in our neighborhood.

Thank you to 19th Ward Youth Foundation for their Grand Slam Sponsorship in our 4th Annual Swing For the Stars HomeRun Derby this year! Matt O’Shea and the 19th Ward Offices have always been a part of our journey and battle from the beginning. They continue to help us in our mission for a cure. Thank you!!

We are so grateful to have Cody's Public House Chicago return as a Grand Slam sponsor for this year’s 4th Annual Swing For the Stars HomeRun Derby! Thank you for continuing to support our mission to find a cure for pediatric brain cancer. WIth your help we will make a difference!!

Thank you to the incredible Barraco's Mount Greenwood for their returning Grand Slam Sponsorship at our 4th Annual Swing For the Stars HomeRun Derby! The Barraco’s family has always supported our fight since Anthony was diagnosed, and they continue to support our cause to find a cure. We are forever grateful for all they do for the members of our community. 🧡🧡

To the amazing and incredible Class of 2024…THANK YOU!! We appreciate your continued support, and most of we are so grateful for the way you continue to remember and honor your classmate. It means the world 🌎.

A huge shout out to Fagor Arrasate for their Walk-Off Sponsorship to our 4th Annual Swing For the Stars HomeRun Derby!! This business has a been a top supporter since 2017, and we are immensely grateful they continued to support us in our mission to find a cure. THANK YOU!!

Thank you International Union of Elevator Constructors Local 2 for your Grand Slam Sponsorship to our 4th Annual Swing For the Stars HomeRun Derby!! We appreciate your generosity and support in our fight for a cure!

Thank you to Jack Richardson, Anthony’s amazing friend, for his sponsorship this year! Jack continues to work hard raising money for research, in honor of Anthony. Come out this Tuesday, July 30th, for Jacks 10th Annual Lemonade Stand to help . 🍋🧡

https://www.facebook.com/share/GikFwkVkuZmX2vs8/?mibextid=9l3rBW

A huge thank you to our returning 4th Annual Swing For the Stars HomeRun Derby Walk-Off Sponsor, Lunettes! We are so grateful for the continued support our local businesses show us. Lunettes and their staff are some of the most amazing, we appreciate you!! 🧡 👓 ⭐️

Today is an extremely difficult day. The day our entire world broke. Nine years ago, marks the day that DIPG entered our lives. My bright, beautiful, amazing Anthony went from living a normal life to fighting a battle for his life. I hate this day. I hate brain cancer. I hate DIPG.

BUT…Through all the hate, the anger, the rage, the sadness, the grief, and the anxiety comes the drive and motivation to continue this battle. I am determined to keep saying his name, to keep his memory alive, to keeping fighting for a cure, and to see the good and be the good. 🧡

Through all of these feelings I feel so fortunate to see the good in others and in the world. Our family is immensely grateful for the support over the years, and for the continued support in our fight against the worst kind of monster.

Thank you to all of you, for walking with us these 9 years. These have been the hardest years of our lives. We are forever thankful for each and every one of you.

A huge THANK YOU to the amazing Nicky V's Mt. Greenwood for their Walk-Off Sponsorship to our 4th Annual Swing For the Stars HomeRun Derby! Not only are they sponsoring but they will be in their food truck at our event! We love our local businesses and are so grateful for the support in our cause to find a cure for pediatric brain cancer!! 🧡🌭⭐️🧡

Thank you to our friends at Kellys Tavern Chicago for their Grand Slam Sponsorship this year at our 4th Annual Swing For the Stars HomeRun Derby! We are so grateful for their generosity and support in our fight against pediatric brain cancer. If you’re in the Canaryville area, be sure to stop in for a cold one!!

We would like to thank another returning Walk-Off Sponsor to our 4th Annual Swing For the Stars HomeRun Derby, Loop Clerking Service! We greatly appreciate your continued support in our cause to fight DIPG. THANK YOU!! 🧡

Thank you to our returning Walk-Off Sponsor for our 4th Annual Swing For the Stars HomeRun Derby! Christmas Without Cancer NFP is a wonderful organization that helps hundreds of local families dealing with the devastating battle with cancer. CWC has supported our family not only through Anthony’s battle, but continues to support our fight against pediatric brain cancer. They truly fulfill the meaning behind, “No one fights alone”.

We are absolutely blown away and forever grateful to Mount Greenwood Elementary School Principal, Ms. Reidy, and Assistant Principal, Ms. Rogers. Yesterday the Class of 2024 graduated and Anthony was made to be a part of this momentous occasion. Ms. Reidy had Anthony’s cousin, Patrick, walk me up to receive Anthony’s 8th grade diploma. From the 8th grade tshirts made with Anthony’s name, to the diplomas on the bulletin board which included him, to the yearbook, to the orange pins his classmates wore with their gowns, and a saved seat at graduation with his own diploma. There are no words to even begin to describe how heartfelt and meaningful this is to our family.
Thank you for making this day extra special.
Thank you for remembering him.
Thank you for honoring this special boy.
Thank you for saying his name.
Congratulations to Anthony’s friends and classmates! He is smiling down on all of you.
Remember to SEE the good, and be the GOOD.
🧡💙💛🧡

On the eve of what would be Anthony’s 8th grade graduation, we were able to do something very special in his honor. We gifted the Hem/Onc 17th & 18th floor patients with donations of superhero items that were so graciously collected by the wonderful women of and in the fall of 2024. Even better, Anthony’s NP, Megan, was able to greet and accept these donations on behalf of the kiddos on this floor. We talked of how happy and proud he would be knowing that these donations would bring smiles to the faces of kids that really need it. Today was a GOOD day. We love you Anthony.

Words cannot adequately express how our hearts feel seeing these pages dedicated to Anthony’s life in the school yearbook. We are so beyond grateful to Mrs. Reidy, Mrs. Rogers, , the yearbook committee, and Anthony’s teachers and classmates. Thank you for remembering Anthony. Thank you keeping him a part of your graduating class. We absolutely love this 🧡

Remembering and honoring those who served our country and died for our freedom. ❤️🤍💙

Today is DIPG Awareness Day. A day to spread awareness and shine light on this awful pediatric brain cancer that takes the lives of too many.

We have some spots open for this fundraiser, if interested!

⚾️Memorial Day Baseball Square Pool!⚾️

$50 entry due by May 26th

Entry for:
🖤🤍Sox VS Blue Jays
❤️💙Cubs VS Brewers

🎟️Each entry ALSO gets their name placed in raffle for 4 Gold Box tickets to White Sox vs Red Sox game on June 7th

🟧Square Pool info sheet posted in comments.

Comment “me” if you want a spot!

Venmo $50 to: -12Days
PayPal:
PM for Zelle

Last week Anthony’s grade had an 8th grade boys volleyball Pack the House. I can’t begin to express just how much this night meant to us.

They honored Anthony with his own jersey, gifted me with a Mom tshirt with Anthony’s sweet baby face on it, and allowed me to speak about Anthony and tell his story to all who attended.

Our hearts are full knowing that his friends still remember him, think of him, and continue to honor him.

Thank you to the parents, especially the moms, who put this together and made us feel included in your special night for the boys.

Thank you for donating the split the pot proceeds to Anthony’s Avengers DIPG Foundation, they raised $283!!!

We also came home on Sunday to find a yard sign for Anthony being part of Mount Greenwood Elementary School Class of 2024.

We are beyond grateful to live and be a part of such a wonderful neighborhood and school community.

Thank you for keeping Anthony’s memory alive and for continuing to say his name.

It means the entire world. 🧡🧡🧡