In Memory of Leah | Announcing The Leah Ellis Memorial Wrapping Party
Hello Friends and Family,
On January 14th, the world lost a beautiful light when 12-year-old Leah Ellis lost her courageous battle with brain cancer that she fought bravely for four years. Leah and her family have been dedicated supporters of Caring for Children for many years. Elena, Leah’s Mom, started supporting the effort a dozen+ years ago while working at CDM Smith. When Elena began working for the City of Melrose, she enthusiastically shared the Holiday Effort with her new friends and colleagues. They have generously been supporting Caring for Children for the last 9+ years.
Elena, the point person for her group’s annual effort, has been bringing the gifts to the Wrapping Party with her family for the last 9 years. The entire Ellis family has been passionate participants at the Wrapping Party through the years, wrapping any last gifts at the event and watching Leah and her older brother Jack play basketball and eat holiday cookies with the other children.
Even when Leah got sick and was weakened by the treatments, the family still supported the effort and attended the Wrapping Party. When I think of Leah, I picture her playing basketball with Jack at the WP. Even though she was moving gingerly, she had an ear-to-ear smile on her face, enjoying every moment of her time at the party.
This is what Caring for Children has meant to Leah and the Ellis family through Elena’s words:
“Our involvement with Caring for Children was always a family effort. The kids were involved in the shopping and in getting all the wrapped gifts ready to deliver to the field house in Lexington. It was always a special outing for the family…because Leah loved running around inside the field house, throwing or kicking balls, dribbling, and shooting baskets. She also looked forward to the Bertucci’s pizza, pasta, and rolls. In the last four years when Leah was sick, we all gained a different appreciation for the help we were providing to the families we were supporting. There was never a question that we would continue our efforts to provide for these kids despite our own challenges. Leah was constantly thinking of others, even on her hardest days.”
For these reasons and many more, the Caring for Children Board has unanimously decided to permanently name the Wrapping Party – The Leah Ellis Memorial Wrapping Party. Even in her abridged time with us, Leah demonstrated many times the love and empathy she had for others. When she sat on Santa’s lap to make a wish for her last Christmas, what she asked for was happiness for the world and for everyone around her.
I believe love and empathy for others are the core principles on which Caring for Children has been built. They are the driving force behind the thousands of sponsors and monetary donors who participate every year. That is why we were so honored and thankful that Leah’s family—Elena, Neal, and Jack—agreed to have the Wrapping Party permanently renamed The Leah Ellis Memorial Wrapping Party.
Please visit the new Wrapping Party page on our website to read more about Leah and the Wrapping Party renaming…AND…to see some photos of Leah and her family at the Wrapping Party through the years.
Sincerely,
John
John Iovieno
Founder, President and CEO
Frank and Rosemary Iovieno Caring for Children Foundation
jiovieno@frankccc.com
