Many times, a teenager with extended stays in the hospital gets lumped in with the activities for young children. Teenagers have different social needs than children who are younger.
The Alicia Rose Victorious Foundation was created to give teenagers that place just for them.
The ARVF was founded 12 years ago when Gisele S. DiNatale’s daughter passed away at the age of 16 from cancer. The idea for the foundation came from Alicia when she was in the hospital and was disappointed to find there was no place for teenagers to go. To honor her spirit and make her idea a reality, ARVF built a teen lounge for teens 14 years and older at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. Since then, the organization has grown and helped build more than 60 lounges across the country.
“Alicia was full of spirit and life. She wanted to continue to do the normal things that teenagers do. ARVF doesn’t focus on research, we’re focused more on the psychosocial needs and fun things that teenagers can experience while in the hospital,” said DiNatale, director and co-founder of ARVF.
ARVF helps out teens in other ways as well. They put together teen kits for newly diagnosed teens that are full of things that the children can entertain themselves with during their stay at the hospital because many aren’t as fortunate to have these items. About 2,000 kits a year are sent to teens throughout the country.
The foundation has also helped put together activities, pizza nights and even proms for teens who are in the hospital and missed their prom. The ARVF is also helping put together their first homecoming at CHOP.
“They’re doing a really wonderful program with teens there, homecoming for an entire week. Homecoming at CHOP is planned for the week of Nov. 21. There will be a bonfire, a DJ, gifts and sweatshirts. It is a weeklong event. We are really happy to be involved,” DiNatale said.
Coming up in November is ARVF’s celebration of its 12th Annual Birthday Bash, sponsored by PJ Whelihan’s Restaurant Group. The gala, and also the foundation’s major fundraiser, being held on Nov. 14 at Lucien’s Manor in Berlin, will have auction items, but is really a social event where supporters, friends and businesses can come together to celebrate all ARVF does.
Also at the foundation’s annual gala, two individuals will be honored for their exceptional commitment to both ARVF and the local community: Community Champion Assembly Majority Leader Louis D. Greenwald and Corporate Champion Gary Strain, both of Voorhees.
“I’m very honored. It’s very humbling. I got involved with the foundation because I knew Alicia since she was a little girl. She was just such a wonderful kid. She had such a zest for life. She would throw herself into whatever she was doing 100 percent. When Mario and Gisele asked if I wanted to volunteer to help fulfill Alicia’s wishes to have lounges made for teens to have somewhere to stay, I knew I had to help,” Strain said. “The fact that we are able to fulfill Alicia’s dream is the most rewarding thing.”
Strain has been an employee of Safelite for 25 years and serves as vice chair on the Board of Directors for the Alicia Rose Victorious Foundation. He also is a member of the Safelite Charitable Foundation. Through Safelite, he has brought recognition of the ARVF corporately and helped support it through grants over the past few years.
“He gives us his time and talent, and it is and honor for us to be able to honor him. We appreciate that he brings us to attention at a corporate level,” DiNatale said.
Greenwald has represented New Jersey’s 6th Legislative District since 1996. During his service in the General Assembly, Greenwald brought awareness to teen cancer in creating Teen Cancer Awareness Week — an issue he championed after being inspired by the ARVF and its founders the DiNatales.
“Greenwald has been with us and supported us for about 12 years. He has helped us spearhead Teen Cancer Awareness week and bring it to our state senate and state assembly. He is very much present and involved in the City of Hope Cancer Center where we have a teen lounge. He helped to partner us up with them. Representing what it means to be civic minded and community oriented, we feel he champions that for us,” DiNatale said.
Greenwald could not be reached for comment.
To learn more about ARVF or to learn about ways to help out the foundation go to its website at www.arvf.org. The ARVF will also be live tweeting at the event for those who cannot attend so be sure to visit and follow their Twitter or Facebook fan page for event happenings.
