Sammy Ortiz, an 11-year-old patient of Stony Brook Children’s Hospital, and his family were nominated for our program by their medical social worker. At 4-years old, Sammy suffered an illness that led to encephalitis with severe neurological devastation (nonverbal) and became wheelchair-bound. The doctors informed the family that Sammy was expected to be bedbound with limited function in movement and would require total care.

Through his parents’ persistence, they have obtained the services and equipment to afford him every opportunity to progress and have meaningful movements. Some equipment was covered through their insurance, but much of his adaptable equipment was not. Committed to giving Sammy every opportunity available, his parents have taken loans to secure all items and equipment that are beneficial to his well-being and recovery.

The family relocated to a school district that has been instrumental in providing Sammy with adequate academic support to further his functional progress. Despite the odds, Sammy can walk with two people’s assistance and is able to minimally gesture with physical/facial movement. He recognizes the familiar faces of those who are frequently involved in his care.  However, he still requires total care and 24/7 shift nursing as he still suffers from minor seizures throughout the day and cannot be left unsupervised.

On April 24, 2022, the family faced yet another devasting challenge.  A fire destroyed their apartment unit and all of Sammy’s expensive adaptable equipment and supplies. Grievously, all family items were lost. Stony Brook Children’s Hospital’s discharge planning team has been working with supply companies and insurance companies to replace his basic supplies. However, the adaptable equipment (that the family is still paying off loans for) that has been so beneficial for Sammy’s progress unable to be replaced by the hospital. For the first time, the family found themselves without a stable home and unable to provide for their basic needs. They qualified for emergency housing, but it has limited accommodations for a family with a special needs child.

CMM Cares Support

With the help of our donors and fundraising efforts, CMM Cares has been able to offer the support need to help this family get back on their feet and relieve some of the financial burden of replacing all that was lost in the fire.

CMM Cares purchased Sammy a brand-new Sit to Stand lift, which is an assistive device for patients who do have some mobility but still need help moving from one position to the next. This piece of equipment ensures Sammy’s parents and aides can safely support and transfer him as needed. This specific piece of equipment retails for over $3,000, and without renter’s insurance at the time, Sammy’s original lift was lost in the fire.

Also lost in the ashes was Sammy’s adaptive tricycle which has proven instrumental and beneficial to his daily care. Adapted sports bicycles enable children and adolescents with physical disabilities to improve leg strength, posture, balance and range of motion. While not a medical necessity, replacing Sammy’s Rifton Adaptive Tricycle has given him back the opportunity for exercise and recreation and to experience the joy and freedom of independent movement.

Another piece of equipment that Cares purchased on behalf of the Ortiz family is a hygiene and toileting system that serves as both a as both a toilet and shower chair.  The commode system is designed to improve the health and lives of clients and caretakers and because it accommodates toileting, showering and bathing, the Rifton HTS eliminates the need to buy separate equipment for each activity, making it versatile in their tight space.

In addition to replacing equipment already proved beneficial to Sammy’s care, CMM Cares fulfilled the Ortiz Family’s biggest wish, to make their new apartment feel like a home. With a small grant from Bob’s Discount Furniture Foundation, we purchased new furniture to furnish their home. The Ortiz family now has a new dining room table with chairs, new dressers, nightstands, and mattresses. We were able to go even a step further and purchase items beyond the basic necessities, such as winter coats, boots, lamps, a television, and even a new Christmas tree, giving them a renewed sense of comfort as they replace all that was lost.

A special thank you to Stony Brook Children’s Hospital for nominating and introducing us to this incredible family, to MedMart for helping source the medical equipment, to Bob’s Discount Furniture of Nesconset, and our CMM Cares Board for their support of this family. We wish the Ortiz Family the very best in the future and hope we have made a lasting impact on Sammy and his parents.

If you’re interested in helping us support this family with in-kind donations, and financial support for our plans, or if you know local businesses that may be interested in participating, please contact Victoria at vtringone@cmmcares.org.

Meet our other family for this year!

The five members of the Stelmashcuk Family are Ukrainian refugees who have shown strength and perseverance through the unimaginable. Having fled their home in war-torn Kyiv, they are now trying to rebuild their lives here on Long Island. Click here to watch their touching video.

Nataliia Akinina, born in Ukraine and a legal permanent US resident, urged her family in Kyiv to come to New York and escape the war in Ukraine.  Reluctant to leave their homes and husbands, Juliia (age 32) and her two girls Karolina (age 5) and Kristina (age 13), along with Viktoriia (age 36) and her daughter Marharyta (age 4), began their escape. The journey included living in bomb shelters and driving more than 48 hours to cross the border into Poland. Viktoriia experienced a terrible injury during their travels that required emergency surgery, leaving her in two long leg casts and unable to move without assistance. The next challenge was to secure the necessary documentation via the Embassy for all to legally come to the United States. With the help of Sen. Charles Schumer, Rep. Tom Suozzi, and Northwell Health advocating for the family, their visas were granted, and all five refugees arrived in New York on April 8, 2022.

Viktoriia is now under the charitable care of Northwell Health, which took her from the airport by ambulance to Lenox Hill so that doctors could address her medical status. We hope that Viktoriia will be able to bend her knees again and walk without the support of a walker or need assistance from a caretaker.

They don’t know when they will see the families, homes, and friends they left behind in Kyiv or their husbands, who stayed behind to protect the country. Currently, the five family members are settling into the home of their friend Ruby, for whom Nataliia provides full-time care. Ruby and her family are helping Juliia and Viktoriia get settled into life here in New York.

Local media outlets have covered their harrowing trip into New York.
Newsday | ABC7 New York

As all five refugees are settling into life in Lynbrook, CMM Cares is working closely with the family to identify the best support plan to assist them. To date, we’ve covered expenses for therapeutic horseback riding at Sagamore Hill Stables in Northport. The restorative benefits of horseback riding have provided a source of joy and comfort in the wake of their dangerous journey to get here. While recreational, it’s also an outlet and source of healing and therapy.

Additionally, the girls have received over 100 hours of virtual English lessons. Through Varsity Tutors, CMM Cares has covered the expenses of the weekly face to face virtual sessions. Improving their language skills has been instrumental in adjusting to life here in the States. The customized lessons plans have helped overcome the communication barrier in both the classroom setting and the community at large. One of the biggest benefits of the sessions being held virtual is that they are recorded, allowing the girls to watch the sessions over again for continued practice.

Through our collaboration with local nonprofits on Long Island, CMM Cares goes above and beyond our Support Plans, presenting valuable resources and opportunities. These endeavors are dedicated to bringing smiles to those who are navigating difficult times. If you’re involved with a local nonprofit that shares our vision of supporting families in need, we encourage you to reach out. Together, we can make an even greater impact!

MEDIA COVERAGE

Newsday | ABC7 New York

If you’re interested in helping us support this family with in-kind donations, and financial support for our plans, or if you know local businesses that may be interested in participating, please contact Victoria at vtringone@cmmcares.org.

Meet our other family for this year!

On June 6th, 2022, CMM Cares hosted our annual Charity Golf Outing at St. George’s Golf & Country Club in Setauket. Over 100 attendees and over 15 sponsors showed their support for our Adopted Family initiative, allowing us to increase the help we can provide for our families of this year. Sponsors and guests of the business community joined together to start the day with a BBQ, a massage, and a cigar before heading to the course for an 18-hole shamble. Later, guests enjoyed cocktails, a raw bar and delicious hor d’oeuvres outdoors while the venue buzzed with music by Rubber Soul. We ended the night with a delectable dinner and award ceremony to commemorate our 2022 Community Leader, Sal Ferro.

It was a fabulous day and evening and we are looking forward to the next one! Thank you to all of our incredibly generous sponsors, guests, and donors. Your contribution will go towards changing the lives of our neighbors.

For the event photo album, visit here.

This time of the year is about gratitude and giving back to community members, friends in need, and local nonprofits. While we savor time spent with our family and friends, it’s hard not to think about those who are not fortunate enough to do so. Most of us wish we could absolve the burdens of all who are suffering from the snap of a finger. Since we can’t do that, we’ve got to do our best to try and make a difference in our communities and in the world. 

If you’re struggling to narrow down your search for places or people to give to, read below to learn about some incredible local nonprofit organizations on Long Island that can always use a helping hand.

Support Local Artists

In times of uncertainty like these, we seek relief in creativity and entertainment. The arts, including film, music, and theater, are how we make emotional connections and come together as a community. We are lucky enough to enjoy the presence of several local nonprofits that support artists in our community. Consider giving to these incredible Long Island nonprofit organizations:

1. The Staller Center for the Arts

A staple of Stony Brook University, the Staller Center for the Arts is where many talented artists get their foot in the door of the theater and music industries. Consider purchasing tickets to view award-winning films at the months-long Stony Brook Film Festival, or attending a world-class theater performance! 

2. East End Arts

East End Arts is known for the incredible opportunities that it provides to children and community members. From chemistry and math classes for children to songwriting workshops and college-prep help for teens, East End Arts is on a mission to “stimulate community enrichment, economic development, and cultural tourism” on Long Island. 

Donate to local nonprofit East End Arts to help them continue to enhance the creative minds of our community members!

Lend a Hand to Furry Friends

Give a voice to those who can’t speak! Donating to or volunteering time with a nonprofit organization that helps animals is a wonderful way to advocate for our furry friends who simply can’t advocate for themselves! Here are some local ideas:

3. The Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind 

A well-known Long Island nonprofit, The Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year. For decades, they have acted as a support system for the blind community, providing those who are visually impaired with trained seeing-eye dogs. Seeing-eye dogs allow those with visual impairments to achieve a greater quality of life, with more independence, safety, and comfort. Consider volunteering at fundraising events for the Guide Dog Foundation for the Blind!

4. America’s VetDogs 

Since 2003, this organization has been providing relief to veterans who suffer from physical limitations or disabilities. America’s VetDogs trains service dogs and pairs them with veterans in need, allowing them to have access to more independent mobility and companionship. In 2021, we partnered with America’s VetDogs in order to help give back to one of their service dogs and his human counterpart, Mr. Charles Berry.

Consider becoming a puppy raiser, or volunteering to give back to this wonderful nonprofit organization! 

Feed a Hungry Family

As we begin to plan our holiday feasts, we are reminded of our close neighbors who do not have the chance to do so. Contribute to a local nonprofit organization and be the reason that a family or a child gets fed this giving season.

5. Family Service League 

For nearly 100 years, Long Island nonprofit Family Service League has worked tirelessly to help families and individuals in need with a variety of programs and locations. Their efforts have helped homeless individuals and families seeking shelter, those who suffer from mental illnesses and addiction, senior citizens in need of companionship, and more. The Family Service League hosts numerous events throughout the year and is always looking for volunteers and donors.

Thanks to a nomination from the Family Service League, CMM Cares was able to change the lives of the Neikens family in 2021. We encourage you to show your support to this inspirational local nonprofit organization!

6. Island Harvest

Island Harvest, a food bank for Long Island, works to minimize food waste and eradicate hunger on Long Island. Their programs benefit children, seniors, families, and veterans. Volunteers from this local nonprofit hand-deliver millions of pounds of food to homeless shelters, homes, food pantries, and other local nonprofits each year. They even helped supply one of our Adopted Families with meals! 

Consider donating your canned goods, volunteering at fundraising events, or contributing as a sponsor to this Long Island nonprofit organization.

7. CMM Cares

This giving season, we are gearing up to make 2022 our biggest year yet. We hope to impact the lives of numerous families on Long Island through our Adopted Family initiative, and it is the support of donors, generous organizations, and local nonprofits like the ones mentioned above that allow us to fulfill this mission. 

Visit our Adopted Families page to learn more about who and how we have helped in the past, and consider donating, nominating a family, or becoming an ambassador to do your part! Every little bit helps.

CMM Cares, Inc., a charitable foundation with a vision of making a difference in the lives of Long Island communities, is pleased to welcome Scott Maskin, CEO of SUNation Solar Systems, to its Board of Directors. Built on a goal of taking care of individuals and families facing unexpected challenges through its Adopted Family Initiative, CMM Cares brings joy to the lives of Long Islanders, one family at a time. Maskin’s addition to the CMM Cares Board will allow this initiative to expand and help more families in need.

Maskin founded SUNation Solar Systems in 2003 and currently serves as CEO, driving SUNation’s growth and branding through his hands-on approach to leadership. Prior to founding SUNation, Maskin traveled as an electrician and pyro-technician for large touring musical, theatrical and industrial tours. This enabled him to hone his organization and communication skills, allowing Maskin to complete a Master Electrician’s license and lay the foundation for future projects, including his love for solar and the founding of SUNation. Along with his mission of making the world a better place for his family and friends, Maskin shows his passion and dedication for his fellow Long Islanders through his involvement in various organizations and boards, bringing this level of commitment and service to his work on the CMM Cares Board.

As CMM Cares has grown in its mission to take care of Long Island families by providing life-changing solutions through fundraising efforts and support from partners, sponsors, and donors, we are pleased to welcome Scott Maskin to our growing Board of Directors. CMM Cares will continue to ease Long Island hardships through our focused efforts on our Adopted Family initiative and support of our Long Island neighbors.

CMM Cares Inc. started as a nonprofit organization with a mission to support veterans, children, and the arts on Long Island through fundraising, increasing awareness, and volunteering. Over the past few years, we have worked with various organizations to help them sustain their missions by joining the business community together for a cause. Read on for a recap of our history and what we have in store now.

Children

• Child Abuse Prevention Services (CAPS) – CMM Cares essentially started with support for CAPS, a child advocacy organization whose mission CMM’s Joe Campolo helped shape. Joe’s groundbreaking work helped create and fund SurfSafe, a program to keep children safe online that has been subsequently used by parent groups, nonprofits, and even cited by Congress and federal courts as legal support. CMM Cares continues to provide financial support for CAPS annually and CAPS recognized CMM Cares with a Corporate Citizenship Award in 2017.
• Our Military Kids – CMM Cares has provided financial assistance and helped spread the word about this Virginia-based nonprofit that empowers children of deployed National Guard and Reserve service members, as well as children of wounded veterans from all service branches, with grants for sports, art, and other activities. These activities help military children cope with stress and build self-confidence.
• Family Service League – A social service agency helping individuals, children, and families to mobilize their strengths and improve the quality of their lives at home, in the workplace, and in the community, FSL plays a critical role on Long Island. CMM Cares dedicated its 2019 volunteer events and fundraisers to FSL, hosting a first-of-its-kind Wine & Dine event with cuisines and wines from around the world, organizing a bowling competition where the business community engaged in some friendly competition, organizing toy and book drives, and volunteering at an FSL preschool in Bay Shore, where our team read stories and did crafts with the students. CMM Cares was honored to receive the Corporate Leadership Award from FSL in 2019 in recognition of our support.
• Rollstone Foundation – CMM Cares is a longtime supporter of the Rollstone Foundation, which is dedicated to aiding in the adoption of special needs children worldwide. The organization helps to “roll the stone away” for children who need homes by helping fund the adoption process.

Veterans

• America’s VetDogs – In 2018 we began supporting America’s VetDogs, whose mission to restore independence and dignity to veterans touched us deeply. We collected treats, toys, towels, cleaning supplies, and more to support these incredible service dogs and the brave individuals whose lives they change, and have consistently provided financial and volunteer support. In December 2018, following the passing of President George H.W. Bush, Joe Campolo was on hand at a press conference covered by the international media to welcome Sully, the former President’s beloved service dog, home to Long Island. These efforts led to critical publicity and support for America’s VetDogs (which trained Sully) and its sister organization, the Guide Dog Foundation.
• Being Vocal for Veterans – Supporting veterans requires advocacy in addition to dollars. Complementing our focus on veterans, CMM’s Joe Campolo, a Marine Corps veteran, delivered the keynote address at the Stony Brook University 2018 Veterans Day ceremony, where he spoke of the business community’s obligation to support veterans by hiring, training, and providing opportunities for them to successfully rejoin civilian life. He blogs regularly about veterans’ issues and how the business community can support these heroes.
• United Veterans Beacon House – In 2018, CMM Cares volunteered with United Veterans Beacon House, which provides temporary and permanent residences for military veterans and their families. Our volunteers, along with the exceptional team at Gary B Home Improvements, cleaned, painted, and spruced up two homes on the South Shore and provided brand new outdoor patio sets for the residents to enjoy. 
• Valentines for Veterans – CMM Cares mobilized to unleash the team’s creativity while providing some much-needed cheer for residents at the Long Island State Veterans Home at Stony Brook. We delivered baskets of colorful Valentines with messages of appreciation and support to brighten their Valentine’s Day.

The Arts

• Staller Center for the Arts – Campolo, Middleton & McCormick, and eventually CMM Cares, are longtime supporters of the Staller Center for the Arts at Stony Brook University, serving as annual corporate sponsors of the live season each year as well as the Stony Brook Film Festival. In 2019, CMM Cares made an unprecedented gift commitment of $450,000 to the Staller Center toward a new modern sound system for both the main stage theater and recital hall. The new sound system provided a much-needed upgrade to both theaters and created a new sleek look and dynamic sound performance. The Staller Center relies on private donors to continue to bring such a high caliber of performers to Long Island, keep ticket prices affordable, and benefit critical arts and education outreach in the community.
• East End Arts – East End Arts serves the five East End towns of Long Island by building and enriching the community through the arts. CMM Cares, in partnership with Campolo, Middleton & McCormick, has offered legal workshops to aspiring artists through East End Arts to help them turn their love for art into a business. CMM Cares has also provided critical funding to the beloved arts organization. Scott Middleton received the Community Impact Award in 2018 in recognition of his work with CMM and CMM Cares to promote leadership, collaboration, access, and education.
• Gallery North – A nonprofit gallery dedicated to presenting exhibitions of contemporary artists and stimulating interest in the arts by offering innovative educational programs, Gallery North has been a Long Island institution since the 1960s. In addition to providing financial support, CMM Cares has helped spread the word about Gallery North and its mission by arranging for the display of artwork by Gallery North artists at the famed East End summer event The Hampton Classic.

Adopted Family Initiative

• Today, while we continue supporting our friends mentioned above, CMM Cares primarily focuses on supporting Long Island families in need who have faced unprecedented challenges. Learn more about this exciting new initiative here.

Nominated by a devoted counselor from Family Service League, the Neikens Family is one of our wonderful 2021 Adopted Families.

UPDATE: We would like to thank our friends and colleagues who have donated and helped The Neikens family. Because of you, we were been able to make significant changes to their lives and have lifted some of their burdens. With our funds and with the generous support of in-kind donors, we have created a stay-cation spot right in the Neikens’ backyard. Because of Casey’s condition, medical bills, and the spread of COVID-19, family vacations are nearly impossible for the Neikens. Now, they can now enjoy a shaded patio, and Casey has access to a soothing jacuzzi and a wheelchair-accessible ramp from his front door.

Big shout out to Maggio Environmental, Condos Brothers Construction, Sierra Tree Service, and Ocean Spray Hot Tubs & Saunas for their generous contributions.

Casey Neikens is a 13-year-old boy who was diagnosed shortly after birth with Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB), a group of rare diseases that cause fragile, blistering skin. The blisters may appear in response to a minor injury, heat, rubbing, scratching, or adhesive tape. In severe cases, such as Casey’s the blisters may occur inside the body, such as the lining of the mouth or the stomach.

Casey was referred to Family Service League’s William Floyd Family Center for counseling in dealing with his medical condition and anxiety surrounding it.

“At times, Casey is known as the 7th grade “mayor” because of his quick wit, strong will, and knowledge of everyone. His ability to engage anyone in conversation ensures he is known by all, and those characteristics are the very ones that help him fight his disease every day.

His family has always allowed him to live each day as “normal” as possible by attending school and hanging with friends. He is also a self-proclaimed baker and foodie who will often request to be remembered if we get donated cake or brownie mix or to be the recipient of a small snack buffet after school in our office before his counseling sessions.

Despite the difficult circumstances they endure daily, I have never met a more loving, wonderful, humble, and caring family. The love and nurture I witness when I am meeting with them is extraordinary, not just between themselves but also with those around them. When assistance was given to the family during the recent holidays, Casey’s mother turned to me and said, “Isn’t there someone else out there who could use this help?” I responded, “Not anyone else in the entire world,” says his FSL counselor.

According to Beth, his mother, the family has always struggled financially but once Casey was diagnosed with EB, their world was turned upside down and the financial difficulties continue to mount. Casey needs an exorbitant amount of medical care every day just to remain out of the hospital. He has full-time nursing at home and at school. He receives physical and occupational therapies several times a week and he has the services of a full-time aide (in addition to his nurse) at school. Casey continues to receive ongoing care and surgeries as needed at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital.

A Day in Casey’s Life

A typical day for Casey begins with 2 1/2 hours of unwrapping his body cleaning his skin and treating any new blisters. Once that is done, he is re-wrapped with clean glaze bandages. The wrapping and unwrapping is extremely painful but is necessary because he is at extremely high risk for infection which could be fatal.

After his morning skincare, he is fed through a g- tube for his daily nutritional needs that are not met by his food intake. Once he comes home from a day of schooling, he rests, attempts to complete homework assignments, eats dinner, and then goes through the same 2 1/2 hours of wrapping him before he goes to bed.

The Challenges from the Pandemic

During the school year of 2019-2020, Casey had 6 surgeries to correct skin that had fused over his hands, tongue, and eyes so he can maintain their movement and use. These surgeries bring Casey an increasing amount of anxiety due to the pain of EB and then the pain of the surgeries.

Since the COVID outbreak, Casey’s family was homebound for fear of infection. His sister remained in the virtual learning classroom with Casey for fear she could potentially bring the COVID infection home to her brother. Casey’s father is an RN and was unable to work for 6 weeks at the beginning of the outbreak because there was so much unknown about the coronavirus and the potentially fatal outcome for Casey if he became infected.

Although the family has medical insurance, they struggle with the hidden cost of Epidermolysis Bullosa such as bandages, gas, hotels, food, and lodging expenses that are incurred during Casey’s trips to Cincinnati. There is no room in their budget for emergencies or typical life activities such as entertainment and vacations.

How CMM Cares is Helping

After getting to know this family and touring their home, we’ve created a “wish list” that would change the lives for Casey and his family now and for years and years to come. 

The Neikens family tends to favor “staycations” over vacationing due to Casey’s increasing pain and medical needs, especially with COVID-19 which could be tragic for Casey if he was exposed or infected. The ability for the entire family to utilize their backyard on a regular basis would increase their quality of life tremendously. Our goal is to upgrade their backyard space to create a safe, enjoyable and easily accessible sanctuary for Casey and his whole family to enjoy. Adding a handicap access ramp, a concrete walkway, and a patio large enough for Casey to maneuver his scooter on his own will provide him with some independence around his own home. We also plan to install an awning to the home to provide easy shade and protection for Casey from the sun as well as enclosing the property with a new fence to keep neighboring pets out. Also, on the wish list is adding a small hot tub and above-ground pool, as the chlorinated water provides relief to Casey’s skin. Swimming is an activity he can do with his sister and friends without pain.

CMM Cares would also like to repair the medical prep area in their home. The Neikens have a dedicated room used as a storage area for all of Casey’s nursing and medical supplies. It serves as a space for the family and in-home nurses to organize supplies, manage Casey’s requirements for the day, and keep notes on his progress. Casey spends 5+ hours per day getting his bandages tended to, and there is a nurse in the home assisting for over 30 hours per week. Not only does this space help to keep all the supplies organized in one spot, but it also allows them to “close the door and forget about Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB) for even a short time.” The space has not aged well; storage closets are broken, drawers are missing and shelves holding heavy medical supplies are warped, sagging or broken. It leaves the family no choice but for the supplies to creep their way into the rest of the family home. We will be updating this room to maximize the efficiency of the space. 

If you’re interested in helping us support the Neikens family with in-kind donations, financial support of our plans or if you know local businesses that may be interested in participating in our bringing our Wishlist plans to life, please contact Victoria at vtringone@cmmcares.org.

Nominated by the Chief Program Officer of Guide Dog Foundation, Mr. Berry and his dog Taxi are one of our wonderful 2021 Adopted Families.

UPDATE: We would like to thank our friends and colleagues who have donated and helped Mr. Berry and Taxi. With the help of our donors, we have been able to provide Mr. Berry with all of his daily meals and groceries throughout the year. We also covered the costs of Taxi’s pricey, life-saving surgery, and ensured that Taxi was returned home safely to Mr. Berry.

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Born and raised in New York, Mr. Berry is a combat veteran who served honorably as part of the Radar Force. His military journey includes boot camp in Charleston, South Carolina in March of 1965, where he transferred to the Great Lakes for school for six months. Shortly after, he worked in the Combat Information Center (CIC) for six months until February of 1968, where he left and soon become permanently disabled.

About a year ago, Mr. Berry was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, affecting his central nervous system, causing tremors, and severely limiting his movement. Daily tasks such as traveling, cooking meals, and taking care of household chores have become strenuous and financially burdensome.

Mr. Berry is one of seven children and has two daughters of his own. He’s also a loving grandfather and the proud owner of his beloved guide dog, Taxi.

Taxi was trained and placed with Mr. Berry through America’s VetDogs, a service dog program created to provide enhanced mobility and renewed independence to veterans. Mr. Berry describes his 9-year-old black labrador as a very loving animal with a wonderful personality.

Taxi is his number one companion in life, and all of Mr. Berry’s energy surrounds caring for him. Though America’s VetDogs gifted the dog at no cost to Mr. Berry, expenses such as food, veterinary appointments and any medical bills are up to him. Taxi is scheduled for mandatory surgery on June 22, 2021.

CMM Cares is honored to give back to a veteran who made sacrifices to protect our country and looks forward to supporting him in 2021.

How CMM Cares is Helping

We have pledged to assist Charles Berry this year in taking care of costs associated with feeding, grooming, and medical checkups for Taxi.

Though Mr. Berry only has requests for Taxi, we want to support him, too, by providing any personal wishes he has to ease his hardships. CMM Cares has purchased Mr. Berry a laptop to give him easy access to telehealth services for his own medical care, as well as finance a meal delivery plan for him to eliminate the burden of cooking.

As we continue through the year, we will support Mr. Berry and Taxi by providing various essentials and alleviating financial obligations.

If you’re interested in helping us support Mr. Berry and Taxi with in-kind donations, financial support of our plans or if you know local businesses that may be interested in participating in our bringing our plans to life, please contact Victoria at vtringone@cmmcares.org.

Nominated by a therapist from United Cerebral Palsy (UCP), the Johnson Family is one of our extraordinary 2021 Adopted Families

UPDATE: We would like to thank our friends and colleagues who have donated and helped The Johnson family. Through the funds raised, CMM Cares has been able to relieve some of her financial burdens as they focus on creating a new routine for their family. We were able to replace some of the family’s lost necessities, provided the Johnson children with new clothes for school and we supplied an iPad to allow Zarayah Johnson to attend virtual doctor visits.

Luckily, the Johnsons were able to move out of a crowded homeless shelter and into an apartment. We furnished the apartment with a new air-conditioning unit and provided Ms. Johnson with gift cards to cover her travel expenses to the children’s school and Zarayah’s doctor appointments. Thanks to our supporters, we’ve helped Ms. Johnson and her children get back on their feet and back to making memories as a family after this tragic, unforeseen event.

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Could you have survived the COVID-19 pandemic without a home? The Johnson family was suddenly faced with this question when their home was destroyed in an electrical fire on Christmas day. Ms. Johnson and her three young children were forced to relocate to a crowded shelter mid-pandemic.

On top of feeling the devastating loss of their home, furniture, and personal belongings, Ms. Johnson struggled with helping her seven-year-old daughter, Zarayah, cope with her Cerebral Palsy symptoms. Having been suddenly uprooted and thrown into an unfamiliar living space posed a set of unique challenges for Zarayah and her siblings.

Ms. Johnson and her children now live in a one-bedroom apartment in Brentwood, but their troubles are far from gone. A single mother, she is tasked with travelling across Long Island for her children’s daycare and her daughter’s medical services. On top of this, she has been attempting to guide her children through the unexpected transition to online learning over the course of the pandemic.

How CMM Cares is Helping

While we can never replace the memories that the Johnson’s made in their family home, at CMM Cares we have pledged to devote our efforts to ease their burden. First, we want to supply them with the basic necessities that they lost. Thanks to our donors, we’ve purchased new summer clothing for the three Johnson children, a portable air conditioner for their rental home, and a new iPad to help Zarayah work with her Cerebral Palsy therapist remotely. We’ve covered the costs of bills and provided Ms. Johnson with gas gift cards to help her stay afloat. At CMM Cares, we’re hoping to get Ms. Johnson back on her feet after these traumatic events, and back to making memories with her three doting children.  

If you’re interested in helping us support the Johnson family with in-kind donations, financial support of our plans or if you know local businesses that may be interested in participating in our bringing our Wishlist plans to life, please contact Victoria at vtringone@cmmcares.org.