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State legislators show support for All for the Kids Awareness Day.
State legislators have lent support to help several charitable organizations fulfill a shared mission: to make May 15 All for the Kids Awareness Day.
All for the Kids Awareness Day will be a day dedicated to creating awareness – on a local, state and national level – for children suffering with illnesses or injuries that are either chronic or life-threatening, said Anthony Spano, executive director of The Hope Foundation of the Mahoning Valley.
The Hope Foundation, founded in 2007, raises funds for families in need, granting up to $5,000 per recipient.
“There are hundreds of locally based nonprofit organizations in America that share a similar mission of providing assistance and support to these families,” Spano said. “These organizations require financial and volunteer support in order to fulfill their missions. Our goal is to turn awareness into increased community support.”
State Sen. Joe Schiavoni of Boardman, D-33rd, said the foundation, based in Youngstown, has done amazing work with children and families.
On March 14, Schiavoni introduced Senate Bill 294 to the state Senate in Columbus for All for the Kids Awareness Day.
Schiavoni said he was happy to garner the bipartisan support for all the good work being done in the Mahoning Valley.
“Helping to recognize those efforts by establishing this special day will go a long way toward building awareness,” Schiavoni said.
Spano said other state legislatures have announced their support of the bill: Sens. Capri Cafaro of Liberty, D-32nd, and Tom Sawyer, as well as state Rep. John Boccieri of Poland, D-59th, and U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan of Howland, D-13th.
“By establishing awareness in our communities and across the state, we can make this very important day something special that families from all over will want to take part in,” Ryan said.
For support letters or information, go to www.hopemv.org.