So you aren’t familiar with The Melonhead Foundation. Well, we aren’t surprised. We are a grass-roots organization, that for over 12 years have stayed true to being the “little organization” with a big heart.
Since the birth of our foundation, founder, Deb Leone, as a single mom, went through the process and experience of having a child with cancer. She identified through her experience that the larger organizations one turns to for assistance really weren’t providing assistance to support any day-to-day living challenges that affected the entire family. The Leone family also found that the western “traditional” treatments were not enough to facilitate Melanie’s healing. As a legacy to Melanie and the process that the family encountered, the Melonhead Foundation became a vehicle to facilitate for others who have a need.
Since the beginning, the organization embraced a 3 fold purpose:
1. To provide financial aid to families of children 21 years of age or younger, with any diagnosis of cancer.
2,To provide a resource center for all patients experiencing cancer and searching for alternative practices.
3.The ultimate goal of The Foundation is to establish the first permanent Camp Wannahealyah (www.campwannahealyah.org) in Arizona.
Even the large – and well-recognized organizations like St Judes and The American Cancer Society, refer families to our foundation for assistance.
The Melonhead Foundation is a unique organization where 80% of the dollars you donate through our patient aid program go directly to patient aid. The majority of other organizations (who receive large amounts of funding from various sources) generally take as much as 60% of the dollars for overhead, and another large sum for research hence not leaving much or anything for the family.
Less than 3% of cancer charities in the US that facilitate directly to client families, we are also one of the few to have low overhead, a phenomenal group of dedicated volunteers, and a waiting list of families who have a need.
When people desire to make a difference there is more consideration as to where those dollars are being spent and the purpose in which they are being utilized. As an organization, we are able to share with you EXACTLY how your dollars made a difference in the lives of a family who are dealing with a child with cancer. Your donation makes a direct and immediate difference.
This year, the Melonhead Foundation is seeking to expand our direct impact and is looking for $40,000 seed money to implement another facet of the foundation – the WannaHealYah Wellness Center. As society is ready to embrace more of the “alternative” practices to wellness –(like Acupuncture, IV Therapies, naturopathy, homeopathy, kinesiology, lymphatic drainage massage, Emotional Trauma release therapies) as a compliment to western medicine protocols, we feel the time is here for us to have a physical location to provide options and alternative treatments to the entire family – at little or no charge to the patient family. We are confident that the funding and personnel will appear to complete this type of endeavor, and we can continue to have a positive impact on the families who are experiencing this challenging process, as well as, others who are seeking effective alternative practices, through our wellness center.
We are grateful for those who have, and continue to embrace the purpose of The Melonhead Foundation – Melanie would be proud to know of the difference she makes even though she is no longer on the planet to appreciate the recognition.
We believe that everyone can make a difference, and we value contributions of various kinds and of various levels. We are grateful to everyone who is involved and in support of our mission, because we continue to believe that together we can make a difference as we continue to move forward one step at a time.
To support the Melonhead Foundation, please visit our website http://www.Melonhead.org
A big, special thank you to Scottie Upshall of the Coyotes hockey team for sponsoring a wish tree with the Coyotes Wives. Together, with Sarah Finecey, Executive Director of Coyotes Charities, they helped raise over $8,400 for our Melonhead families to help with rent, utilities, car payments, insurance, and Christmas meals. Thank you so much for your tremendous help!
