The Michael Petrone Foundation was started in 1999 by members of Bishop Kenrick High School’s Class of 1976 to honor Petrone, a classmate, dear friend who passed a year earlier while undergoing a heart and kidney transplant. The Foundation seeks to support charities that reflect the four most important things to Mike… family, friends, children, and his home town of Norristown. Since 1999 members of the Petrone Foundation have worked to honor Mike’s memory and those in need by following the motto “friends helping friends.”
HI, MANY of our supporters know the success of the MPF has been based upon our event-driven nature when we look to help out children and families in need. Our events bring out many volunteers, friends, and our growing community maybe a couple times a year
(like our event in April and golf outing in September).
However, there are quieter times when others are in need of help --- and there is no calendar that is being adhered to! We want to respond when called. During those times, the MPF is there to provide support during family or health emergencies. We always want to be there!
Historically, the donations people and companies make to the MPF are centered around our events. While we are looking to balance out the financial flows a bit more, we are also encouraging younger, first-time donors to become active in their stewardship. We have a sponsor that is willing to match dollar-for-dollar (up to $5,000) for donations of at least $50 from first-time donors under the age of 45 --- yeah, that’s young to some of us. Anyone who wants to contribute doesn’t need to show ID but should indicate on their Venmo transaction or check that they are “U45” and a first-time donor. That’s it! You can turn $100 into $200 quicker than Warren Buffett.
Help us get the word out to attract this base of donors. There are so many ways the MPF can help our local world. Help us be prepared for the next call for help, and the one after that, and the one…
Sincerely,
The Michael Petrone Foundation
The MPF is very appreciative of the dozens of volunteers that are the backbone of the organization when it comes to pulling off our events!
Always happy to receive donations through Venmo! Please scan and give.
Venmo payments are welcome @Themichaelpetronefoundation
FRIENDS HELPING FRIENDS
The Michael Petrone Foundation was started in 1999 by members of Bishop Kenrick High School’s Class of 1976 in honor of Petrone, a classmate who died a year earlier while undergoing a heart and kidney transplant. The foundation was formed to support charities that reflected the four most important things to Mike … family, friends, children and his home town of Norristown. Since 1999 members of The Petrone Foundation have worked to honor the memory of their dear friend by helping those in need.
April 12, 2025
An Amazing Event!
Thank you Screwballs and Tom McGrath
for Hosting !
Over 250 MPF Friends showed up to support such a worthy cause!
THANK YOU!!
Calvin, Jim and Gino
Love and Prayers for You
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Please click on the link below to Register for the 26th Annual Golf Outing.
After registration Venmo payments are welcome @Themichaelpetronefoundation
https://the-michael-petrone-foundation-annual-golf-outing.perfectgolfevent.com/
March 2025
Friends of The Michael Petrone Foundation,
This Year we will be holding two amazing events!
· Saturday, April 12th (7pm) at Screwballs in King of Prussia – friends of the MPF will be getting together with the “Band of Brothers”. Tickets are $40 each with net proceeds (which is essentially $40 each) going to our beneficiaries mentioned below.
· Monday, September 15th, 2025 - MPF Golf Outing at Bella Vista Golf Club (same venue as the last few years). Please see the MPF Facebook page for more details. As we get closer, we will provide more details. Again, proceeds will go to our identified beneficiaries.
Our beneficiary children and families for this year are…
· Calvin Smith (7 month old born with a rare genetic disorder known as UBE2A). We introduced you to Calvin last Christmas. He has been home since Thanksgiving and making wonderful progress.
· Gino Hinnershitz (2 year old born with a metabolic disorder called Sanfilippo Syndrome). This is a fatal disease that is progressive and which has no FDA-approved treatment or cure. He was diagnosed one month prior to his second birthday. Gino is another extraordinary boy who enjoys going for walks, driving in the car, days on the beach, and having songs sung to him by everyone he knows. His current favorites are "Old McDonald, "Wheels on the Bus," and "Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes."
· Jim Fazio (BKHS 77' who suffered a stroke in October and is now undergoing physical therapy). Many of you know Jim from our days in Norristown. The right side of Jim’s body is about 90% paralyzed. He and his family have a long rehabilitation in front of them. Knowing Jim’s spirit for life, he will attack it like he used to when pitching and shooting hoops back in the day.
While the above will be our primary focus for 2025, we remain open to helping in other areas as well. We love helping the Patrician Society – the work they do in Norristown is incredible. Plus, there are always other requests that come in that we try to satisfy. This is why we seem to always be looking for support --- the demand on MPF help grows constantly. Please continue to help us support those in our community who can use the morale, spirit and financial support.
Thank you for being there.
Friends of The Michael Petrone Foundation,
This Year we will be holding two amazing events!
· Saturday, April 12th (7pm) at Screwballs in King of Prussia – friends of the MPF will be getting together with the “Band of Brothers”. Tickets are $40 each with net proceeds (which is essentially $40 each) going to our beneficiaries mentioned below.
· Monday, September 15th, 2025 - MPF Golf Outing at Bella Vista Golf Club (same venue as the last few years). Please see the MPF Facebook page for more details. As we get closer, we will provide more details. Again, proceeds will go to our identified beneficiaries.
Our beneficiary children and families for this year are…
· Calvin Smith (7 month old born with a rare genetic disorder known as UBE2A). We introduced you to Calvin last Christmas. He has been home since Thanksgiving and making wonderful progress.
· Gino Hinnershitz (2 year old born with a metabolic disorder called Sanfilippo Syndrome). This is a fatal disease that is progressive and which has no FDA-approved treatment or cure. He was diagnosed one month prior to his second birthday. Gino is another extraordinary boy who enjoys going for walks, driving in the car, days on the beach, and having songs sung to him by everyone he knows. His current favorites are "Old McDonald, "Wheels on the Bus," and "Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes."
· Jim Fazio (BKHS 77' who suffered a stroke in October and is now undergoing physical therapy). Many of you know Jim from our days in Norristown. The right side of Jim’s body is about 90% paralyzed. He and his family have a long rehabilitation in front of them. Knowing Jim’s spirit for life, he will attack it like he used to when pitching and shooting hoops back in the day.
While the above will be our primary focus for 2025, we remain open to helping in other areas as well. We love helping the Patrician Society – the work they do in Norristown is incredible. Plus, there are always other requests that come in that we try to satisfy. This is why we seem to always be looking for support --- the demand on MPF help grows constantly. Please continue to help us support those in our community who can use the morale, spirit and financial support.
Thank you for being there.
December 2024
we hope that this Christmas we are finding you and your families well.
It’s not news that the holidays can be wonderful, yet often stressful and painful. The MPF looks back on 2024 as (yet another) special year and we are forward-looking to what 2025 will be bringing us. This year, we had wonderful opportunities to work with many of you on efforts that have brought lots of us closer together while helping our friends. Friends helping friends!
For the upcoming year, the MPF has identified a young boy and family that will be a main focus for our work. We learned of young Calvin Smith (now 6 months old) from his fraternal grandmother, Bernadette (Dedig) Smith and our friend Peggy (Greidus) Levins, both BKHS classmates of many of us. Calvin and his parents, Kevin and Kristen Smith, have experienced monumental health challenges in the first few months of his life.
Little Calvin, born prematurely in June, was diagnosed with a rare genetic disorder known as UBE2A. This is a genetic disorder where there is a different sequence in part of his X chromosome. The effects of this disorder are manifold including heart defects and hypoglycemia. In addition to this genetic disorder, Calvin was diagnosed with polysplenia, hyperbilirubinemia, a PDA in his heart, ectopic atrial tachycardia, and chronic respiratory failure. He had already overcome Rhinovirus, sepsis, and meningitis that unfortunately developed while in the NICU at CHOP. Kevin and Kristen were finally able to bring Calvin home just before Thanksgiving after about 5 months at the hospital. While there is a long, healing road ahead of them, the Smiths are able to look forward to all being together and experiencing some Christmas joy with their families.
The MPF (and all our volunteers) would like to wish you all a blessed Christmas and use the opportunity to reflect upon what is truly important. We are very thankful for you all and the “connectedness” that the Foundation has brought to many of us.
Merry Christmas, Calvin. You are loved more than you know.
We all look forward to meeting you in 2025
Sincerely,
The Michael Petrone Foundation
we hope that this Christmas we are finding you and your families well.
It’s not news that the holidays can be wonderful, yet often stressful and painful. The MPF looks back on 2024 as (yet another) special year and we are forward-looking to what 2025 will be bringing us. This year, we had wonderful opportunities to work with many of you on efforts that have brought lots of us closer together while helping our friends. Friends helping friends!
For the upcoming year, the MPF has identified a young boy and family that will be a main focus for our work. We learned of young Calvin Smith (now 6 months old) from his fraternal grandmother, Bernadette (Dedig) Smith and our friend Peggy (Greidus) Levins, both BKHS classmates of many of us. Calvin and his parents, Kevin and Kristen Smith, have experienced monumental health challenges in the first few months of his life.
Little Calvin, born prematurely in June, was diagnosed with a rare genetic disorder known as UBE2A. This is a genetic disorder where there is a different sequence in part of his X chromosome. The effects of this disorder are manifold including heart defects and hypoglycemia. In addition to this genetic disorder, Calvin was diagnosed with polysplenia, hyperbilirubinemia, a PDA in his heart, ectopic atrial tachycardia, and chronic respiratory failure. He had already overcome Rhinovirus, sepsis, and meningitis that unfortunately developed while in the NICU at CHOP. Kevin and Kristen were finally able to bring Calvin home just before Thanksgiving after about 5 months at the hospital. While there is a long, healing road ahead of them, the Smiths are able to look forward to all being together and experiencing some Christmas joy with their families.
The MPF (and all our volunteers) would like to wish you all a blessed Christmas and use the opportunity to reflect upon what is truly important. We are very thankful for you all and the “connectedness” that the Foundation has brought to many of us.
Merry Christmas, Calvin. You are loved more than you know.
We all look forward to meeting you in 2025
Sincerely,
The Michael Petrone Foundation
Autumn 2024
Autumn is now here. The Phillies and Eagles are doing what they do. You all did what you do back on September 23! That was our 25th MPF anniversary event we've been touting so much. You probably already knew that! What you likely don’t know is this event was our most successful ever, beating last year’s phenomenal showing. You all raised a net benefit of over $60,000 which has been shared with the beneficiaries, the Lincul and Mocey families! The MPF (and Connor pictured above) cannot thank the hundreds of donors and participants enough for this inspiring performance.
The good works will continue! Sunday, October 20 will be MPF Day at the Collegeville Bakery. Some of the proceeds from the day will be directed to the MPF. We would like to thank the owners, Steve and Patrizia Carcarey for their continued generosity to our Foundation! Please support those organizations that support us.
Patrician Society Update --- many of you know of the simpatico between the MPF and the PSCN. We have been updated that their donor community has come together with over 220 people contributing $73,000 to get a new boiler installed at the old St. Patrick’s School in Norristown. The PSCN had promised no interruption to their daily service which has been continuous since 1981 regardless of Covid or anything else. This organization continues to support more than 200 families every week from their food cupboard, among many other charitable endeavors. It means so much to the MPF to be so aligned with this incredible group of people. Congratulations to those wonderful people!
We look forward to keeping you updated on our activities and hope to get back to you in upcoming months with our 2025 plans. You know we are a grassroots group. Keep us informed of any needs you see that might fit our mission.
Sincerely,
The Michael Petrone Foundation
Autumn is now here. The Phillies and Eagles are doing what they do. You all did what you do back on September 23! That was our 25th MPF anniversary event we've been touting so much. You probably already knew that! What you likely don’t know is this event was our most successful ever, beating last year’s phenomenal showing. You all raised a net benefit of over $60,000 which has been shared with the beneficiaries, the Lincul and Mocey families! The MPF (and Connor pictured above) cannot thank the hundreds of donors and participants enough for this inspiring performance.
The good works will continue! Sunday, October 20 will be MPF Day at the Collegeville Bakery. Some of the proceeds from the day will be directed to the MPF. We would like to thank the owners, Steve and Patrizia Carcarey for their continued generosity to our Foundation! Please support those organizations that support us.
Patrician Society Update --- many of you know of the simpatico between the MPF and the PSCN. We have been updated that their donor community has come together with over 220 people contributing $73,000 to get a new boiler installed at the old St. Patrick’s School in Norristown. The PSCN had promised no interruption to their daily service which has been continuous since 1981 regardless of Covid or anything else. This organization continues to support more than 200 families every week from their food cupboard, among many other charitable endeavors. It means so much to the MPF to be so aligned with this incredible group of people. Congratulations to those wonderful people!
We look forward to keeping you updated on our activities and hope to get back to you in upcoming months with our 2025 plans. You know we are a grassroots group. Keep us informed of any needs you see that might fit our mission.
Sincerely,
The Michael Petrone Foundation
An Amazin Day
Helping out Our Friends Thank You Ted Botzum! Your Vision and Dedication has kept Mike's Memory and His Love and Generosity with us all these years. God Bless You! |
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MESSAGE FROM OUR FOUNDATION
November 12th, we remember back 26 years ago to the day our best friend, Mike, passed away. Those of you that were close to him probably recall where you were the minute you heard this terrible news. What that man left us will never leave us! His passing instilled a tight, but expanding community with honorable ideals that have led to many good acts over the past quarter century.
As we recall the love he provided us and the multiplicative impact it has had on us, we look forward to continuing to remember Mike as we plan for 2025. Since our golf outing in September, we have been planning to improve our operations going forward. The team has met on several occasions the past two months as we look forward to next year – this includes planning an event (likely smaller than the golf outing) sometime in the March / April timeframe as well as a toy drive during the 2023 holiday season. We are increasing the size of volunteer team and Board to help us be ready. We want to foster an increased level of communications with our network, benefactors and beneficiaries.
As we get ready for next year, we encourage your input and insights into families and friends that may be helped by our efforts. We have even identified a sub-committee to help us identify beneficiary causes. We will continue to support local, grassroot efforts such as the Patrician Society of Central Norristown which is especially close to our hearts. If you are aware of any potential candidates, please feel free to reach out to us at [email protected] or contact any of us.
If you have a minute, please continue to pray with us for our recent beneficiaries and those e that we have tried to help over the years. We are so grateful to be able to try to help and find the MPF to be a wonderful “silver lining” to our painful loss of Mike 26 years ago.
Sincerely,
The Michael Petrone Foundation
November 12th, we remember back 26 years ago to the day our best friend, Mike, passed away. Those of you that were close to him probably recall where you were the minute you heard this terrible news. What that man left us will never leave us! His passing instilled a tight, but expanding community with honorable ideals that have led to many good acts over the past quarter century.
As we recall the love he provided us and the multiplicative impact it has had on us, we look forward to continuing to remember Mike as we plan for 2025. Since our golf outing in September, we have been planning to improve our operations going forward. The team has met on several occasions the past two months as we look forward to next year – this includes planning an event (likely smaller than the golf outing) sometime in the March / April timeframe as well as a toy drive during the 2023 holiday season. We are increasing the size of volunteer team and Board to help us be ready. We want to foster an increased level of communications with our network, benefactors and beneficiaries.
As we get ready for next year, we encourage your input and insights into families and friends that may be helped by our efforts. We have even identified a sub-committee to help us identify beneficiary causes. We will continue to support local, grassroot efforts such as the Patrician Society of Central Norristown which is especially close to our hearts. If you are aware of any potential candidates, please feel free to reach out to us at [email protected] or contact any of us.
If you have a minute, please continue to pray with us for our recent beneficiaries and those e that we have tried to help over the years. We are so grateful to be able to try to help and find the MPF to be a wonderful “silver lining” to our painful loss of Mike 26 years ago.
Sincerely,
The Michael Petrone Foundation
On September 18, the MPF held its 24th (and most financially successful) golf outing. The Foundation sincerely thanks everyone that contributed their time and money to help us drive a net benefit in excess of $50,000 to our beneficiaries. Truly incredible!
Most importantly, we are appreciative of the 3 families we had the pleasure of meeting and getting to know better over the course of the year. The Ahmad, Brett and McLaughlin families have shown all of us how special they are in their handling the adversities of their various medical conditions, while continuing to be focused on their families. We now consider them part of our MPF family. This increasing neighborhood of friends is all because of our joint love and great memories of Mike Petrone. Our community continues to grow as we advanced various charities in his memory over the past quarter century.
Thank you all.
