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FOUNDATION STORIES

Erickson Family

The Anthony Rizzo Family Foundation holds so many examples of love. It's when you get a text message sent to you at just the right time, letting you know that they are thinking of you and sending love. It's the entire Rizzo family making a surprise visit to the hospital, after a long day at the ballpark, just to give you a hug and let you know that you are not alone. It's walking to the mailbox with fresh tears strolling down your face, feeling defeated, only to find a handwritten note of encouragement and financial assistance, to save you from more stress-filled, sleepless nights. It is disproving the myth, “never meet your hero, because they're sure to disappoint you.” The truth is, Anthony and his foundation are heroes to so many people who couldn't get through this cancer journey without them. The Anthony Rizzo Family Foundation is a beacon of HOPE in what often times feels like a hopeless situation. Anthony and his foundation are our forever family that assures us that we will never take another step in this cancer journey alone—we will always have their love and support. ARFF is the true definition of family.

Ewoldt Family

Chase, the third of our four children, was diagnosed with an aggressive malignant brain and spine cancer when he was only two years old and was given six months to live. Not only did he live, but he is even now working through a new, second cancer diagnosis. In our life as a family and in the lives of our children, there is barely a collective memory that is not somehow eclipsed by cancer. Not only do the effects of cancer cover Chase’s precious little body, but they touch our hearts, our minds, our bank accounts, our schedules - everything, everywhere. Yet, with the help of the Anthony Rizzo Family Foundation, we are able to continue to pay our bills, we are able to give our children incredible opportunities, and perhaps, most precious of all, we are still able to see Chase’s smile and give him joy. We are forever, always thankful for the way ARFF and everyone involved in the organization pushes past the word “survival” and makes it a goal to see kids like Chase (and their families too!) THRIVE. Without ARFF in Chase’s life and the life of our whole family, I do not know where we would be. We are better people for their love and have more hope because of their courage.

Frost Family

In September of 2023, after days of undiagnosed hip pain, 8-year-old Genesis found herself sitting with her mom, Shashana, in an emergency room for hours. When she finally saw the doctors, they asked her if she could walk the distance of the small exam room, but she could not seem to make herself do it. The pain was too intense. 

Within just a few short hours, a worst case scenario would unfold: Genesis and her family would be told that she had leukemia and she would begin her first transfusion even as she was being admitted to the hospital. 

A quick trip to the emergency room had somehow ended up being a life-altering diagnosis.

What followed was a stressful free-fall for the family. There were many trips to the hospital for long treatments and intense pain, balancing the sibling needs of her two older brothers, and Shashana herself ultimately even giving up a full time job to ensure Genesis’ best care. Genesis was overwhelmed by her treatment, but her mom was overwhelmed too. While she lay in pain, she worried: how could she possibly be at her daughter’s side and still fulfill all her other commitments as a Single Mom? Exhausted by the struggle to keep the roof over their heads, make ends meet, and not knowing where to turn, the family found the Anthony Rizzo Family Foundation and immediately found the help they needed. The Foundation stepped in to assist with car payments, phone payments, and monthly rent; taking the pressure off of Shashana and allowing her to focus on caring for her precious daughter, bringing hope into the middle of deep weariness: “The Anthony Rizzo Family Foundation kept a roof over our heads. The reality of focusing so much on one person [can] leave you feeling like you don’t have enough to give. So, when you find a helpful person, it’s a huge and unusual gift,” said Shashana, Genesis’ mom.

Genesis is a fighter. She taught herself to roller skate and is trying to make her way back into her class at school, despite continued treatment. But the struggle isn't over. The family finds themselves taking one day at a time and are so thankful for the way the Anthony Rizzo Family Foundation is walking beside them - a reminder that they are never alone in the fight.

DiMaggio Family

Six-year-old Rocco wants to be a famous baseball pitcher some day. 

But in 2020, when he was only two-years-old, Rocco gradually stopped walking. His parents watched his deterioration with concern, and, on taking him to doctors, were assured it was most likely just a lingering side effect from a virus. 

But it wasn’t a lingering side effect. You see, Rocco had high risk neuroblastoma. And, when finally discovered, it was already spreading through Rocco’s small body. 

Rocco and his family began an intense fight that has yet to find reprieve - even today. Despite high dose treatment, over twenty hours in initial surgery, and the loss of a kidney, Rocco relapsed in early 2024 and continues his fight even as his story is being written.

During some of the worst and early days of his treatment, Rocco and his family, including his younger brother, were invited to FAO Schwarz, courtesy of the Anthony Rizzo Family Foundation. Rocco had no idea that he would end up meeting a real life New York Yankee that day. 

Meeting Anthony Rizzo was “the best day of his life”, says his mom, Gabriella. Since that first introduction, Rocco’s parents have been able to turn to the Foundation not only for encouragement, but also for help with their mortgage. “Now we have the ability to focus on Rocco and make memories without worrying about finances.” 

But it’s more than that to Gabriella. “This foundation pulls us away from the cancer. For the day, for the hour… when we’re doing something with the foundation, we get to look forward.” 

This Fall, during a much-needed break in treatment for Rocco’s body to recover, he got to go visit Yankee Stadium and see Anthony play in person. He spent the time watching, cheering the game, and calling encouragement to Anthony like the friend he has become. “Being there made us forget about anything else,” says Gabriella. “When Rocco was in the stadium, nothing else existed… not the chemo, not the pain…for a few hours, we got to forget. For a few hours, it was just Rocco being the little boy he should be.”

So, someday, Rocco wants to be a famous baseball pitcher. But first, he will have more scans, fight against an intense cancer relapse, and just try to turn seven. And the Anthony Rizzo Family Foundation will continue to walk beside him. For Rocco’s family, the greatest struggle is the immense amount of unknowns still facing them today, and yet, they are not alone: “The Foundation relates to our struggle…we are so blessed by them.”

Burke Family

In December 2015, days after his big 7th birthday party, we took Benjamin to the pediatrician assuming he would leave with antibiotics for an ear infection. Devastatingly, that routine visit would be the start of the most heart wrenching journey for our family. After being urgently rushed to our local community hospital due to abnormal blood work, Benjamin was diagnosed with T-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. Just hours after hearing the heartbreaking news his tiny body was wheeled away from us for a bone marrow aspiration and his first chemotherapy treatment. While still in a complete state of shock, our family was quickly thrown on the real-life rollercoaster that is pediatric cancer. Was this really happening? Heartbreak, anxiety, logistical and financial stress, and utter exhaustion were just some of the complicated emotions we faced in those very first days. Benjamin’s daunting treatment protocol was 3.5 years, the bulk of his entire elementary school career. His little body endured so very much during this time. Watching your child suffer the painful side effects of life-saving poison is simply unimaginable.

Figuring out how to pay the mounting medical bills, mortgage, babysitter and even the daily parking at the hospital quickly became an overwhelming weight as we grappled with Benjamin’s illness. As a newly obsessed baseball card collector, Benjamin was intent on carrying around his Anthony Rizzo cards to and from Lurie Children’s after hearing that the Chicago Cubs First Baseman frequented the oncology unit. Early on in his treatment, Benjamin’s child life-specialist contacted the Anthony Rizzo Family Foundation to tell them about a little boy who loved baseball and was struggling to understand his cancer diagnosis. Just like that, a letter of encouragement from Anthony and an autographed hat were delivered to Benjamin’s hospital bed. Several months later during an especially painful hospital stay, Benjamin had the very special opportunity to meet his real-life hero, cancer survivor himself, #44. Over the course of 3.5 years of treatment, our family developed a deep and lasting love for the Anthony Rizzo Family Foundation. Anthony and his family have supported us in countless ways during the darkest moments of our lives. The impact Anthony and his foundation have had on our lives is immeasurable. We are forever grateful for the financial burdens they helped alleviate through the Hope 44 fund, the moments of joy shared at Wrigley Field, and most importantly those quiet exchanges in a hospital room between two cancer warriors.