Marisa's father initially established the Marisa Fund in 2005 to support research in Pediatric Blood and Bone Marrow Transplantation at Children's Hospital of New York-Presbyterian and the Columbia University Department of Pediatrics.  Since February of 2011, our fight and research has continued at the Maria Fareri Children's Hospital (at Westchester Medical Center in Valhalla, NY) under the leadership of Dr. Mitchell Cairo, M.D., where he is Chief of Pediatric Hematology, Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation; Director of the Children and Adolescent Cancer and Blood Disease Center and Professor of Pediatrics, Medicine, Pathology, Microbiology & Immunology and Cell Biology and Anatomy.

Dr. Cairo’s research is unique in that his findings are translated into patient care and have a direct and indirect impact on saving the lives of children, adolescents and adults. The current focus of Dr. Cairo’s research program includes:

0. Novel therapies for childhood, adolescent and adult cancer;
0. Reduced intensity conditioning and stem cell transplantation in patients with malignant and serious blood and genetic disorders;
0. Cord blood stem cell biology research and application with regenerative medicine;
0. Genetic biology of Leukemia and Lymphoma;
0. and development of targeted cellular immunotherapy for malignant diseases. 

The Fund also provides significant financial assistance to families of cancer patients who are unable to meet the high costs of their children's care.

Each and every donation* to the Marisa Fund will make an important difference in the lives of our young patients and the future of all children with cancer.

Thank you for choosing to honor Marisa's memory and for lending your support to this cause.  The funds raised will help to improve the chances of survival for children undergoing blood and bone marrow transplantation, and to reduce the risks of their associated therapies.  We hope that future children will not suffer as Marisa did from the complications of her therapy.

David Goldwasser: "Marisa loved fantasy fiercely and planned for us to write a book together once she graduated from Duke University.  Her sad and untimely death left me no choice but to write this novel together, but in a different way."  This book is finished and now available for purchase; Visit the Website to learn more!

The Marisa Fund is a partner with the Pediatric Cancer Research Foundation.

IN THE NEWS -

December 13, 2012 - Free Turkey Trot Performance T-Shirts available with every Marisa Fund donation of $50 or more.  Learn More >>  / Donate Now!

October 7, 2012 - Dave Goldwasser appears on NBC TV "Debrief" Show; interviewed by Dave Ushery discussing Portals and his personal story.

September 28, 2012 - Portals book review by Cole Garner Hill on  - Click Here.

August 1, 2012 - The Marisa Fund announces a new campaign: "A Million Reasons to Cure Pediatric Cancer." We are trying to raise a million dollars to fund the research needed to find a cure for pediatric cancer.  Visit the Website and Learn More >>

July 18, 2012 - New Banner for the 2012 running of the 5 Mile Turkey Trot for the Marisa Fund is officially displayed on the Modell's storefront in the Palisades Center Mall, West Nyack, NY.  In addition to being one of this year's Race Sponsors, Modell's will be the official site of the 2012 Pre-race Registration.  This Banner was provided by Mellen & Jayne Graphic Design & Advertising of New City, NY (another Sponsor of this year's Turkey Trot).

Pictured: Dave Goldwasser (Director and Founder of the Marisa Fund) with the amazing and beautiful new 2012 Turkey Trot Banner.     

July 13, 2012 - Announcing a new book by the founder of the Marisa Fund (David Goldwasser)!!  Portals  is a fantasy book about a young girl named "Lissa" involving wizards and is dedicated to Marisa.  It is discounted on Amazon.com and available in hardcover, paperback and e-reader editions (including all Kindles).  A portion of the proceeds of the sale of this book in any form will go to the Marisa Fund.

    Learn More >>  /  Visit the Website >>

Together we can cure pediatric cancer in our lifetime ... David

June 6, 2012 - Rockland Boulders baseball players to wear special Marisa Fund bracelets during their game on 07/24/12.

June 1, 2012 - Modells (2nd Floor, Palisades Center Mall) to host the 2012 Turkey Trot Pre-Registration (see our Events Page for more info).

May 8, 2012 - Marisa Fund donates $45,000 to the Pediatric Cancer Reseach Foundation.

  Pictured: Dr. Mitchell Cairo, M.D. accepts "big  check" on behalf of PCRF from Dave Goldwasser, Executive Director of the Marisa Fund, Inc.   

UPCOMING EVENTS -

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UPCOMING RELATED EVENTS OF INTEREST -

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