 
Assembly Resolution No. 270
 
BY: M. of A. Burdick
 
        COMMEMORATING   the  25th  Anniversary  of  Making
        Headway Foundation
 
  WHEREAS, Organizations which serve the interests of  the  people  of
this Empire State merit the commendation of this Legislative Body; and
 
  WHEREAS,  From  time  to  time  this  Legislative Body takes note of
certain  extraordinary  individuals  and  organizations  it  wishes   to
recognize  for their valued contributions to the success and progress of
society and publicly acknowledge their endeavors which have enhanced the
basic humanity among us all; and
 
  WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is justly proud  to  commemorate  the
25th Anniversary of Making Headway Foundation; and
 
  WHEREAS,  Making  Headway  Foundation  was  established  in  1996 to
provide "Care, Comfort, and a Cure" with a mission to provide passionate
care for children and families impacted by a pediatric brain  or  spinal
cord  tumor,  while funding medical research geared to better treatments
and a cure; and
 
  WHEREAS, Pediatric brain and spinal  cord  tumors  are  the  leading
cause  of  cancer-related death among children and adolescents ages 0-19
years; over 4,500 new cases of childhood brain or spinal cord tumors are
diagnosed in the United States every year; and
 
  WHEREAS, Additionally, more than 28,000 children and  teenagers  are
currently  living  with  the diagnosis of a primary brain or spinal cord
tumor in the United States; and
 
  WHEREAS, Children's brain and spinal cord tumors are different  from
those  in diagnosed adults; they require specific research and different
treatments, and can lead to significant short-term and long-term  mental
and/or physical challenges; and
 
  WHEREAS,   Making   Headway  Foundation  was  founded  by  Chappaqua
residents Maya and Edward Manley who, as  volunteers,  have  devoted  25
years  of their lives to nurturing this vital organization's growth, and
providing a wide range of free-of-charge holistic programs and services;
and
 
  WHEREAS, Since its inception, Making Headway Foundation has  widened
its  reach from a few families in 1996, to many thousands today, helping
each family through unimaginably difficult times; and
 
  WHEREAS, Making Headway Foundation has  raised  and  allocated  over
$26,600,000  to  support  medical  research,  quality-of-life  programs,
college  scholarships,  hospital   care   services,   clinical   trials,
neuro-oncology  fellowships,  family events, emergency care, educational
advocacy, bereavement services, public education, playroom improvements,
free family and individual therapy, health and wellness, tissue banking,
and research equipment; and
 
  WHEREAS, Making Headway Foundation's tireless  support  of  research
has led to critical discoveries in the areas of hypoxia proliferation of
neuroblastoma,  immunotherapy,  medulloblastoma,  sonic hedgehog pathway
mutations, novel medications, epigenetic signatures in  DIPG,  pilocytic
astrocytomas, and vulnerabilities of pediatric high-grade gliomas; and
 
  WHEREAS,  Furthermore,  this  support  of  research  also led to the
establishment of the Preclinical Core at the New York University Langone
Medical Center, the country's first laboratory where novel therapies can
be tested on any subtype of pediatric brain tumor sample; and
 
  WHEREAS, Making Headway's Ongoing Care Team  has  provided  families
with  over  11,500  hours of free, expert, psychological therapy to help
them through their journey and over 8,000 hours of  free,  professional,
educational  advocacy  services,  ensuring  that each child receives the
school-based services and assistance they need to reach  their  academic
potential; and
 
  WHEREAS,  Making  Headway  Foundation  has  awarded over 100 college
scholarships to survivors of a brain or spinal cord tumor; and
 
  WHEREAS, It  is  the  sense  of  this  Legislative  Body  that  when
individuals and organizations of such noble aims and accomplishments are
brought  to  our  attention, they should be celebrated and recognized by
all the citizens of this great Empire State; now, therefore, be it
 
  RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its  deliberations  to
commend  Making Headway Foundation and its founders upon the occasion of
its 25th Anniversary, and to  express  its  appreciation  for  the  many
contributions  they  have  made  and  for  their unceasing dedication to
helping children diagnosed with a brain or spinal cord tumor; and be  it
further
 
  RESOLVED,  That  a  copy  of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to Maya and Edward Manley, Making Headway Foundation.
Commemorating the 25th Anniversary of Making Headway Foundation

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