Gift Giving Tuesday has never had such a meaning as it did earlier this week, especially at Hasbro Children’s Hospital courtesy of the Johnston Memorial Cancer Events.

It was ironic that the JMCE made its annual donation to the internationally famous and Providence based hospital Tuesday, a day that for the past seven years has been a global day designated solely for the purpose to celebrate and encourage generosity.

Few all-volunteer non-profit groups can match the generosity of the JMCE, which has in 11 years raised $180,000 for Hasbro Children’s Hospital.

Tuesday morning, the JMCE shattered all their previous records when it presented a check for $30,000 to Hasbro Children’s Hospital during a brief yet emotion-filled ceremony that spoke volumes about the small band of friends who take pride in raising money that helps children who are battling cancer.

Perhaps Dr. Rishi R. Lulla, MD, MS, Hasbro’s chief of pediatric hematology/oncology, said it best while accepting the JMCE’s record-setting donation.

“We love generous corporate gifts,” Rishi, who is an international expert in the care of children and young adults with brain and spinal cord tumors, told a JMCE audience Tuesday morning, “but it’s donations like this, ones that come from the community, that are always special.”

Rishi, whose international work has been published in more than 20 peer reviewed journals and two books, said the JMCE’s extraordinary donation will be used to support renovations on the in-patient oncology unit at Hasbro Children’s Hospital.

Karli J. Blossom, Director of Development, said, “We are so grateful to the Johnston Memorial Cancer events for their overwhelming support and dedication to Hasbro Children’s Hospital. Every day we treat hundreds of kids who rely on Hasbro Children’s Hospital for the very best care available. The donations raised through the JMCE’s efforts helps ensure that this vital work continues.”

The JMCE, for those not familiar with one of Rhode Island’s most successful non-profits, began some 11 years ago with a small golf tournament and event entitled Campfires for Cancer which was a town-wide family outing like affair featuring children’s games and food for the whole family inside Johnston War Memorial Park.

Enter the Vincent LaFazia-chaired JMCE Golf Tournament, held the first Saturday in May that continues to defy odds and features up to 160 or more golfers and now two flights – one that tees off in the early morning and then the afternoon at famed Connecticut National Golf Club in Putnam, Ct.

“It’s loads of work and requires lots of time and preparation,” LaFazia, a Vietnam veteran and former Johnston Parks and Recreation Director, explained. “However, it’s well worth it; especially when all the proceeds go to support our mission of helping children who has been stricken with cancer.”

But the JMCE is more than just a once a year golf tournament played in memory of the late Sal Gelsomino, Anna Mazzulla, Laura DeAngelis, Raymond Johnson, John Furia and Frances Gallo.

“We work year round,” said Judi Graham, who along with her husband owns and operates Graham Builders of Smithfield. “We start January 1 with a golf tourney and keep on working; we’re all friends and we love raising money to help the children at Hasbro Hospital.”

The JMCE has helped Hasbro Children’s Hospital in yet another unique way, one that began when the non-profit signed a five year agreement to raise $100,000 for work at the Providence-based facility.

“Today completes our third year into the agreement,” said Linda LaFazia, the JMCE’s secretary-treasurer who recently completed an ambitious walk in the Johnston Community Center Association-Citizen Bank 5K after having a successful knee replacement. “We’ve increased our donation each year.”

Three years ago, the JMCE gave Hasbro $22,000 and last year the total was $25,000. Tuesday, as noted, the group presented a check for the extraordinary milestone of $30,000.

“We’ll tee off on January 1, 2019 with our Polar Golf Tournament at Glocester Country Club,” Judi Graham announced Tuesday. “The people there have been absolutely fantastic on New Year’s Day as well as in October for our Co-Ed Tournament.”

That’s why the JMCE asked Dewey Uriati, the president at Glocester CC and Graham – who chairs both tournaments -- to accept the framed “Thank You” – which featured a young child at Hasbro and those two words because the picturesque 9-hole layout has been instrumental in helping the non-profit raise its on-going record setting donations.

The JMCE also receives help from the annual Ricky Salzillo Memorial Game Dinner that will be held on Sunday, Jan. 27 inside the Kelley Gazzerro VFW Post on Plainfield Pike.

So it’s onward and upwards for the JMCE, a small group of friends who has generated legions of followers who also take tremendous pride in helping to make a difference in the lives of those children who are unfairly stricken with cancer.

Perhaps that’s why Joseph G. Pannozzo, Chief Development Officer and Vice President at Hasbro Children’s Hospital, along with Michele P. Brannigan, Senior Major Gifts Officer/Campaign Manager and of course Dr. Lulla were all wearing wide smiles during Tuesday’s JMCE seemingly unmatched act of giving. Cutlines for pix on sheets slugged 11-27-18 1240

JMCE 1 IMG 8637

MIGHTY MILESTONE:

Johnston Memorial Cancer Events members Joe Grasso, Judi Graham Linda LaFazia, Debbie Johnson and Phyllis Gelsomino hold the mock check for $30,000 the unique non-profit presented to Hasbro Children’s Hospital Tuesday morning. JMCE 2 IMG 8629

GRAND GIFT:

Dr. Rishi R. Lulla (center), Hasbro’s Chief of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, accepts a framed and embroidered golf flag from JMCE members Debbie Johnson, Phyllis Gelsomino, Joe Grasso and Raymond Johnston during Tuesday’s annual meeting in Providence. JMCE 3 IMG 8641

MIGHTY MEMORIAL:

Judi Graham, who organizes two JMCE golf tournaments, is joined by Glocester Country Club President Dewey Uriati (right) and Dr. Rishi R. Lulla who presented the unique non-profit with a framed “Thank You” for its ongoing support of nationally-famous Hasbro Children’s Hospital in Providence.