Family raises money for sick children

NORTH COVENTRY » “We believe Jared has given us the strength to establish this memorial fund and help others in his name.”

Those are the words you’ll read if you visit the website for the Jared Pishock Foundation, a non-profit aimed at supporting families and children that struggle with longterm illness or disability.

“My husband and I started the foundation in January 2015. We just wanted to be an outlet that could help the families going through the same thing we went through,” explained Corrine Pishock, the mother of Jared Pishock, for whom the memorial is named. Jared was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia at the age of 2. He underwent more than three successful years of treatment before relapsing in August 2007. In April

2008, Jared entered CHOP to prepare for his bone marrow transplant. Over the next weeks and months, many complications arose, according to Pishock. In August 2008, at the age of 7, Jared succumbed to his illness.

“When you have a lot of hospitalizations you can’t work for a long time,” Corinne recalled. “One or

both parents have to stop working but the mortgage, rent and utilities are still due so we wanted to be able to help parents who are struggling with bills.”

And the foundation does just that with the help of social workers from area hospitals.

“We contacted social workers at Alfred I. Dupont and CHOP and they bring the need to us by sending us a formal request for the families. We pay the mortgage or utility company directly so that their bills are taken care of,” she said.

So far, the foundation has helped about two dozen families who were struggling.

Additionally the Pishocks raise money through an annual golf tournament in North Coventry that is entering its fourth year this September.

“It really has become my husband’s and my labor of love and it’s our way of giving back. We had a lot of help when we were going through it from friends and family and a lot of people don’t have it. We want to be that help for a lot of people who need it,” Corrine said. Although registration for this year’s golf tournament is full, those interested in making a donation, reading about Jared’s story or learning more about the foundation can visit www. jaredpishockfoundation.com.

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE PISHOCK FAMILY Jared Pishock, 7, was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia at the age of 2. Jared succumbed to his illness in Aug. 2008, and his parents created a memorial fund in his honor.

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE PISHOCK FAMILY Corrine and Michael Pishock created a memorial fund to honor their son, Jared, who died in 2008 following complications related to Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. The Jared Pishock Foundation has helped two dozen families who are struggling with bills while caring for a sick child.