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Join us in the Fight Against Niemann-Pick Type C Disease |
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About the Ara Parseghian Medical Research FoundationVolunteers |
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Highlights:So many generous, caring people have adopted the Ara Parseghian Medical Research Foundation and embraced the work being done in the battle against NP-C. One of the first persons Karen Sarikas met when she moved to Tucson in 1982 was Cindy Parseghian. Little did she know this would be the start of a 25-year relationship. Friendship has always been at the heart of this relationship along with working together as young professionals for four years at a Tucson business, sharing the births of each others’ children, celebrating holidays and special occasions as families, and lending a hand and a lot of heart during the passing of Michael, Marcia and Christa. As a volunteer, Karen helped launch the Ara Parseghian Medical Research Foundation in 1994 and since its inception has served as our volunteer accountant. In this role Karen oversees the bookkeeping, accounting and banking aspects of the Foundation. Her upbeat, caring, thoughtful personality is always a beacon of light in the Foundation office. As a CPA, Karen commits hundreds of volunteer hours a year overseeing the fiduciary responsibilities of the APMRF. She is dedicated to ensuring that every dollar given by our generous donors is impeccably handled and utilized in the pursuit of a cure for NP-C disease. Karen Sarikas is truly a volunteer extraordinaire. Vince and Josephine Tenuto from Chicago have hosted the “Ara Parseghian Charity Golf Day” for the past seven years. This year’s successful tournament took place in August at Gleneagles Country Club. Vince is also instrumental in organizing the annual Saint Joseph’s Day Dedication of the Table hosted by Mayor Richard M. Daley. A donation to the APMRF is given from proceeds of this luncheon each spring. Thank you Tenutos for your kindness. Jessica Bolhack and Sunrise Drive Elementary School Students Jessica Bolhack, Alex Ricker, Anne Chiorazzi, Perri Blazer and John Bennett--all classmates and friends of Marcia Parseghian--have spent many hours raising money to fund NP-C research to help save the life of their good friend. Marcia is gone, but their dedication lives on. It has been seven years since this wonderful group of young adults graduated from Sunrise Drive Elementary School in Tucson, but in many ways their hearts are still there.This past fall, under the leadership of Jessica Bolhack, this group returned to Sunrise Drive School to share with students the important role they too can play in helping fight the disease that took the lives of the three Parseghian children. Pennies are adding up in the decorated collection buckets that have been placed in all of the classrooms. In just a few short months over $650 has been collected. As a result of the initial Sunrise Penny Drive that began 12 years ago, many of the district schools also collect pennies and to date over $80,000 has been raised. |
