Stepping Out in September for St Jude

Three pairs of well-worn sneakers ready to take a long walk for St Jude

Join us once again as the stalwart supporters of The Spencer Foundation lace up their sneakers and slather on sunscreen before joining in the St Jude Walk/Run on Saturday September 21st!   Registration opens at 8:30 am at the Marcum LLP building at 10 Melville Park Road, just off Route 110/Broadhollow Road in Melville.  The walk will kick off at 10 …

Fin-Tastic Day to Fish for a Cause!

Three toy turtles look out from the fishing boat rail

On Saturday July 13th 2024, the clouds parted and the sun emerged just in time for the Captain Eddie B III to set out on a four-hour tour, taking our turtles and friends out to try their luck with rod and reel.  And luck they had — a  lot of fish were raised, including 11 keepers.  The winning fish weighed …

Gift Bags Stroll to Stony Brook and NYU Langone With Help from Lions and the Brandel Murphy Foundation

Jeanine Spencer together with members of the Brandel Murphy Foundation and the Lions deliver gift bags to Stony Brook Children's Hospital

This week the Spencer Foundation joined forces with members from The Brandel Murphy Foundation and the Lions Clubs of West Hempstead, Massapequa, Massapequa Part and Long Island Pride to provide 100 bags for kids at Stony Brook Children’s Hospital and NYU Langone Hospital. The bags were assembled by volunteers over Memorial Day weekend, filled with clothes, puzzle books, smiley stress …

Backpack Gifts Sure to Bring Roars of Laughter

The Lions club gathers with Jeanine Spencer and the Brandel Murphy Foundation to assemble backpacks for kids

Several Lions Clubs got together with The Spencer Foundation and the Brandel Murphy Youth Foundation this Memorial Day weekend to make up backpacks for the children at Stony Brook Children’s Hospital and NYU Langone/Winthrop.   Fifty backpacks will be delivered to Stony Brook this coming Tuesday and fifty more will be given to the children at NYU Langone/Winthrop. Our fervent thanks …

Save The Date For Summer Finny Fun!

Toy turtle on a dock piling in front of the Captain Eddie B III charter fishing boat

From 3 to 7 pm on July 13th, our intrepid band of turtles and fishing enthusiasts will be sailing out on the Captain Eddie III for our annual Fishing for a Cause Fundraiser.  Those who join us will be plied with food and soft drinks, and will have the chance to participate in several raffles. One very special raffle prize:  …

Marching Forward to Support St Baldrick’s

Volunteers having their heads shaved for St Baldricks

St. Baldrick’s is committed to supporting the most promising research to find cures for childhood cancers and give survivors long and healthy lives. Here on Long Island, March is a special time when St. Baldrick’s holds fundraisers for their cause. On March 9th Jeanine Spencer attended one such event at Napper Tandy’s in Northport. Family members shared heartfelt memories of …

First Central Savings Bank Donation Brings Holiday Cheer

Jeanine Spencer accepting a donation check from First Central Savings Bank

The Huntington and Lynbrook branches of First Central Savings Bank presented Jeanine Spencer with a $2500.00 donation to support The Spencer Foundation’s charitable work. The effort was spearheaded by Heather Simek and Michael Caldwell, Vice President and Business Development Officer of the Huntington and Lynbrook branches respectively. Said Jeanine, “It is such a pleasure to work with the staff of …

Fall Fundraiser Success!!

Dave, Gina, Sassy, Nathalie and Kathy at NVT

Many many thanks to Gina and Dave Wuestmann of the North Village Tavern in Rockville Center for hosting an amazing fundraiser for The Spencer Foundation on Saturday November 18th! Turtles and people alike had a wonderful (and delicious) time. Thanks to the generosity of all the friends who joined us, the event raised $3720 for the Foundation’s Jean and Jeanine …

In Memoriam: Fran Spencer

Fran Spencer with Sassy the Turtle and other Board members

It is with great sorrow that we announce the passing of Fran Spencer, member of our Board of Trustees since our founding in 2016. Fran was an educator by profession and taught high school English and theater for many years, so she was a strong proponent for developing the Foundation’s scholarship program. She also founded The Actor’s Workshop, a creative …

Scholarship Recipients Already Spreading Joy

A tiny toy turtle perched on the bag of a larger toy turtle

Our first Jean and Jeanine Spencer Beyond the Cure Ambassador Scholars, Emily and Nina, are already making a difference in the lives of other childhood cancer survivors. Emily is serving as a mentor through the National Children’s Cancer Society (NCCS)Mentorship Program where she is a source of support to a child currently going through treatment. Nina will be participating in …

Sassy Spreads Smiles for September

Jeanine Spencer and Stony Brook Children's Hospital Child Life staff with the latest gift delivery

Even if it rains, fun still pours!  Sassy and friends dropped off over 150 toys and other items for the kids at Stony Brook Children’s Hospital, including several cases of Arizona Iced Tea for families to enjoy in the Ronald McDonald House Room. Thank you to everyone that gave so generously, with special thanks to First Central Savings Bank, Knights …

CANCELLED: Fishing for a Cause Fundraiser

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Unfortunately we have had to cancel our 4th Annual Fishing for a Cause Fundraiser on the Captain Eddie B III, originally scheduled for Saturday September 23rd, due to the expected storm. We’ll reschedule it sometime in 2024. Thanks to everyone who donated to this event. Here’s hoping our turtles aren’t thwarted by the weather next time!

A Dozen Snuggles Delivered to WeCare Blankets!

Beautiful handmade blankets donated to WeCare Blankets

Jeanine Spencer dropped off a dozen handmade blankets to WeCare Blankets at their August 21st wrap party. WeCare Blankets has been giving these colorful blankets to children undergoing chemotherapy since 1999, and the Spencer Foundation has been donating blankets since 2016. Said Jeanine Spencer, “It was great seeing all the volunteers at the Merrick Library for the blanket wrapping event. …

New Members Join the Foundation’s Board of Trustees

David and Gina Wuestmann join our Board of Trustees

The Spencer Foundation is pleased to announce the appointment of wife and husband team Gina Wuestmann and David Wuestmann to the Foundation’s board of directors, effective August 15, 2023. “The Spencer Foundation’s mission of ‘to bring hope and a smile to children with cancer and their families’ resonates with us deeply,” David said. Gina adds, “Growing up, my father embedded …

Introducing Our First Scholarship Winners!

Two toy turtles posed with a graduate's mortarboard

We are happy to announce that the first recipients of the Jean and Jeanine Spencer Beyond The Cure Ambassador Scholarship have been selected. Jessica Cook, Vice President of Patient and Family Services at the National Children’s Cancer Society, thanked The Spencer Foundation, saying “Your unwavering commitment to these exceptional individuals plays a pivotal role in transforming their dreams into reality. …

ROAR for Gift Bags Galore from the Lions and The Spencer Foundation!

A toy lion holds a toy turtle with a number of gift bags on the floor in the background

At their District Convention on Sunday March 5th, the Lions District 20K2-Nassau County NY and Bermuda dropped off donations of pajamas, toys and weighted Teddy Bears.  These will be used for gift bags for the pediatric cancer patients at Stony Brook Children’s Hospital and Cohen’s Children’s Medical Center. Together, the Lions and The Spencer Foundation donations will make up 145 …