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Thank you for attending the 18th annual

Syracuse for St. Jude Gala

Presented by DeFrancisco & Falgiatano Law Firm

Syracuse, New York |  March 8,  2025

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Thank you for joining us on March 8, 2025 for the 18th annual Syracuse for St. Jude Gala presented by DeFrancisco & Falgiatano Law Firm at The Oncenter Ballroom in Syracuse, New York, where we came together to support the livesaving mission of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital: Finding cures. Saving children.®

We hope you enjoyed an evening of live entertainment, cocktails, dinner, a silent auction, a Give to Live auction and an impactful Mission Moment. Thank you for joining us to celebrate the life of Officer Colin Hayward-Toland by presenting an award in his namesake – the Officer Colin Hayward-Toland Award.

Matching gifts are an easy way to increase your donation to St. Jude — at no additional cost to you! Many employers support your altruistic efforts by offering matching gift programs to your favorite charities. Check if your employer will match your gift to St. Jude or contact us at matchinggifts@stjude.org.

All proceeds from this event benefit patient and patient families at St. Jude. Families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing or food – so they can focus on helping their child live.

St. Jude provides comprehensive care and health equality for children with cancer and other life-threatening diseases. We tailor treatment for each child's unique needs, improving outcomes for some of the world’s sickest children.

 

St. Jude patient Adriana with family

 
 
Patient Adriana receives kisses on her cheeks from family members.

Choose the right planned gift for you

 
St. Jude patient Han is painting during art therapy with a family member.

St. Jude patient Han, pictured with family

IRA charitable contributions

If you're 70 ½ or older, you can contribute to St. Jude from your IRA and potentially receive tax benefits. You can have your IRA administrator use our sample letter.

More on IRAs

 
 
 
Image of St. Jude patient Nora Kay at the St. Jude campus.

St. Jude patient Nora Kay

Donor-advised funds

You can recommend a grant from your donor-advised fund by calling your fund manager or by signing in to your granting institution and selecting St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

More on DAFs

 
 
 
Patient Maelin-Kate smiles while painting a flower.

St. Jude patient Maelin-Kate

Gifts of stock

When gifting stock, you can reference our transfer form, or call us at (800) 395-4341 to inform us of your gift, so we can properly acknowledge your gift and provide you with a tax receipt.

More on Stocks

 
 
 
Patient Franser wears a backpack and smiles outdoors.

St. Jude patient Franser

Charitable gift annuities

Charitable gift annuities may interest you if you want to transfer cash or securities to St. Jude and receive lifetime payments for yourself or a loved one. 

More on CGAs

 
 
 
 

Your support helps St. Jude kids like Miguel

Because of your support, we can provide children cutting-edge treatments not covered by insurance, at no cost to families.

Thanks to you, our lifesaving work can continue. 

Donate Now Read Patient Stories

 
Patient Miguel and his mother hold hands.

St. Jude patient Miguel with his mother

 
 

Thank you to our presenting sponsor

DeFrancisco & Falgiatano, LLP Personal Injury Lawyers.
 

Our 2025 Honoree

Rick Nuzzo

Syracuse for St. Jude Gala 2025 Officer Colin Hayward-Tolan Award Honoree Rick Nuzzo.
 

Thank you to our committee

Syracuse for St. Jude committee members gather for a portrait between multi-colored balloons.
 
 

St. Jude stories from New York

Every dollar makes a difference*

  1. ... could help provide one day of oxygen for a St. Jude patient*

    During treatment, St. Jude patients may need oxygen to help their bodies function properly and aid in healing.

    Donate $250

  2. ... could help provide 20 days of meals for a St. Jude patient*

    St. Jude provides patients and their families with meal cards for breakfast, lunch and dinner in Kay Kafe, the hospital’s cafeteria.

    Donate $500

  3. … could help provide 7 sets of school supplies for St. Jude patients*

    Many patients can keep attending school after diagnosis and during treatment. These patients may need accommodations or other services to help them succeed.

    Donate $1,000

  4. … could help provide 9 hours of physical therapy for St. Jude patients*

    Children with life-threatening diseases may develop physical impairments as a result of their illness or treatments. Physical therapy can help St. Jude patients improve strength, balance, flexibility and coordination.

    Donate $2,500

  5. … could help provide 18 chest x-rays, one view*

    X-rays are imaging tests that take pictures of the inside of the body. Doctors use X-rays to help diagnose and monitor a St. Jude patient’s treatment.

    Donate $5,000

  6. Support of our mission

    Any amount supports kids around the world. St. Jude shares the breakthroughs it makes, and every child saved at St. Jude means doctors and scientists worldwide can use that knowledge to save even more children.*

    Donate Any Amount

* Your donation will be used to provide breakthrough research, treatment and cures. Items listed here are representative of services and supplies that are part of the treatment and care of children at St. Jude. The cost of each item or service is an approximation, and will vary based on actual costs incurred and individual patient needs. Your donation will be used for the general operating needs of St. Jude, where no family ever receives a bill for treatment, travel, housing or food.

 
 

Get involved locally

Click below to find additional events, volunteer opportunities and more ways to connect with St. Jude supporters across New York and the Tri-state area.

Events and Galas in New York

 
 

Other ways you can get involved:

 
 

Patient Colin Hayward-Toland stands with committee members before a St. Jude wall.

St. Jude patient Colin Hayward-Toland (bottom, left) with commitee members Joe and Amy Rossi

This award was created by gala committee members to honor the legacy of Officer Colin Hayward-Toland. At age 2, Colin was diagnosed with anaplastic ependymoma, a rare form of brain cancer, and began treatment at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Colin believed that you should “never give up on your dreams."

In 2016, he was able to realize his own dream by being sworn in as an honorary member of the Ithaca Police Department.

On March 17, 2018, after an 8-year fight with cancer, Colin lost his battle. We remember Colin’s legacy with the Officer Colin Hayward-Toland Award, which recognizes a local community member who represents virtues similar to Colin’s spirit of tenacity, resilience and positivity. 

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