Sunday, October 5th, 2008 - The 5th Annual Kicks for Kids with Cancer and Blood Disorders

Fall is fast approaching, and that means it's time for our annual soccer fundraiser, Kicks for Kids with Cancer and Blood Disorders. This year's event will be our 5th consecutive "Kick" - and it's shaping up to be a fantastic event. Here's just some of what's in store:
  • The day starts with our 5k Rovers Run/Walk
  • Then, youth soccer teams from across the state will put their skills against one another
  • Pick-up soccer games will take place all day long - can your team defend your field against all challengers?
  • We'll hold our annual Balloon Launch, and there'll be lots of fun games, prizes, and entertainment throughout the day.
Put Your Feet to Work for a Great Cause - come on out and support Lainie's Angels' mission to provide peer support services for the families of sick children.

To sign up for our Rovers Run/Walk or to register a youth soccer team for the event, please call 732.906.7887, or click here to download a brochure with full event details.

To check out some highlights and photos from previous Kicks - please view our "past events" section, below.






Sunday, October 7th - A Great Day For A Great Cause!

Lainie's Angels would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to the hundreds of participants, volunteers and benefactors who joined us for our 4th Annual Kicks for Kids with Cancer and Blood Disorders.

This year, youth teams from across the state participated in our all-day soccer marathons at St. Joseph High School in Metuchen. And, thanks to the generous support of everyone involved, we were able to raise nearly $20,000 towards our mission of providing peer support for the families of sick children.

Now, time to get ready for next year's Kick - see you there!

Click here to see photos and
highlights from the event.




Comics for Kids 2007: Another Night of Laughter

Despite some particularly tough weather, this year's Comics for Kids was a wonderful night filled with friends and laughs. All of us at Lainie's Angels would like to extend a big thanks to all of those who made it out to support our cause. We'd especially like to thank Caroline's on Broadway for hosting the event as well as Ann Design, Ellen Karis, Mike Dillon, and Rick Younger for sharing their comedic talents with us. Check back soon for pictures and highlights of the event.




The Third Annual Kicks for Kids – Another Success in 2006!

Many thanks to all who attended and contributed to our third annual Kicks for Kids with Cancer and Blood Disorders on October 1st. Despite some early morning rain, the day was a major success, with close to 1,000 people in attendance, and plenty of soccer to go around – with organized games that included teams from Edison, South Plainfield, Colonia and others. RedBulls midfielder Todd Dunivant was on hand to address the crowds and sign autographs, and local signing talent Justina performed some of her great songs. All told, we raised close to $16,000 for Lainie's Angels programs – putting us squarely on a path for an even bigger event next year.

Click here to see photos and highlights from the event. Click here to see press coverage in the
Star-Ledger.



The JaM Foundation for Life held its fourth annual fundraiser on Monday, May 1 to benefit Lainie's Angels. Over 200 guests filled the Cavo Café Lounge in Astoria, NY to honor the lives of three unique individuals: John and Mike Katsimatides and Lainie Afendoulis, in whose memories the charities were founded.

A significant portion of the event's proceeds will benefit Lainie's Angels' in-hospital peer support and Parent Advocate programs. Specifically, funds have been earmarked to pilot a project in partnership with Mount Sinai School of Medicine and its educational arm, The Morchand Center, to help pediatric medical students and residents understand the special needs of families with children facing life-threatening illnesses.

Click here to see photos and
highlights from the event.




Kicks for Kids Scores Another Success in 2005!

Sunday, October 2nd brought well over a thousand children, parents, and coaches to St. Joseph's High School in Metuchen, New Jersey for our second annual Kicks for Kids with Cancer and Blood Disorders, a day-long marathon of soccer, friends and fun that raised over $15,000 for the Lainie's Angels foundation.

The day kicked off with the roar of engines, as a fleet of motorcycles launched the Kicks for Kids Run/Walk at 10:00 AM, with a lap around the St. Joseph's running track. More than one hundred people joined in the 5k trek through the spacious and beautiful grounds of the high school campus. Meanwhile, the first of over twenty scheduled soccer matches were off and running, with youth and adult players from a wide range of local leagues joining in on the fun.

Other highlights of the day included:
  • The soccer skills area, where hundreds of kids tested their abilities at dribbling, passing and shooting with Spencer Rockman, director of Rovers International Soccer.

  • Music by local singer/songwriter Justina, whose set of acoustic tunes was enthusiastically received by her appreciative audience.

  • An appearance by Jeff Parke, defender for the New York/New Jersey MetroStars, who spent several hours chatting with the kids and signing soccer balls.

  • The debut of a new Kicks for Kids tradition, the Balloon Launch, which saw a colorful bouquet of over 400 balloons, dedicated to the honor or memory of loved ones, rising into the sky.

Click here to see photos and
highlights from the event.

Comics for Kids

A Great Time for a Great Cause at Comics for Kids!

May 5th, 2005 was a night of friends, fun and laughter, as Lainie's Angel's Comics for Kids fundraiser drew a full house to Frank's Restaurant in downtown Manhattan. Attendees enjoyed an array of delectable hors d'oeuvres and fine spirits, while event emcee Ellen Karis kept the laughs coming with a roster of talented performers that included Jessica Kirson, Greg Vaccarello and Wali Collins.

Heartfelt thanks go out to all who attended, with special acknowledgement to everyone who worked so hard to make Comics for Kids a success, including chairman Dominic Calla, the Molinari family of Frank's Restaurant, and our line-up of comedians.

Click here to see photos and
highlights from the event.



Hundreds of kids, coaches, and parents turned out for the 1st Annual Kicks for Kids with Cancer and Blood Disorders event. In conjunction with the Edison United Soccer Association (EUSA) and Rovers International Soccer Camps, we were able to keep the ball rolling all day long!

The event raised close to $11,000, and many parents and families were on hand to hear about the Lainie's Angels mission, and the need for parent advocacy. In all, it was a great time, and we look forward to doing it again next year.

Special thanks goes out to NY/NJ MetroStars defender Chris Leitch, who stopped by and took time to sign autographs and meet with children. We'd also like to thank MetroStars marketing coordinator Brian Picinic who arranged (and manned) the very popular MetroStars goal throughout the day.

Click here to see photos and
highlights from the event.





Wine growers from all across Michigan were on hand to help us celebrate Valentine's Day and raise awareness for the Lainie's Angels cause.

Click here to see photos and
highlights from the event.




Over 300 people turned out for our wine tasting with Kevin Zraly! A great time was had by all, and the event raised over $70,000 for the Lainie's Angels mission.

Click here to see photos and
highlights from the event.




Thanks to the generosity of our donors and sponsors, our Charity Golf Classic was a great success!

Click here to see photos, contest winners
and highlights from the event.