When Matt DiStefano founded the Dezy Strong Foundation he had grand visions of supporting cancer patients and their families.
Now his foundation is carrying out a wish to help others as the foundation announced a multi-year partnership with Huntington Hospital to launch the “Dezy Strong Infusion Center.”
The foundation has pledged $500,000 over five years and aside from renaming the infusion suite at the Northwell Health facility, they’ll also be very involved with volunteerism and outreach and furnish the rooms with Dezy Strong pillows, blankets and photos.
DiStefano, a Sachem teacher, coach and alumnus who died in January 2020 after a fight with kidney cancer, believed in wellness centers to help harness a strong mind and strong body. His longterm vision is for cancer patients to relax and be as healthy as they can in their fight.
“My family and I are extremely proud to support the board of my husband’s foundation in their decision to partner with and make such a generous donation to Huntington Hospital,” said Jennifer DiStefano, Dezy’s wife. “This donation will give this great hospital the ability to continue to help others in the spirit of strong mind and strong body. The hospital’s willingness to allow the foundation to become involved in not only the naming of the infusion suite but to be able to interact with the patients and caretakers is exactly the type of relationship that my husband would be proud to have his name associated with.”
Huntington Hospital treats between 90 and 150 patients each month in their infusion suite.
“The Infusion Suite also helps those who are uninsured or underinsured,” said Nick Fitterman, MD, executive director of Huntington Hospital. “This generous donation will help Huntington Hospital continue to provide state-of-the-art health care to its patients, while also honoring Matthew’s memory.”