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Times Observer photos by Cody Elms
Snell Family Foundation founder Jeremy Snell keeps things light and modern with a selfie encapsulating himself and the attendees Thursday evening at the Conewango Club.
On Thursday evening, the Snell Family Foundation held its first Warren County Professional’s Give Back Event in conjunction with Caring for Life at the Conewango Club. The foundation, established by Jeremy and Jackie Snell in March 2022, includes Jeremy’s brothers, Jason, Justin, Jared, Tony and their families.
“Jackie and I, we wanted to make something happen,” Snell said. “The same thing with this event tonight. Let’s start it and then get everyone involved. My brothers obviously on board. Coming full circle, being people that relied on the community to raise them, and now we’re in a spot in life, where we’re able to help those kids that need the community, I can’t put into words how much it means to me.
Of his brothers’ involvement in not just Thursday’s event, but throughout the foundation’s first year, Snell elaborated on how despite their diversity in personalities and attributes, each brother brings something special to the table.
“Jason brings the heart for sure,” Snell said. “Justin brings the operational asset. He’s the guy that can make some stuff happen. Jared, he’s the brains. He’s stubborn, he’s strong headed, he’s smart, and that’s what I need to push back on my ideas, and Tony, he’s just the life of the party. He’s the guy that you want to be around. You have a great mix there, where I just throw ideas all day, and they make them happen.”
Jackie and Jeremy Snell present a check of $8,814 to Caring for Life members Lacey Schuler, Kayla Wise, and Joe Spoveri Thursday evening at the Snell Family Foundation’s Warren County Professionals Give Back Event. Following the presentation, an additional $1,200 was donated by the Palmieri and Gatto families bringing the total to $10,014.
From the onset, the Snell Family Foundation set out on a mission to raise and donate funds to help those who are running on hard times or are in need, and to build a better community. According to one representative from the foundation, they kept their mission statement very broad to not create limits on what they were able to do.
The event was able to raise and donate $10, 014 for Caring for Life, with $8, 814 coming from donations, 42 local business sponsors and a 50/50 that was won and donated back to the foundation by Tessa Card. The additional $1,200 came from a donation by the Palmieri and Gatto families midway through the event.
“Caring for Life does amazing work,” Maria Palmieri said. “We have a child who has undergone major medical treatment. We know first hand how challenging it is because there are so many things that need immediate attention. Caring for Life, lessens the burden for families.”
Alicia Gatto added, “We were thrilled to contribute the additional amount to help the Snell Family Foundation exceed the ten-thousand mark for Caring for Life. Caring for Life is an incredible organization in Warren that has helped many families offset financial burdens during difficult times and we are always happy to support their mission.”
Caring for Life is a nonprofit organization that provides financial and emotional assistance to families in Warren County with seriously ill children. The children’s diagnoses range from congenital heart defects to various forms of cancer. Caring for Life reimburses for travel expenses as well as the cost of medical appointments. Established in 1991 by Youngsville’s Linda Sivak, who recognized the lack of financial and emotional support for the families of a child with medical problems. In 2004, a new Board of Directors led by Executive Director Lori McNeal, was created, who then in 2005 changed the target population from catastrophically or terminally ill children to seriously ill children so that more families could be offered their services. Since 2005, Caring for Life has registered 67 families and reimbursed families over $342,247, while also giving out 78 care packages to families whose child was flown to a children’s hospital in an emergency situation.
“On behalf of Caring for Life, it’s an absolute honor, because we are one hundred percent of volunteer run, so we depend on donations throughout the community to make our organization run,” Caring for Life board member Lacey Schuler said. “We will stretch this money to every corner of Warren County and multiple families. We’ve registered ten families in the last six months, so the need is great. Our organization runs by events like this.”
Caring for Life will be holding its 10th annual Mom Prom on May 12, 2023, at the Conewango Club. Schuler noted that you do not have to be a mom to attend, but the minimum age is 21. Tickets are available at through the organization’s website www.careing4life.net/events
OPEN DIALOGUE
Thursday’s event allowed for not just fundraising, but also open dialogue between local officials, community organizers, local philanthropists, and local business leaders in hopes of inspiring new ideas to grow and develop all over Warren County.
“I made a point to go out and find diversity in this crowd,” said Snell of those in attendance. “I went across the board and asked myself, how is a county going to lift themselves up? How can I get 200 professionals in a room to discuss business ideas; To talk to each other?”
Snell highlighted the suggestion forms that were available and encouraged anyone with a development idea to fill it out in order to connect those with ideas to those with the means to turn them into achievable goals by opening lines of communication and establishing partnerships that did not previously exist.
Since last March, the Snell Family Foundation has been busy with partnerships and donations, including Angel Tree Donations, The Peppermill to create a meal voucher program for foster families and the children on the night of placement, Kids in Need, Blue Star Mothers of Kinzua, Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA, Olive the Service Dog, and Don Mill’s Achievement Center Preschool Scholarship. In addition, Snell Real Estate partnered with the Warren-Forest Counties Economic Opportunity Council to provide house for homeless individuals and families. Going forward, the Snell Family Foundation will be exploring the development of a community resource center, already partnered with Lowe’s and Walmart, as well as partnering with Children and Youth Services to build foster homes.
“A lot of this is centered around youth,” Jason Snell said. “There is potential here. There are wonderful kids that grow up in this community every day, but some of them never have the opportunity and we know that road to well. So, any way we can help. When he proposed this idea, and I give his wife all the credit in the world, he gets these ideas, and we talk about when he gets them and he goes after them, he doesn’t wait.”
Jeremy Snell’s co-founder, wife Jackie, has been his biggest supporter throughout the process of giving back to those in need.
“It’s just really providing support,” Jackie Snell said. “His passion and drive, and all of the ideas he wants to do, I could easily be like, no we don’t want to do that, but I know he’s going to make it happen and he’s going to make a difference and he’s going to do incredible things.”
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