- 64 Winchester Rd Arlington MA
- info@cjmfoundation.org
Our Mission
The mission of the Catherine J. Malatesta Foundation is to save the lives of cancer patients, with an emphasis on children, and to inspire hope and lend support to the families and patients caring for, living with and surviving cancer. This will be accomplished by funding scientific research, raising awareness through fundraising events and providing grants to organizations dedicated to early detection, finding a cure, and optimizing the patient care and family experience during and after their cancer journey.
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Facilitating groundbreaking scientific research
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Raising awareness through various fundraising events
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Granting funds to organizations that are passionately committed to early detection, finding a cure, and enhancing the overall patient care and family experience.
By raising funds for medical advancements, by providing emotional support to patients and their families, by granting funds to organizations that support cancer patients and their families and through strong efforts to increase awareness, the Catherine J. Malatesta Foundation strives to make a positive impact on the lives of those affected by sarcoma and pediatric cancer.
Our Mission
The mission of the Catherine J. Malatesta Foundation is to save the lives of cancer patients, with an emphasis on children, and to inspire hope and lend support to the families and patients caring for, living with and surviving cancer. This will be accomplished by funding scientific research, raising awareness through fundraising events and providing grants to organizations dedicated to early detection, finding a cure, and optimizing the patient care and family experience during and after their cancer journey.
-
Facilitating groundbreaking scientific research
-
Raising awareness through various fundraising events
-
Granting funds to organizations that are passionately committed to early detection, finding a cure, and enhancing the overall patient care and family experience.
By raising funds for medical advancements, by providing emotional support to patients and their families, by granting funds to organizations that support cancer patients and their families and through strong efforts to increase awareness, the Catherine J. Malatesta Foundation strives to make a positive impact on the lives of those affected by sarcoma and pediatric cancer.
We Bring Fun, Love and Hope
Into the Lives of Cancer Patients and their Families
At the CJM Foundation, we feel passionately that every sarcoma and pediatric cancer patient and their family should feel hope. A sarcoma and/or pediatric diagnosis is incredibly emotionally and mentally challenging. These are often very rare cancers with very limited treatment options and low life expectancies. Everything we do is with hope in mind because inspiring hope in cancer patients is incredibly powerful.
Providing sarcoma and pediatric cancer patients with safe treatment options is our number one goal. To that end, the Foundation fundraises via fun, meaningful events so that we can remember patients like Catherine, be inspired by their incredible journeys, and increase the awareness of rare cancers like sarcoma.
These funds support organizations and institutions involved in sarcoma and pediatric cancer research, organizations that support cancer patients and their families and organizations that support the mental health of families after a loved one has passed. Whether you are a patient, caregiver, someone impacted by cancer, we invite you to join us in this fight. Together we’ll make a difference. Thank you.
How We Help
The Catherine J. Malatesta Foundation’s major focus is saving the lives of cancer patients:
ABOUT Catherine
Catherine Malatesta
This website was created to remember and honor the beautiful life and person that was Catherine Malatesta. We hope to capture the essence of our amazing daughter. We plan to share events where Catherine will be honored and remembered and give family and friends the opportunity to read about or attend these events. You can donate to Catherine’s scholarship fund or to organizations that were very near and dear to her heart or you can watch some videos of Catherine, listen to her sing or make a speech or simply peruse the photos.
We hope you enjoy and return whenever you need a little “Cat”.
She made everyone feel comfortable and at ease, and her brilliant smile, quick wit, and amazing singing voice lit up any room she entered.
Catherine was dedicated to her faith and taught first-grade CCD at St. Agnes. She excelled in many areas, including being Student Council President, captain of the field hockey team, rowing crew, singing in the Madrigals, and acting in high school plays.
Cancer Diagnosis
A few weeks after her 16th birthday, Catherine was diagnosed with Stage IV Epithelioid Sarcoma. Catherine faced this catastrophic diagnosis with such aturity, grace, optimism and hope. She was a shining example of strength and bravery as she faced head-on the challenges of living with a dire cancer diagnosis and undergoing such intense chemotherapy and radiation. Catherine's in-hospital treatments left her utterly depleted. The cancer ravaged her body but never her spirit. Catherine waged a heroic battle against the cancer for eight months but the cancer got the best of her and she died at Children's Hospital in Boston on August 2, 2015. Catherine was and will always be our warrior, our hero, our angel.
Pure and Joyful, Just Like Her Name
Catherine's name means "pure" and "joyful noise", and she lived up to her name in every way. Her heart and soul were pure, good, unscathed, and innocent.
She had remarkable kindness, exemplified by her desire to give to others from a young age. Even in the fifth grade, she wrote an essay about what she would do if she won the lottery… Donate to The Children's Room in Arlington to make people who had lost someone special in their life feel better.
Down But Not Out
Catherine inspired everyone around her, even while she was sick. She continued to attend school, make college visits, and take her AP exams, inspiring her peers with her strength and determination.
She had a natural desire to make a difference in the world and would get out of bed even on tough days with a smile on her face. Her goal? To inspire others to find happiness in something, even if it was just the taste of the air.
Catherine was deeply caring for others and extremely loyal to her friends. Despiste facing other obstacles as a tween, Catherine always remainded positive. She always had just the right thing to say, making time for a friend in need and being self-deprecating to put them at ease.
About the Caterine J. Malatesta Foundation
A few weeks after Catherine died the Arlington, MA community decided to raise money for a scholarship in Catherine's memory. Tens of thousands of dollars were raised in a short amount of time. Two scholarships were established. Shortly thereafter, Catherine's family decided to continue to fundraise in Catherine's memory but now the focus shifted to raising funds for sarcoma research and raising awareness about sarcoma cancer. Sarcoma is so rare and therefore such a woefully underfunded cancer. Also, nobody seemed to know what sarcoma was. Planning for the first a CATpella Festival to Belt Out Cancer began in earnest. It was held in january 2017 and was an enormous success. In the aftermath of this successful fundraiser the family decided to launch a 501(c)(3) nonprofit foundation in Catherine's memory called the Catherine J. Malatesta Foundation.
The Foundation was established in 2018. Each year the Foundation underwrites sarcoma research via the Sarcoma Foundation of America and pediatric cancer via Dana Farber Cancer Institute, where Catherine was a patient. The Foundation also supports the Mass. General Center for Early Cancer Detection, the Children's Room, Team Impact, Make-A-Wish, Children's Wishes, Family Reach and many other organizations that either supported Catherine and her family during her cancer journey or who continue to support cancer research, patients and their families undergoing cancer treatment, etc.
The Inspiration for the
Catherine J. Malatesta Foundation
To honor Catherine’s memory and continue her legacy of kindness, the Catherine J. Malatesta Foundation was founded and its purpose is to support sarcoma and pediatric cancer patients and their families during and after their journey, to fund groundbreaking research and to raise awareness of this rare cancer.
August 2, 2023
Join us for the 4th Annual 5KforCat on August 2!
Join us for the 4th Annual 5KforCat on August 2! Walk, run, cycle, swim, hike or paddle a 5K! Set your Fitbut or Apple Watch for 6,250 steps, wear your Belt Out Cancer tee, CATch Me If You Can tee, Malatesta 16 tee or some yellow gear, snap a photo of you and your gang doing your thing and donate! Proceeds in Cat’s memory go to sarcoma and pediatric cancer research!!
Supporter-Hosted Fundraisers
> Neighborhood Bake Sale
Who doesn't love a good bake sale? Well, the Malatesta family certainly does, especially when it's organized ...
> Lucky
Sometimes, it feels like the universe is on your side. That's how it felt for the Malatesta family when their friends ...
> In Memory of Barbara V. Goodwin
Catherine’s Grandmother, Barbara V. Goodwin was a strong woman who faced a horrific diagnosis with grace ...
Donate Now
> Please make checks payable to:
The Catherine J. Malatesta Foundation
64 Winchester Road Arlington, MA 02474
64 Winchester Road Arlington, MA 02474
> Or Donate Here
The Catherine J. Malatesta Foundation is a tax-exempt 501(c) (3) organization.
Donate with Paypal
To honor Catherine’s memory and continue her legacy of kindness, the Catherine J. Malatesta Foundation was founded. And its purpose is one- to support those facing cancer and those seeking to make a positive impact in their community.
> Usefull Links
> Open Hours
Monday – Friday: 9:00-20:00
Saturday: 11:00 – 15:00
> Usefull Links
© Copyright 2023 CJM Foundation. All Rights Reserved.
The Catherine J. Malatesta Foundation is a tax-exempt 501(c) (3) organization. Tax Identification Number: 83-6366124
The Catherine J. Malatesta Foundation is a tax-exempt 501(c) (3) organization. Tax Identification Number: 83-6366124