HEADstrong’s Annual Donate A Turkey Dinner Is Back

Holmes, Penn. (November 2, 2022) –  This Thanksgiving will mark the 15th consecutive year that the HEADstrong Foundation will coordinate a traditional holiday meal for patients and their families, along with the staff at the Abramson Cancer Center at the University of Pennsylvania.  

Bringing the family spirit of Thanksgiving to those receiving inpatient care during the holiday was a goal of HEADstrong founder Nicholas Colleluori, and the tradition has continued on as a staple of the patient services offered by the foundation. The annual Thanksgiving meal is part of HEADstrong’s HEADtable program, which serves meals and provides entertainment events and recreational activities to patients receiving cancer care at Philadelphia-area hospitals.

For the third time, the event will look slightly different. Instead of the Colleluori family, HF team and volunteers serving the meal on each floor of the oncology department and bringing normalcy to an abnormal holiday setting, restrictions that are currently in place limit physical access to the hospital. Instead, longtime partner Rastelli Catering will prepare and deliver the meals to be served directly to patients, family members and staff by authorized personnel.

Beginning November 1st and running through Thanksgiving on November 24th, the HEADstrong Foundation asks its supporters to pledge a $25 Thanksgiving meal to a patient and a family member, allowing them to enjoy the holiday while receiving care. To give the gift of Thanksgiving to those spending the holiday in the hospital, click HERE.

This year, HEADstrong is proud to announce that for the first time, in addition to inpatient meals, the organization will be providing meals to patients and their families who are receiving outpatient treatment. 

“Thanksgiving was our last holiday together as a family,” said Cheryl Colleluori, HEADstrong President and Nick’s mom. “Since his passing, we have fulfilled our last promise to Nick that others would benefit from his life and bringing Thanksgiving to the hospital was the very first thing we did to honor him. Nick was adamant about us serving at the hospital and we will do everything in our power to continue to make that happen. We are thankful to be a resource to families just like ours and to be able to increase our impact this year by adding additional families.” 

For more information on the HEADstrong Foundation, its mission and those that it serves, please visit www.HEADstrong.org and follow on social media at @HEADstrongFND.