Firm's Newest Charitable Partnership Has A Personal Connection
RYE, NY — A new charitable effort to aid local families who lost a loved one receiving cancer treatment at Memorial Sloan Kettering West Harrison was launched by an executive with a deeply personal connection to the cause.
The charitable initiative was launched by Louis Katsoris of Julia B. Fee Sotheby’s International Realty. Katsoris, a longtime Harrison resident, conceived the project as a way to help families who lost family members to either cancer or COVID during the pandemic and had to deal with the challenge of facing the deadly virus with a compromised immune system, after already having traveled a long road with a preexisting illness.
The cause is particularly emotional for Katsoris and his wife, an oncologist who has led the Memorial Sloan Kettering site in West Harrison from its inception.
"The COVID-19 pandemic undoubtedly changed every life in one respect or another, but for some, it changed life irreparably, tragically taking away the lives of so many, including those that were already fighting the battle of their lives to survive from preexisting cancer," Katsoris said. "We wanted to do something for people whose family members were struggling not only to make it through the pandemic, but struggling to safeguard their family member fighting cancer. We wanted those people to know that we, as a community, are here to support them and want to give them any joy we can during this emotional holiday season."
Support for the cause was evident from those who attended the annual Mistletoe Magic event in Rye on Nov. 28, Katsoris explained.
"It was the perfect day. People were out, ready and supportive to celebrate life again, but with a humble and sincere heart to never forget those that were lost," he recounted.
Community members who wish to support this effort can still drop off donations of any amount or any kind at the Julia B. Fee Sotheby’s International Realty Rye office at 49 Purchase St. Customized picture frames created specifically for the effort, and suitable for gift giving are also available for purchase for $20.
"The gift was selected to serve as an inspirational and commemorative item for all recipients through 2022 and beyond — a classic picture frame with an inscribed message that reads 2022 - Celebrate, but never forget,” Katsoris said.
One hundred percent of the proceeds and donations will go directly to those local families who had a loved one treated at the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in West Harrison this year.
This article originally appeared on the Rye Patch
