Live 4 Tay Foundation, Inc.
Taylor's Story
July 31, 2009 Tay was in Illinois for the ASA Softball Nationals. This was the last time Tay played softball, but she played a much bigger game after that day. In early August of 2009 Taylor Filorimo was diagnosed with a rare form of renal cell carcinoma (RCC). On August 4th, 2009 (the reason the number 4 is a part of PRAY 4 TAY), Tay had her very first surgery where they removed three tumors and 5% of her right lung. After numerous tries with different clinical trials and chemotherapy treatments, on Dec.29th, 2011 her scans showed the cancer had spread back into the right lung. In Feb, 2012 Tay was discovered to have more than 23 tumors in and around her lungs, spine and heart! Tay holds the record of being the youngest patient ever diagnosed with Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma Papillary Type 2, which is most commonly diagnosed in age 50+ year old adults.
Taylor always held a positive attitude, many, many times encouraging her new found friends that she met along her journey who were facing similar situations, as well as being the cheerleader for her family, teammates and closest friends in HER FIGHT! She was always thinking of others. In September, 2010, BIOSILK Kids honored Tay's GOLD PROJECT by adding a gold ribbon, along with Tay's story, to the BIOSILK Kids shampoo & conditioner for Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. In April, 2012 she inspired Kim Milliken, Clinton's mom, (Clinton, 8, lost his battle fighting Medulloblastoma, a type of brain tumor, on January 19, 2012) with a wish from her bucket list to create COLORS FOR HOPE nail polish to honor or remember her friends along this journey. All proceeds from this project go directly toward childhood cancer research. Tay is also responsible for giving life to the phrase HOPE IS EVERYTHING and has immeasurably raised awareness for September being Childhood Cancer Awareness Month and brought meaning to the GOLD ribbon for many. She also referred to Wednesday every week as HOPE Day. Tay's philosophy on her diagnosis: "I will NOT let the FEAR of cancer STRIKE me out."
Tay played her last inning here on earth on September 5, 2012. She left a large "bucket list" of things that she didn't have time to accomplish in her quest to raise awareness for childhood cancer and help families that she expects her Warriors to Live 4 Tay and make happen, and we will, with your help, to TAY IT FORWARD!
Our Mission
The Live 4 Tay Foundation supports families who a child with cancer by providing financial assistance generated through fundraising events held to raise awareness for childhood cancer. We maintain a passionate commitment to raise funds, foster community support, and promote childhood cancer awareness.
The Live 4 Tay Foundation is a community-based organization dedicated to raise awareness for childhood cancer through advocacy and education, and by raising and disbursing funds to provide financial assistance to families who have a child with cancer and to organizations that are leading innovative research for the prevention and cure of childhood cancers.
About the Foundation
The Live 4 Tay Foundation was founded in September, 2012 in memory of 16 year old Taylor Filorimo. Taylor was diagnosed at the age of 13 with Renal Cell Carcinoma, Papillary Type II, a type of kidney cancer typically found in men over the age of 50. She was the youngest known case ever diagnosed. Tay spent most of her free time over her 3 years of treatment making friends & finding ways to help other families, even if it was just to brighten their day. She loved softball & supported her team from the hospital or the dugout, even when she couldn’t play. Her friends started the Play 4 Tay softball tournament as a way to help support her family while she was getting treatment.
Over the course of 3 years, Tay saw her tournament grow with support from her softball community and said, “When my family no longer needs this support, I want my tournament to continue so that it can help other families,” and this is just what we are doing with the Live 4 Tay Foundation, including additional activities, to raise funding and awareness to help support families and END childhood cancer!
In 2015 we officially formed the Taylor Filorimo Scholarship Fund. Kicking off 2019, our total community outreach giving has reached an incredible $246,000 thanks to the commitment of our volunteers, sponsors and community.
The Live 4 Tay Foundation is recognized as a public charity under Internal Revenue Code section 107 and has 501(c)(3) status. Donations to the Live 4 Tay Foundation are deductible. Donors should consult their tax advisor for questions regarding deductibility. The Live 4 Tay Foundation EIN is 46-1423548. A copy of the Live 4 Tay determination letter is available upon request.
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