New Donor Starts Support of BEF

 By Kevin Adler

            A few minutes prior to the start of the Empire Challenge game, Boomer Esiason stood on the field at Hofstra University and spoke to a group of about a dozen boys and girls. As he bent down to get closer to eye level with the 12-year-olds, Boomer wasn�t talking about his football heroics, nor the exciting game they were about to see. He was telling them about Cystic Fibrosis, his son Gunnar, and the work of the Boomer Esiason Foundation.

            His audience was a remarkable group of youngsters who, in the past eight months, have started a foundation and raised more than $100,000 that they are distributing to organizations that help children. Living the slogan �Children for Children,� the Andy Fund (www.andyfund.com) is turning heads in the New York area philanthropic community.

            �My son is about the same age as you, and he has Cystic Fibrosis. His lungs don�t function properly and his immune system is weak...� Esiason told the kids of The Andy Fund. �But you�d never know it because we take good care of him...and because we work so hard at it, and he tries so hard.�

            With the support of many people, Esiason told the kids, researchers have greatly improved the care and treatment of children with CF. But more can and must be done. As Esiason responded to their questions about CF and � of course � football, a new partnership in the fight against CF was made.

            The Andy Fundhttp://www.andyfoundation.com) was started in December 2003 by a group of 11- and 12-year-old kids who lost a friend, Andy Palmieri, when he was hit by a car. The boys and girls, who all live in Garden City, N.Y., decided to start a foundation in their friend�s memory, and to support organizations that work with children. Neither they nor their parents realized that the kids would be able to raise six figures of funds in less than a year -- but the energy of idealistic young teenagers should never be doubted.

            �It�s extraordinary what these kids have done,� said Chris Gallic, a parent of one of the Andy Fund�s members. �They�ve done this all on their own, with their energy and effort.�

            A talent show, bake sale, roller hockey tournament, and cookbook have been among the many fundraising ideas that the children have generated so far. �They�re just realizing how powerful of a force they can be, and what good they can do,� said Theresa Gallic.

            Before distributing funds, the members of Andy�s Fund research potential beneficiary organizations and then personally interview the leaders of those groups. Based on the interview, they decide whether to give, and how much. And thus, they found themselves on the field talking with Boomer Esiason and the work that BEF is doing.

            �Bringing new groups aboard as supporters is wonderful,� said Esiason, who also thanked the primary sponsors of the Empire Challenge � the National Football League, New York Jets, Outback Steakhouse, Canon, and Under Armour.

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