Lori Griffith, Executive Director

Nothing quite prepares you for the diagnosis of a life threatening illness affecting your child. My work history had been twenty years in the healthcare industry and extensive volunteering with children battling cancer and other life threatening illnesses. I managed the largest neonatal physician group in Palm Beach County, with oversight for five local hospitals, working directly in a Level III, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at St. Mary’s Medical Center in West Palm Beach, Florida.

Through my employment and direct patient/family involvement, I saw firsthand the financial and emotional trauma families suffered and I knew something could be done to relieve some of this burden. I left a corporate position and all of the financial security to chase my dream of helping others and making a lasting impact on families with children battling cancer, cystic fibrosis, heart disease and other life threatening illnesses.

While it is one thing to assist families, it is something entirely different when this happens to your own child. My son suffered a traumatic accident where he almost lost his life. Thankfully he was saved in the OR, but subsequently will suffer health complications for the rest of his life. The cost of medical care (even with insurance) debilitated our finances. Any parent will gladly go bankrupt in an effort to save their child and sadly so many do. I don’t believe this has to be the case, but until new healthcare is available in this country, this is a grim reality.

I have always believed in the power of community and the concept of locals helping locals. When people can directly see where their donations are going to, I believe they tend to become more involved in assisting those within their community. I created Chasin A Dream Foundation so that donors know exactly where their money is going and they can follow the journey of the children we are assisting on our website and social media pages.