Phil Caliendo receives 2009 NephCure Foundation Service Award at “Countdown to a Cure: Rhapsody in Blues”

Dr. Sanja Sever and Dr. Valerie Schumacher also receive 2009 grants to continue research into Nephrotic Syndrome and FSGS during May 30 event.

Boston, MA  – Phil Caliendo, a Plymouth, MA resident, was honored with the 2009 NephCure Service Award at “Countdown to a Cure: Rhapsody in Blues” on Saturday, May 30 at the Boston Marriott. Over 140 people attended the event which was successful in raising $25,000 for the NephCure Foundation, the only organization solely committed to seeking a cause and cure for Nephrotic Syndrome and Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis (FSGS).

Caliendo was honored with the award for his many years of dedication and support to the NephCure cause. He was presented the award by Nicolas Belezos, a 17-year-old who’s been fighting Nephrotic Syndrome for the past 14 years, going in and out of remission and spending nearly his entire life on medication.

Caliendo is a friend of the Belezos family, of Hingham, MA., who organized the event.

“Phil has been the one constant through the 13 or so years we’ve been fundraising,” said Katina Belezos, Nicolas’ mother.  “He is here every single year, bringing more and more people to the events. He is not only very supportive of us, but also of The NephCure Foundation and all the families.”

WATD radio personality Brian Edwards emceed the event, which included a performance by the jazz band Delta Generators.  There were over 141 items available during a silent auction, while four live auction items, including seven front row tickets to a Boston Red Sox game and a fishing trip, helped raise over $6,000 alone.

In addition, Dr. Sanja Sever received the 2009 NephCure Service Award for her efforts into finding a cause and cure for these two devastating kidney diseases and was also surprised to learn that she was offered the 2009 NephCure Established Investigator New Directions Grant to continue her studies.

“Fairies and knights are the donors in the room and all across the nation,” Dr. Sever said during her speech, “the dragons are the vicious disease we are fighting.”

Another 2009 NephCure Young Investigator Grant was offered to Dr. Valerie Schumacher. The grant was on behalf of Children’s Hospital of Boston, NephCure and Cure for Cole. Cure for Cole has raised over $100,000 for Children’s Hospital of Boston in honor of Cole Pasqualucci, an FSGS patient from Scituate, MA.

Finally, Lydia Sankey, who ran in this year’s Boston Marathon in honor of Zach Ganz and raised nearly $10,000 for the NephCure Foundation as a result, was also honored with a token of appreciation for her efforts.

Special thanks to all the volunteers who helped make this event such a success!