Why Me

Love and Support for Families with Childhood Cancer

Terry Shepherd, WBJ Hall of Fame 2023

Sherry Shepherd

As a managing partner of S & G, LLP, Terry Shepherd is known around Worcester County as a savvy businessman who recently added author to his lengthy list of accomplishments. To us at Why Me & Sherry’s House, he is Sherry’s dad. Sherry was compassionate far beyond her 13 years. Even in a four-year battle with cancer, Sherry focused on wanting to help other kids – like her. Together, Sherry and Terry co-founded Why Me, and upon her passing in 1985, Terry made sure Sherry’s dream would continue. Since then, Terry has led the organization with a father’s heart and passion that does not fade.

In our early days, Terry would be the grill master at barbecues and take groups of families to car races in New Hampshire, all while raising money and awareness for the organization and Sherry’s legacy. From speaking at a support group to taking a family out for dinner and a show in Boston, 37 years later, he remains steadfast in his commitment to Why Me. As chairman of the board of directors, Terry oversees operations and remains actively involved with the families. He continues to connect with Why Me parents, as only a father who has been down the road of childhood cancer can.

On March 28, 2023, Terry will be inducted into the Worcester Business Journal’s Hall of Fame. Read more here.

 

 

The Next Chapter

Maya Angelou wrote, we delight in the beauty of the butterfly, but rarely see the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty.

Why Me was the creation of a thirteen-year-old girl and her dream to help kids with cancer, while simultaneously in her own battle with cancer.  Over the last 37 years, we have continued to use Sherry’s dream as the building block of our organization.  As is with life, change occurs.  In recent months our Executive Director has stepped down and a new one has been named.  We have also created a new role, adding a new staff member to our organization.

In an email sent to Why Me families in June, David Hagan wrote “At this point, I have come to realize that while this has been a wonderful experience with many blessings, it has also taken a toll on me. As a Why Me family and a bereaved parent, I have my own limits. I think this is a good time for a change and I am stepping down as Executive Director.”

 

Rebecca Kuczarski
Rebecca Kuczarski, Executive Director

As of the first of August, our fundraising manager Rebecca Kuczarski, has stepped into the role of Executive Director.  Rebecca began her career with Why Me in 2017.  She organized and executed many successful fundraisers for the organization, while simultaneously growing Why Me’s awareness within the Worcester community. Rebecca is also the leader of our Teen Group, which gives Why Me teens and siblings an opportunity to stay involved with the organization through volunteering and fun bonding activities. In her new role as Executive Director, Rebecca will not only continue to work on fundraising and community outreach, but she will also have a direct impact on the programming that Why Me offers – both new and old. She will continue to lead the Teen Group and stay involved in family services. She is excited about this new role and the opportunity to lead an organization that has a special place in her heart and a profound impact on her family.

Stephanie Fontaine
Stephanie Fontaine, Family Liaison

We are also excited to welcome Stephanie Fontaine to our staff as the Family Liaison. This newly created role will take Stephanie’s first-hand experience as the parent of a child with cancer and merge it together with all aspects of Family Services.  Stephanie will assist in planning of family events, visit clinic and provide valuable support to families from diagnosis on.

 

All of us at Why Me are excited about the direction of our organization and as a team we remain passionately committed to assisting all our Why Me families.  We look forward to the future with optimism as we continue to grow and enhance our programming to meet the ever-evolving needs of our children and families.

 

Sherry’s House: Covid -19 reopening plan

Greetings,welcome back

I am sure we are all looking forward to the beginning of summer, time outside and a return to familiar gatherings. It has been a long fifteen months for all of us and with the lifting of most state Covid restrictions, I am pleased to announce that Sherry’s House will be open again as of June 1st. We are excited to welcome back our Why Me Families, volunteers and donors. There will be a period of adjustment as we all find our comfort zone and return to normal activities. For the past 36 years, Why Me’s purpose has been to facilitate personal connections and support for families with childhood cancer. While we have managed to do that from a distance over the past year and half, we realize that many families are ready for face-to-face, in-person contact with Why Me staff and other families.

We will be following the Massachusetts Department of Public Health’s updated requirements for healthcare settings and those working with vulnerable populations and ask you to please wear a mask when you arrive to enter Sherry’s House.  As always, please exercise prudent judgement when coming to the house. If you are ill or suspect that you have had contact with someone who has been exposed to Covid-19, please postpone your visit.

For our families: The summer will see a gradual return to in-person meetings, support groups and gatherings. Please be patient as this will be a work in progress and subject to review. Due to a fragmented school year, many of our families may have children in summer school. Many of you may choose to travel for the first time. We will advise you in the coming weeks of upcoming events but here are a few upcoming and outdoors. We are planning to have our annual Bravehearts baseball outing at Fitton field and Spree Day at the 200 Sportsman’s Club with the dates to be determined.  We will also have Carnival Day on August 1st at the 228 in Sterling.

For our Volunteers: We will require volunteers to be vaccinated to serve at family events and in the house. Volunteers wishing to participate should provide a copy of their vaccination card for their confidential file with Ginette, Director of Volunteers, and discuss any related issues with her. Thank you in advance for your cooperation in helping to keep our families safe and comfortable.

For our Donors: Donors will once again be allowed back into the office, we just ask that you wear a mask when arriving.  For those not ready to come inside, we will also continue to leave our first parking space open for curbside donation drop-offs. You do not need an appointment in advance but if you’d like to make one, please visit our website or click here.

We are looking forward to seeing our volunteers return and families on the playground. Thank you all for your perseverance and patience. We look forward to better days ahead and new memories everlasting!

Be well,

 

 

David Hagan, Executive Director

 

2018 End of the Year

All throughout 2018 we helped to create new fun memories for our Why Me children and families, whenever possible. We hosted a few days of school vacation activities in February and again in April. We had a fun evening out with our Why Me Moms. We celebrated holidays with fun events at Easter, Halloween and Christmas. We held movie nights, games nights and attended a few sporting events in Boston and Worcester. We brought our teen population together for a few fun outings and created a new volunteer group for those that wanted to “give back”. We watched parents bravely share their journey with attendees at our fundraising events. Overall, we did what we have for the last 30+ years – stand by our families and help provide moments of joy that they will remember long after their cancer treatment.

Thank you to our families for allowing Why Me into your lives. A special thank you to our donors and volunteers – we couldn’t create so many smiles without your help.

We look forward to making new memories in 2019.

Welcome Rebecca to our Why Me Staff!

Some of you may have noticed a new (yet somewhat familiar) face working at our fundraising events and around Sherry’s House lately.  We would like to welcome Rebecca Kuczarski as the new Director of Fundraising for Sherry’s House! Rebecca is a Why Me mom who was first introduced to the organization over 5 years ago when her youngest daughter, Sophia, was diagnosed with Leukemia.  During that time Rebecca and her family participated in many family events and support groups.

Following the loss of Sophia in 2012, Rebecca dedicated herself to bettering the lives of families facing pediatric cancer. She has done this  through several fundraising positions – one of which includes the family’s own grass roots non-profit, the Sophia FUNd.  “I love running our yearly kickball event. It is a nice way for our friends and family to honor and remember Sophia.” Kuczarski goes on to explain that the event continues to grow each year and while they are proud to contribute to Why Me, with a portion of the proceeds from this event, she always wanted to do more.  “Our event is once a year. We have fun and raise a lot of money, but in my new position at Why Me I get to work more closely with families and donors.  I am excited to be a part of helping Why Me grow their support for families.”

Rebecca has quickly  become a valued member of the team; diving right in at the busiest time of our fundraising season.  “It is exciting to see each event from behind the scenes, start to finish. It takes a lot of coordination to host successful events.  It feels good to be a part of a team where everyone is so dedicated to the success of each event.” In addition to seeing the events Kuczarski says it is inspiring to be in a space where she can see exactly where the money is going.  With increases in this year’s funding Why Me has been able to offer new Family Fun events for all Why Me families as well as increase support to those living at Sherry’s House.  

Why Me & Sherry’s House is an organization conceived, founded and run in part by families that have lived childhood cancer personally. This unique personal perspective has always provided clarity of our mission and an understanding of what families need. Parents who have lived this experience are passionate and focused and are one of the driving forces behind our success. Rebecca, as a Why Me parent, understands what we do and why it is so important.

Welcome Rebecca!

Read Rebecca’s bio here.