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Tracy’s Kids Fund
About the Organization
A CFAAC Donor Advised Memorial Fund established in 2024 to support the intentions of the family of Tracy Shapiro to honor her life and legacy.
The fund will initially support The Blue Ribbon Project, an award-winning nonprofit serving multiple counties in Maryland. This organization offers nine impactful programs designed to assist foster children and those who have experienced abuse, including:
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Providing Clothing and Essential Items: Ensuring children entering foster care have the necessities they need for comfort.
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Life Skills Seminars: Equipping youth with vital skills for a successful transition out of foster care into independent living.
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Support Groups for Families: Fostering community connections and providing guidance for families navigating similar challenges.
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Access to Sports and Activities: Promoting physical health and social engagement through participation in recreational activities.
By donating to Tracy’s Kids Fund, you are helping to continue Tracy’s compassionate spirit and make a meaningful difference in the lives of vulnerable children and families.
Help support the Tracy’s Kids Fund by donating to the Fund below:
A Message from Sandy and Lee Shapiro, Founders of Tracy's Kids Fund
Tracy’s Kids was established by Tracy Shapiro’s parents, Sandy and Lee Shapiro, to memorialize Tracy’s love of life, love of kids, and her strength and inspirational spirit. Tracy was a relatively healthy child until the age of 13 when that year she twice contracted mononucleosis. For the next 27 years, her health declined as she was diagnosed with multiple medical issues, including Chiari 1 Malformation, hydrocephalus with increased intracranial pressure, osteoporosis and finally congestive heart failure and pulmonary hypertension. She had three major neurosurgeries and a dozen lesser neurosurgeries. In spite of her illnesses, she completed high school with honors and tried to attend college–having to return home after two months.
Initially Tracy’s dream was to become a physician. She was accepted to a college that included the option of attending medical school upon graduation. Unfortunately, her illness would not allow her to pursue this dream.
Tracy loved to sing. She was a member of her high school’s highest level chorus. She also loved musical theater and participated in her school’s theater productions. When she wasn’t performing, she was providing piano accompaniment. Tracy also adored animals, especially orangutans (after watching a documentary about orangutans in Borneo).
Tracy lived with us, her parents, as she was unable to live independently. We lost her at age 40, but she never gave up hope that she would overcome her medical challenges and then marry and have a family. She loved kids and that is why this fund is dedicated to helping foster children and their families as well as abused children.
Tracy’s Kids will initially primarily support the programs of The Blue Ribbon Project, a nonprofit foundation serving multiple counties in Maryland. This award-winning organization has nine programs that help foster children and abused children. These programs include but are not limited to:
- Providing clothing and essential items to children entering the foster care system.
- Life skills seminars to help with the transition out of foster care.
- Support groups for families
- Access to sports and activities
We know that Tracy would be thrilled that we are honoring her in this manner.
Watch Tracy perform at her high school’s spring concert:
Make a Tax-Smart Impact
Many people like you are making tax smart donations with appreciated stocks and bonds, qualified charitable distributions (QCD) from an IRA, or a variety of planned gifts. For more information, please email John@CFAAC.org or call 410-280-1102 ext. 103.
Should you wish to make a non-cash donation, CFAAC accepts gifts of appreciated stock for the benefit of this fund. To initiate this transaction, contact your broker with the number of shares of each security you wish to give. All gifts of stocks and bonds which are “DTC Eligible” can be transferred to CFAAC using the information below:
- Pershing, LLC Depository Trust Company (DTC) #0443 For the credit to: Pershing, LLC #4S2117401
- Account name: The Community Foundation of Anne Arundel County
PLEASE NOTE: Donor names are rarely provided when securities are transferred electronically. To ensure your gift is correctly allocated, please email Kathy@CFAAC.org with the gift amount and the name of the fund your gift will support.