​She is 22 years old, a professional singer, an aspiring artist, a daughter, a girlfriend. And she has cancer.
Diagnosed when she was just 18 with Osteosarcoma Bone Cancer, Carrigan has undergone two failed
limb salvage surgeries and ultimately above the knee amputation 3 years ago. She has endured over 20
surgeries including 3 extensive thoracotomies (lung surgeries) and a life saving surgery last February
when a lime sized tumor was removed from my pericardium - a portion of which was removed along
with part of my diaphragm, phrenic nerve and lower lobe.

She has been on chemotherapy since the diagnosis and will remain on chemo indefinitely as the cancer
has metastasized to her lungs. She continues to sing locally at fundraisers even with cancer in both
lungs, and is currently working with a vocal coach to work around the challenges presented by cancer,
the lung surgeries and chemo.

Ever the warrior, she is an avid pediatric cancer advocate and encourages other young people who are
going through the same journey. She is also taking piano lessons, and shares her voice to entertain and
spread awareness of pediatric cancer. She is a “dog mom” of two dachshunds (Mr. Toffee and Malibu)
and enjoys arts and crafts.

The Isabella Dora Corcelli Memorial Fund awards grant to young RI women battling cancer for “quality
of life” experience. Carol Corcelli, Isabella’s mom, presented a grant award to Carrigan in memory of
Isabella that included a spa gift certificate and funds to assist with voice and piano lessons.

The foundation is proud to announce the scholarship award recipients of 2023:

​A Wish Come True was the recipient of a $30,000 award for a “Wish for Wellness” program which will expand new health and wellness initiatives for parents and adult caregivers and create healing opportunities for wish children and their siblings.   

A Wish Come True is the oldest wish granting organization in Rhode Island; and serves families in RI and Southeastern Massachusetts with a   child (ages 3-18) struggling with a life-threatening illness or rare disease. Presently, AWCT is the only wish granting organization focused on granting wishes and providing significant financial, health and wellness resources for families.

Per Mary Kate O’Leary, Executive Director, “this program is unique in that we strive to support the whole family, not just the wish child. Parents often experience burnout and are overwhelmed, as are other children in the household when a sibling suffers from a life threatening illness. 
​We anticipate this program will impact 140 families this year alone.”

The Chartercare Foundation has recently partnered with Crossroads RI to fund the psychoeducation work of a Crossroads clinician. This Emerging Health Care Needs grant will help support predominantly older clients with exacerbated health needs, who are struggling to maintain a level quality of health for themselves. 

​Per Karen Santilli, President and CEO, “Crossroads has seen an increase in demand for services over the previous 16 months, as well as health conditions severely impacted by pandemic induced traumas they have experienced.”  The Foundation is committed to assisting agencies servicing our most vulnerable citizens and applauds the tireless efforts of the Crossroads team.

The Chartercare Foundation is proud to announce the recipients of the 2022 Foundation Scholarships:
​

• Brett Buskey, Physician Assistant Master’s Degree student at Bryant University
• Tanjia DeCausey, a freshman nursing student at Quinnipiac University
• Tearyna Neang Ciffo, a junior nursing student at New England Technical Institute
• Tania Lobo Paz, studying for her Master’s in public health at Boston University
• Haleigh Ward, a freshman physical therapy major at Assumption College
• Ella West, who will be a freshman at URI in the fall, studying for a Bachelor’s Degree in Public Health​

The Chartercare Foundation’s COVID19 Response Fund has acted quickly to address needs of nonprofits in RI.  To date, the Foundation has awarded nearly $100,000 to the following agencies:

• Meals on Wheels to address increasing food insecurities among elderly and shut-ins;
• Thundermist Health for a call center and outdoor triage unit serving 52,000 patients in 3 locations;
• Meeting Street School for stabilization for vulnerable families in the early intervention program through tele-health initiatives;
• RI Free Clinic for triage response for uninsured adults thru teleservice infrastructure;
• Comprehensive Community Action for a telehealth initiative at 4 sites
• Women’s Resource Center of Newport for remote clinical mental health support for victims of domestic violence.

In addition, the Foundation has partnered with Family Service of RI in broadening the scope of distribution of Be Safe Kits to disadvantaged families throughout Rhode Island.  
The Foundation will continue to monitor community needs and may open a second round of funding. For details on this and other grant opportunities, please visit www.chartercarefoundation.org.