The Kara Fund

05/05/2026

⛳ Only 1 Month to Go! ⛳

We’re just ONE MONTH away from The Kara Fund Golf Tournament, and the excitement is building!

A few spots for foursomes are still available—but they’re filling up fast. Don’t miss your chance to be part of an incredible day of golf, community, and support for a great cause.

📅 Date: June 20
⏰ Time: 8:30 AM Registration | 10:00 AM Shotgun Start
📍 Location: Rogues’ Roost Golf Club
💲 Cost: $125 per golfer

Secure your spot today: https://thekarafund.org/event/annual-golf-tournament/

Grab your team, hit the greens, and help make a difference. We can’t wait to see you there!

Get ready to swing into action at the Kara Fund Annual Golf Tournament — a day of friendly competition and heartfelt purpose. Gather your foursome for a fun Captain & Crew format, enjoy breakfast as you register at 8:30 AM, and hit the greens for a 10:00 AM Shotgun Start. Your donation covers a fu...

02/22/2026

The countdown is on and you're invited! ❤️

We are just about a month away from our Open Your Hearts to Children fundraising event.

🗓 March 21st
📍 Traditions at the Links
📌 East Syracuse

This special evening will bring our community together to make a meaningful difference in the lives of children and families in need. Your support helps us continue our mission and create lasting impact.

🎟 Tickets are going fast — don’t wait!
Purchase yours today:
https://thekarafund.org/event/open-your-hearts-to-children-event/

Let’s open our hearts and make this year’s event the most impactful yet!

12/02/2025

Dear Supporters, Volunteers and Key Partners,

We’re thrilled to share some exciting news just in time for : The Kara Fund has launched a BRAND NEW website!

👉We invite you to visit our new site at www.thekarafund.org

Our new website is easier to navigate and designed to better highlight our programs and events. Learn about the meaningful ways we support children facing life-threatening illnesses, and see how your generosity makes a tangible difference.

Together, we lighten families hardest days. We bring comfort, love, and community to children with life-threatening illnesses—and those who love them most. Who We Are Play Video About Us We are here not for income, but for outcome. Programs Kara's Story Facing

09/26/2025

Looking for something to do on this beautiful fall weekend? Join us for the 2025 ESM Soccer Day Fundraiser ⚽️

📍ESM High School
📆 Saturday, September 27th
🕒 ESM Girls vs. FM @ 10 AM
🕒 ESM Boys vs. Marcellus @ 12 PM

Watch the ESM Boys and Girls teams compete while raising money and awareness for The Kara Fund!

Join us at ESM High School on Saturday, September 27th for our annual Soccer fundraiser.

08/25/2025

Mark MacDougall, president of The Kara Fund, recently received a generous check for $18,000 from Ken and Terri Way and family. The money represents half the proceeds raised by the Annual TaylorMade Memorial Golf Tournament, a charitable golf outing created by the Way family in memory of their daughter and sister, Taylor Way. Their goal each year is to donate money to local charities who positively impacted Taylor and their family’s lives, and who will continue to help local children and families battling pediatric cancer. The Way’s donated the other half of the money raised to Brian’s Kids, a local organization that provides comfort items to children and their families battling cancer and blood disorders. Several years ago, Taylor was diagnosed with Ewing’s sarcoma, and The Kara Fund sponsored a pizza party for Taylor and her friends. Taylor, a 3 sport athlete, went on to graduate from DeRuyter Central School as valedictorian, and attended Utica Collage to pursue her bachelor’s degree in nursing. Sadly, she passed away in 2022 at the age of 20. She was later awarded a bachelor of science in nursing degree posthumously in May, 2023. We are very appreciative of the Ways’ thoughtful generosity, and on behalf of the children and families we serve, thank you Ken, Terri, and family!

07/31/2025

Paul Nagle and Mark MacDougall had the opportunity connect with Sara Fisher and Irene Cherrick via Zoom regarding several programs running through Upstate Golisano Children's Hospital. We had a great meeting and we are continuing to support chronically and critically ill children as part of our ongoing $60,000 commitment, which started in 2023. We are currently serving 15 families and we provide them a monthly $100 gift card to WalMart or ALDI.

Pictured here are Sarah Fisher and Dr. Irene Cherrick of Golisano and Kara Fund member, Candy Flock, with some of our initial gift cards for the program.

06/27/2025

A great day at Rouges Roost for everyone at the 11th Annual Kara Fund Golf Outing! ☀️

A huge thank you to all who particiapted and sponsored to once again make this event an amazing success. We had 36 foursomes paricipate, great weather, and lots of fun was had by all.

🥯 Breakfast by Brugger's Bagels
🍔 Lunch by Speras Old Fashioned Meat Market🍝 Dinner by Vito's Ristorante

🥇 We even had a hole in one by The Kara Fund President, Mark MacDougall! ⛳️

06/17/2025

⛳ Just 4 days to go! ⏳
The 11th Annual Golf Tournament for The Kara Fund is happening Saturday, June 21st at Rogues’ Roost Golf Club!

🎟️ $120 per player – includes:
🍳 Breakfast
🌭 Lunch at the turn
🍽️ Dinner after golf
🏌️‍♂️ 18 Holes with cart
🏆 Contests: Closest to the Pin & Longest Drive
🎁 Door Prizes & More!

📅 8:30 AM – Registration & Breakfast
🕙 10:00 AM – Shotgun Start
🏌️ Format: Captain & Crew
✨ Skins & Mulligans available (extra)

📧 Questions? Email [email protected]

Let’s tee off for a great cause! 💙🏌️‍♀️

06/09/2025

Mark MacDougall along with Directors Lisa Rossi and Paul Nagle had a lunch meeting last week with Heather Waters and Barb Karas of the Crouse Health Foundation.

We are fortunate to have a great working relationship with Crouse Hospital and the Crouse Health Foundation.

This meeting was a chance to talk about how we interact, the programs we support, and where we can grow to bring even more comfort to NICU children and their families.

05/23/2025

🚨 UPDATE: GOLF TOURNAMENT IS NOW FULL! 🚨

In order to host a success tournament that everyone can enjoy, we will not be accepting further registrations. Thank you to everyone that has signed up and we look forward to another great event with our community ❤️💚🧡💛