Spencerport woman’s legacy
lives on in foundation
that helps adult students
and breast cancer patients
For more than 30 years, October has been designated as Breast Cancer Awareness Month. According to the National Breast Cancer Foundation, Inc., death rates from the disease have decreased over time because of heightened awareness that’s led to increased screening and improved treatment options. But this year alone in the U.S., more than 252,700 new cases of breast cancer will be diagnosed and about 40,610 women are expected to die from breast cancer.
On April 4, 2016, Spencerport resident Martha Maher-Garcia lost her seven-year battle with metastatic breast cancer. Now her family and friends are working to ensure that her legacy lives on through the Martha Maher-Garcia Memorial Foundation.
Maher-Garcia put her career on hold while raising her two sons, Andrew and Michael Palermo, until 1997 when she decided to enroll in a bachelor’s program at Roberts Wesleyan College while working full time as an administrative assistant for Ogden Parks and Recreation. “She wanted to provide a better life for my brother and me while at the same time work toward reaching her full potential,” said Michael.
Maher-Garcia’s sons remember her waking up before dawn each morning to complete her coursework for the next day so that she was able to attend her sons’ sporting events after school. By 2000, she not only completed her bachelor’s degree, graduating with distinction, but was promoted to administrative director. The following year, Maher-Garcia became assistant director of finance for the Town of Ogden.
In 2002, Maher-Garcia joined Monroe Community College, where she would spend the next 14 years and the remainder of her career. Initially hired as a financial specialist in the Office of the Comptroller, she was eventually promoted to Human Resources director. Compelled to continue her education, Maher-Garcia pursued a Master of Public Administration (MPA) at The College at Brockport, graduating at the top of her class in 2005 with a 3.98 GPA.
“My mother worked up until about six months or so before she passed,” said Michael. “She was revered for her kindness, open mindedness and selfless nature, so for that reason staff wanted to do something in her name.” In July 2016, her family was approached about setting up a memorial scholarship. “The most efficient way of doing that was to start a foundation,” said Michael, who now serves as president. “My mom had a large circle of friends, so we were able to establish a board of directors, which now has 16 members that include business owners, attorneys and an accountant.”
The cornerstone of the Foundation’s mission is to provide scholarships for students studying at Monroe Community College. Created by and offered through the MCC Foundation, the scholarship supports deserving students, who, like Maher-Garcia, decided to pursue higher education to provide a better future for their families. Scholarship recipients are selected by the MCC Foundation, with special consideration given to mothers working while attending MCC.
“For the first time, two scholarships were awarded for the fall 2017 semester to two very deserving candidates, so we feel that our work is coming to fruition,” said Michael.
In order to fund the scholarships and other initiatives, the Foundation established an annual golf tournament and dinner. This year’s tournament was held July 3 and raised $17,000 for the Foundation. Next year’s tournament will be held Friday, July 27 at Ravenwood Golf Club in Victor and will include dinner, live music and a silent auction. Golfers, sponsors and volunteers can visit mmgmemorialfoundation.org to sign up.
The Foundation also raised over $7,000 by having a team of over 50 participate in the MCC Annual 5K Walk/Run for Scholarships on October 7. “The events have given us tremendous momentum and now we have the financial resources to focus on our other initiatives,” said Michael. Those initiatives include providing financial resources to families affected by cancer, and supporting breast cancer research.
“It’s a strain on the family financially and some individuals don’t have family to depend on,” said Michael. “Their situations are much worse that what ours was.” To that end, the Foundation is partnering with organizations such as Sustain, Inspire, Survive, a non-profit organization that provides financial assistance to those battling breast cancer in the Greater Rochester area, including living, transportation, utility, medical and mastectomy product expenses; and Pluta Cancer Center Foundation, which provides comfort bags and fleece ponchos to breast cancer patients beginning treatment, as well as gas/grocery cards and holiday meals/gifts to families in need.
To donate to the Martha Maher-Garcia Memorial Foundation, apply for the scholarship or join the mailing list, visit mmgmemorialfoundation.org.
