Our Mission:
To financially assist families who have experienced the death of a child
by offering monetary grants to help
with some portion of funeral costs.
Mission Statement
From the President and Co-Founder
The SonShine Charitable Fund was established in Honor and Memory of My Brother, Christopher John Conti I who left us for Heaven on August 1st, 1984 at the age of 18. His joyful character and his warm and inviting smile was his trademark through our entire community of Laona and Fredonia.
Our mission is simple.... To financially assist families who have experienced the death of a child by offering monetary grants to help with some portion of funeral costs.
In my mind there is only one thing worse than losing a Son or Daughter, and that is losing that child when they are still very young. To add insult to injury, after losing the child, struggling to endure, adjust and cope with the loss, having to bury that child, these people have the burden to pay for that burial. We want to help reduce that burden.
Accordingly, our web-page is a source to:
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Broaden public awareness of the financial burden associated with the loss of a child. (Of course we all realize there is costs involved but we are certain no one realizes all the fees associated with death until they go through it themselves personally.)
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Ensure laws are put in place to make certain grieving parents aren't being taken advantage of.
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Provide functional information to inform the public of the services available for families who lose children.
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Research and acquire grants and public service monies earmarked specifically for adolescent death and benefits parents might be entitled to.
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Establish financial and emotional support of family members and those affected by the loss of their child or sibling.
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Make people aware of what types of help, both financially and emotionally. that are in place throughout the country. These organizations have been put in place to help individuals get through the toughest moments after losing their child. (See "Additional Resource" page)
Among the essential goals, the Conti Family seeks to inspire every person out there to have a thankful heart for the lives of the children we have been blessed with. Daily thanking God for the precious gifts of life and for the protection of our loved ones. These goals are what our foundation will attempt to project throughout all of the Foundation’s programs and activities.
Stacy Conti
Chairwoman and Co-Founder of the SonShine Charity
Stacy is a Special needs teaching aide and one of the inspirations to begin this Charitable Fund. As a member of the Conti family since 1982 Stacy brings to the SonShine Charity a heart filled with compassion and kindness. She has been the driving force behind the Charity and her endless drive is the foundation of its success.
Christopher John Conti II, Vice President, Founding Board Member, Christopher's Nephew, NY State Trooper
Kimberly Conti, Interim Secretary, Volunteer Coordinator, Editor Quarterly News Letter, Founding Board Member, Christopher's Sister-In-Law, Senior Lecturer, Department of Mathematical Sciences SUNY at Fredonia
Alissa Conti, Founding Board Member, Member at Large, Christopher's Niece, 5th Grade Teacher
Dana Carlson, Executive Secretary, Fundraising Chairwoman
Brian Krause, Treasurer, Founding Board Member, CPA, Town of Cheektowaga Director of Finance
Stephanie Stevens, Chief Executive Officer, Founding Board Member, Executive Director at YWCA Westfield
Board of Directors
Michael R Cerrie, Founding Board Member, Attorney at Law, Law Offices of Michael Robert Cerrie
Marci Conti, Founding Board Member, Christopher's Niece, Reading Specialist Orchard Park School District, Camp Good Day Volunteer
Ilio DiPaolo, Founding Board Member, General Manager Ilio DiPaolo Restaurant
Adam Dolce, Founding Board Member, Executive Director NCC United Way
Vladislov Izboinikov, Administrative Consultant SonShine Foundation, Charter School Founder and Principal
Cindy Page, Founding Board Member, Christopher's Sister
LuAnn Saden, Founding Board Member,
Mary Sluberski, Founding Board Member, Neonatal (NICU) Nurse, Sister's Hospital
PJ Wendel, Founding Board Member, The County of Chautauqua NY, County Executive
Officers and Executive Board Members
Alex Conti, President, Co-Founder, SonShine Charitable Fund, Christopher's Brother
Stacy Conti, Chairwoman, Co-Founder, SonShine Charitable Fund, Christopher's Sister-in-law
Christopher John Conti II, Vice President, Founding Board Member, Christopher's Nephew, NY State Trooper
Kimberly Conti, Secretary, Christopher's Sister-In-Law, Volunteer Coordinator, Editor Quarterly News Letter, Founding Board Member, Senior Lecturer, Department of Mathematical Sciences SUNY at Fredonia
Alissa Arrington, Founding Board Member, Member at Large, Christopher's Niece, Elementary Teacher
Dana Carlson, Executive Secretary, Fundraising Chairwoman
Brian Krause, Treasurer, Founding Board Member, CPA, Town of Cheektowaga Director of Finance
Stephanie Stevens, Chief Executive Officer, Founding Board Member, Executive Director at YWCA Westfield
Board of Directors
Lee Arrington, Christopher's Nephew, Cardiac Unit Nurse at Mission Hospital in Asheville, NC
Marci Conti, Founding Board Member, Christopher's Niece, Reading Specialist Orchard Park School District, Camp Good Day Volunteer
Michael R Cerrie, Founding Board Member, Attorney at Law, Law Offices of Michael Robert Cerrie
Russell Conti, Founding Board Member, Christopher's Brother,
Adam Dolce, Founding Board Member,
Executive Director NCC United Way
Dory Johnson, Christopher's Cousin , Laona United Methodist Church Volunteer, Special Needs Aide at Fredonia HS
David Lewis, SUNY at Fredonia Employee, Master Chef, SPEBSQSA Director, Family Friend,
Cindy Page, Founding Board Member, Christopher's Sister
LuAnn Saden, Founding Board Member,
Mary Sluberski, Founding Board Member, Neonatal (NICU) Nurse, Sister's Hospital in Buffalo, NY
David Stevens, Founding Board Member, Business Manager Larry Spacc GMC, Family Friend
Jen Wendel, Director of Patient Services at the Chautauqua Center
