The Stella Liniado Rainbow Foundation strikes again! Sometimes in life we are dealt a deck of cards that has some that are missing. Our family has been dealt with that deck. It’s three years since our Stella has been gone. We fight everyday to play the right hand. With Stella’s beautiful and powerful spirit, for the last four summers with the help of our beautiful community, we have managed to play the right hand.
So, today Sunday July 11th, after a week of a humid and sticky heat-wave, the weather unusually perfected itself into a cooling and comfortable day. Tablecloths and players T-shirts were painted in bright touches of greens, blues and especially pink! The color scheme formed brilliant rainbows as they reflected onto the JCC walls; it was evident that the 4th Annual Rainbow Sports Tournament had begun! The Rainbow theme illuminated the JCC and guests motivated to support a crucial and valuable cause, which has proven to be successful. With the help of Hashem, SLRF will continue to strive.
Though the non-profit foundation only began in February 2007, it has already saved 15 lives! To ensure a vigorous fight against cancer, SLRF provides patients with cancer research and bone marrow testing. The foundation was created by the Liniado family to help people with cancer, and most of all to honor and remember their beautiful daughter Stella Liniado A”H, a six and a half year old delightful girl who was struck ill with leukemia and had a heart wrenching time searching for a bone marrow match, Stella finally found her match—a man who was tested 26 years ago. Hymie Azar, a helpful coordinator and volunteer for the event declared, “Donating to the rainbow foundation is the best money spent for the most important charity we have.” We are building a database for a Sephardic bone marrow registry that’s second to none in the world. The registry began with only 200 people from our community and now we have tested over 7,500, with 15 community members giving their marrow and saving a life. This is a most unnatural, unheard of statistic.
On this beautiful and sunny day, community members sign up for a day of competitive basketball and tennis. Charles Tebele, a basketball player stated, “It’s beautiful seeing community players gather together to save lives.” The competition was sure to be fierce. A day for all ages, there were three separate tournaments, 400 boys played basketball intensely and 75 girls did the same at their tennis tournament.
The day went on with beautiful blue skies and Stella looking at the swarms of rainbows across Deal, I am sure with a smile on her face looking down on what her three brothers had created in her memory and the community who realized how important bone marrow is to the world. As night time fell we started to congregate at the main court for semi-finals and finals. With the excitement of the crowd, all gathered to watch a beautiful day come to a close. Seven foot high trophies wait to be taken home for the winners. As we watched the semi-finals, the aroma of burgers and hot dogs filled the air. The Stella’s BBQ started to get cooking! As the sun went down Stella’s light still shined from above. With lit up courts, night time remained day time at the Stella Liniado Rainbow Tournament. Seen from miles away, the lights bloomed over the courts and the action started.
Everything for the event was planned with maximum thought. And this was evident as girls played tennis with pink tennis balls, Stella’s favorite color. The Chinese Auction was constructed with all in mind, from prizes such as iPad, Notebook computer, Mini motorcycle and much more, it was amazing! Guests did not leave the event empty handed or empty hearted. They carried with them free gifts that were given to all, headphones Monopoly games and other gifts along with a satisfaction that they contributed to helping save a life.
My husband Albert, myself, and my three children, Marc, Justin and Michael thank you for your support and urge you to please help us secure a blanket of protection over our community. Please get tested. Donations are also needed as Albert confided to community members, “We don’t fundraise a lot but when we do community help is needed”. For more information about SLRF and how you can help, please visit www.Stellasrainbowfoundation.org or text: Stella to 90210 to make a difference.
Special thanks to Caroline Dweck and Samantha Harrari, Isaac Ash, Raquel Gabbai Laniado and Kings Highway Glatt Meat. Thanks to our sponsors: Intel, Toshiba, Sony, DataVision, AND1 and SkinnyWater. Giveaways provided by Belkin, Koss and BuiltNY.
