Kelly Anne Dolan Memorial Fund

Our Mission

The Kelly Anne Dolan Memorial Fund lightens the burdens and lifts the spirits of families caring for children living with serious and chronic illnesses, conditions, or injuries. We provide financial assistance and direct support for needs not covered by insurance and a variety of respite programs for families residing in or children receiving care in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware. We also advocate for and provide educational resources to families nationwide.

Our Story

In March 1972, two months after her second birthday, Kelly Anne Dolan was diagnosed with of aplastic anemia, introducing the Dolan family to a world of trauma, emergency room trips, hospitalizations, separation, spiraling expenses, physical and emotional exhaustion, and great sadness. It was during the five years of Kelly Anne’s illness that her parents, Joe and Peggy Dolan, learned of the many hardships their hospital “neighbors” were experiencing. Parents were losing their jobs, their homes, their cars, and much-needed services like utilities and phone, because the physical time and financial costs of caring for a seriously ill child removed them from their employment, and decreased their incomes. These parents faced difficult financial decisions: whether to pay the rent or a doctor’s co-pays, whether to pay a phone bill or parking fees at the hospital, and whether to stay with an ill, hospitalized child or go to work. Peggy and Joe realized that these problems were magnified for single-parent families and grandparents acting as guardians.

Unfortunately, Kelly died from the effects of her illness on October 5, 1976, a little less than three months before her seventh birthday. Joe and Peggy Dolan then founded Kelly Anne Dolan Memorial Fund (KADMF). The Fund was put in motion with the first donation they received as a result of Kelly Anne’s obituary notice. The mission of the Fund stemmed from the Dolans’ experiences: there were little to no resources to help families in these situations stay “afloat.” The Dolans also recognized that, no matter what the diagnosis, serious childhood illness created the same psychological, physical, and financial instability for families in crisis.

For more than 48 years, the Kelly Anne Dolan Memorial Fund has been a unique provider of support to families caring for a child with a severe illness, disability, or injury. Regardless of a child's diagnosis or condition, social workers and healthcare professionals can refer their families for financial assistance, emotional support, and valuable advocacy. Hundreds of local corporations and thousands of individual donors have made a part in our philanthropic efforts. We ask that you consider joining our "family" of supporters, here for Delco Gives Day!