Name: Coral Springs Foundation Adds Joy, Hope to Families with Kids with Special Needs • Coral Springs Talk
Uploaded: 2024-01-04T23:05:55-05:00
Description: A private plane ride over Miami Beach, prime seats at Marlins games, a floating classroom, a Miami Dolphins Family Fun day, and a complimentary Thanksgiving basket.

Coral Springs Foundation Adds Joy, Hope to Families with Kids with Special Needs

Danielle DeMarzo Burdsall, Jennifer DeMarzo Casso, Frankie and Jeannie DeMarzo. {courtesy}

By Faran Fagen

A private plane ride over Miami Beach, prime seats at Marlins games, a floating classroom, a Miami Dolphins Family Fun day, and a complimentary Thanksgiving basket.

These are just some ways that the Coral Springs-based Danielle DeMarzo Foundation (DDF) tries to add joy and hope to the lives of South Florida families with special needs children.

“We absolutely love helping others, and DDF has been very fortunate to provide valuable resources and activities for many special needs children and their families,” said founder Jeannie DeMarzo. “It’s truly a blessing…and we are grateful for opportunities to touch the hearts of children and make a difference in the lives of those we serve.”

Residents Frank and Jeannie DeMarzo and their two daughters, Jennifer and Danielle, founded an organization in 2000 after the diagnosis of their daughter Danielle with Turner Syndrome.

According to the Mayo Clinic, Turner syndrome is a condition that affects only females and results when one of the X chromosomes is missing or partially missing. It can cause various medical and developmental problems, including short height, failure of the ovaries to develop, and heart defects.

The mission of the Foundation is to provide resources and activities for children with growth-related disorders, as well as individuals with special needs. This is done in order to create parity among individuals with similar differences, by providing access to various health, social, and educational resources through recreation, seminars, programs, and public awareness initiatives.

The Foundation is managed by a nine-member board of directors, each with professional expertise of personal experience in the field of growth-related disorders, education, child advocacy, disabilities, legal, accounting, and non-profit groups. A volunteer organization, DDF has no paid employees.

“We welcome new families each year, and it is a beautiful gift and privilege to be a continued source of blessings,” DeMarzo said. “Through DDF’s programs and sponsored events, we create an atmosphere of friendship, fun, laughter, and memorable moments together. It makes me most proud to see the smiles, feel the love, and know we’ve had a part in it all.”

Goals for 2024 include introducing new activities and fresh experiences for the families they serve, grant writing and welcoming new volunteers and suggestions from others who share their passion.

Last year, DDF sponsored the Coral Springs Challenger Baseball League for its 12th year, where 200 children made up of five teams of kids and their families enjoyed the game of baseball at Miami Marlins LoanDepot Park.

Miami Waterkeeper event by the Danielle DeMarzo Foundation. {courtesy}

Also in its 12th year was the “Special Day For Special Kids” at Opa Locka Airport, which was highlighted by a private plane ride over Miami Beach.

“With over 200 families in attendance, the smiles were priceless,” Jeannie said.

Today, Danielle, who was a Children’s Miracle Network Poster Child for Shands Hospital in 1995, stands tall at 5 feet. Her learning disabilities were addressed, and she graduated in the top 10 percent of an International Baccalaureate Program at Boyd Anderson High School.

She holds a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Miami and went on to study medicine in Cambridge, England. In 2007, she graduated from Ross University’s medical school. Later, she successfully completed a residency program at the University of Oklahoma Tulsa.

Currently, she serves as a Board Certified Geneticist on the faculty of the Genetics Department at the University of Oklahoma Children’s Hospital.

Dr. Danielle DeMarzo. {Oklahoma Children’s Hospital}

The DeMarzos hope Danielle’s story and the Foundation named after her continue to send ripples of love and empathy through South Florida.

“This labor of love is made possible through the support of our 100% volunteer team, local community, corporate contributions, donations, and fundraising events,” Jeannie said. “It allows DDF to touch the heart of hundreds of affected children in South Florida.”

For more information, contact the Danielle DeMarzo Foundation at 866-295-KIDS or Jeannie DeMarzo.

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Author Profile

Faran Fagen

Faran Fagen, who teaches high school journalism, graduated from the University of Missouri-Columbia with a Journalism degree and from Florida Atlantic University with a degree in Education. He's worked at The Palm Beach Post, SunSentinel, and MLB.com. He lives in Coral Springs with his wife and two children. Oh, and his three dogs -- who all think that they're his favorite.