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Lea Marie Farone Foundation

Lea Marie Farone Foundation

Helping children and young adults with chronic illness do the things they dream of doing.

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Meet the Lea Marie Faraone Foundation

Cultivating courage, fostering freedom

Our Story

Taking Flight

Our Story

When young Lea Marie Faraone was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis, everything changed for her family. Suddenly, they had to think through each detail of their lives in terms of CF. Despite their fears and questions, they decided to live as “normally” and fully as possible.

As Lea grew older, she embraced this mindset. She became a public figure and a passionate advocate who lived the life she wanted, touching thousands of other lives along the way. She dreamt of creating her own foundation that would help improve quality of life for young people with CF and other chronic illnesses.

Lea passed away on December 13, 2018 while waiting for a transplant, but her vision forges forward today. The Lea Marie Faraone Foundation was born to fulfill her dream of helping others with chronic illness live life to the fullest each day, rather than waiting for a cure. Because no one should wait for wings to fly.

Our Impact

Improving the Quality of the Present

We help children and young adults with chronic illness do the things they dream of doing, big and small.

Grant Recipients icon

Grant recipients gain access to cutting-edge treatments that enhance life, instead of hindering it.

Fundraising Events

Fundraising events build community while benefitting grant recipients and medical research.

Scholarships

Scholarships empower young women making a difference in medicine and science.

Why Wait for Wings?

What We Believe In

number 1

There’s power in community

We want families to feel like they have a trusted place to go whenever they’re looking for support. When you’re in our circle, you’re part of the LMFF family too.

number 2

Where there’s a will, there’s a way

We believe those with chronic illnesses should do the same things we all do. Sometimes it requires a little creativity and innovation but, together, we can make it happen.

number 3

Immediate impact on quality of life

Our programs provide life-changing outcomes in the short term. You can see the result of donations as young people embrace more of the everyday things that make life beautiful.

Meet The Team

A family-founded organization

We embrace our initiatives with our whole hearts and souls. Since we’re completely volunteer-run, every dollar goes straight to the mission.

Laura O'Donnell

Laura O’Donnell

Mother to Lea / Executive Director / Co-Founder

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Laura O’Donnell

Besides her most important role of being a CF mom to Lea, Laura brings to the table more than 25 years of executive leadership in healthcare, working with major organizations such as Johns Hopkins Medicine, MedStar Health and Genesis Healthcare. Laura holds a Masters from University of Maryland Baltimore. As director, Laura has a key focus on bringing Lea’s plans, legacy, and mission to life.

Leeza Farone

Leeza Farone

Sister to Lea / Co-Founder

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Leeza Farone

Leeza has a lifetime of experience being a sister to CF fighter, Lea. She also brings a background of clinical research from Johns Hopkins University of Medicine and a degree in biochemistry from Mount St. Mary’s University. Recently, she has embarked on a new journey as a physician assistant student at the Anne Arundel Community College/ University of Maryland Baltimore Collaborative PA Program. She plans to graduate with her Masters and PA licensure by 2021, with hopes to give back her new-found medical knowledge to the Lea Marie Faraone Foundation.

Henry Faraone

Henry Faraone

Father to Lea / Co-Director / Co-Founder

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Henry Faraone

Henry is a superhero when it comes to being a CF dad to Lea. He continues to give back to the community with more than 10 years’ experience as a teacher for students with special needs at Sheppard Pratt Health System. He holds a certification in special education from the University of Maryland University College. Henry has committed himself to drive Lea’s legacy with the Lea Marie Faraone Foundation to a national level.

Why Wait for Wings?

Find support or contribute to our initiatives

Discover all the ways you can get involved with the LMFF mission.

Get Involved

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We're thrilled to extend our heartfelt thanks to W We're thrilled to extend our heartfelt thanks to Wegman's, for their generous support as one of our Chalk Walk White Wing Sponsors this year! 🙏Together, we're creating a brighter future for all. As a White Wing Sponsor, they will match all donations for every butterfly drawn!

Chalk Walk is this Saturday @huntvalleytownecentre from 9-5pm! Please stay tuned in the event Chalk Walk is postponed to Sunday, 10/1, due to weather. We'll see you there! 🦋 🎨
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#whywaitforwings #cysticfibrosislife #chronicillness #nonprofit #cysticfibrosisawareness #curecf #cfawareness #donatelife #baltimorenonprofit #chronicillnessawareness #medicalnonprofit #cysticfibrosisisstrong #nonprofitorganization #baltimore #breatheasy #fightcf #cfcommunity #leamariefaraone #leamariefaraonefoundation
What is #whywaitforwings? Lea believed anyone with What is #whywaitforwings? Lea believed anyone with a chronic illness like cystic fibrosis should experience a better quality of life. Our grant program has helped 11+ people receive their wings (@afflovest) which has given them the freedom to live their lives and receive their treatments while on the go. 

We are so grateful to every one of you that continues to share their wing photos to carry on Lea's legacy, like Jack on this wing bench in North Carolina! Please continue to share them with us by tagging @leamariefaraonefoundation in your posts & stories or DM them to us directly so we can share them. 🦋💜
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#cysticfibrosislife #chronicillness #nonprofit #cysticfibrosisawareness #curecf #cfawareness #donatelife #baltimorenonprofit #chronicillnessawareness #medicalnonprofit #cysticfibrosisisstrong #nonprofitorganization #baltimore #breatheasy #fightcf #cfcommunity #leamariefaraone #leamariefaraonefoundation
10 day countdown to our 4th annual Chalk Walk even 10 day countdown to our 4th annual Chalk Walk event! Have you RSVP'd via our Facebook event? Comment below with a 🦋 below if we'll see you there! 

🎨 We'll have face painting for kids from 12-3pm!

🖌️ Join us between 9-5pm by the fireplace @huntvalleytownecentre to unleash your inner artist and add your butterfly to our banner and sidewalk! Every butterfly you draw will be matched dollar-for-dollar by our LMFF sponsors!

💜 If you can't be there in person, just make a $10 donation through our donation portal and have a cut-out butterfly carrying your name added to our Wing Banner throughout the Chalk Walk.

Rally your friends and family and we'll see you on Saturday, September 30th!
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#whywaitforwings #cysticfibrosislife #chronicillness #nonprofit #cysticfibrosisawareness #curecf #cfawareness #donatelife #baltimorenonprofit #chronicillnessawareness #medicalnonprofit #cysticfibrosisisstrong #nonprofitorganization #baltimore #breatheasy #fightcf #cfcommunity #leamariefaraone #leamariefaraonefoundation #bmoreevents #baltimoreeventscene
Thank you @kristina.marie47 for sharing these beau Thank you @kristina.marie47 for sharing these beautiful wings with us! Kristina is Conlee's Mom, one of our #flymetothemoon grant recipients. Thank you for celebrating Lea's legacy with us! We are so grateful to have you in our LMFF Family. 🦋💜

Swipe ⬅️ to see Conlee in his AffloVest! We know Lea would be over the moon to see Conlee and his family living a better quality of life.
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#whywaitforwings #cysticfibrosislife #chronicillness #nonprofit #cysticfibrosisawareness #curecf #cfawareness #donatelife #baltimorenonprofit #chronicillnessawareness #medicalnonprofit #cysticfibrosisisstrong #nonprofitorganization #baltimore #breatheasy #fightcf #cfcommunity #leamariefaraone #leamariefaraonefoundation

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The Lea Marie Faraone Foundation is a 501c(3) providing life changing opportunities to children and young adults fighting chronic illness so they may live as if they are illness-free.


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