Join us in honoring the legacy of Madelyn James Didio with singing, dancing and so much more.
Celebrating Our Community
November 9, 2024 was our second annual Philly Bow Bash! As we reflect on the evening, we are filled with so much appreciation for this wonderful community. And, we had so much fun! I remember when Maddy would wake me up for late-night dance parties during treatment, and I know she would have LOVED this dance party and the Mac n’ Cheese. We celebrated family, resilience, and hope and honored those children, like Maddy, who are no longer with us.
We highlighted the incredible stories of the families the foundation has supported in our two years:
Tahj and Kraig: Parents who fiercely advocate for their son, Zane, now back in school.
Carol and Lorenzo: Nine months in the hospital didn’t diminish their joy and dedication to their children, including their daughter Violeta.
Amanda and Joshua: Parents of Legend, the first Madelyn James child with leukemia, who welcomed the foundation’s support like family.
Timothy and Alexis: Parents navigating cancer diagnoses for both Thomas and Vivienne with strength and grace.
These families were celebrated as our honored guests and as a part of the growing Madelyn James family. The evening included a special celebration for Thomas’s third birthday, complete with a cupcake and the entire room singing in his honor!
The Madelyn James 2024 Philly Bow Bash
We celebrated at the Trinity @22nd with 170 amazing supporters and we raised $50,000 (and met our goal!)
Our Why: The Madelyn James Story
For those new to the foundation, we shared our journey: from the diagnosis of infant leukemia for their daughter, Maddy, to their move to Philadelphia for treatment, and ultimately, the loss of Maddy in August 2022. During Maddy’s treatment, the Didio family was supported financially and emotionally, allowing them to focus solely on her care.
This experience inspired the foundation’s mission: to increase access and equity in pediatric cancer care.
What Makes Madelyn James Unique?
- Covering rent, car payments, and medical bills
- Supplying essentials like groceries and hospital-grade thermometers
- Supporting families even after they "ring the bell"
- Each family receives $45,000-$55,000 of assistance annually, making a profound difference during an incredibly challenging time.
The evening was truly extraordinary! A heartfelt thank you to our dedicated host committee, volunteers, and exceptional team. Additionally, the team wanted to keep the auction small and meaningful for the 2024 Bow Bash. Each item was connected to the mission at Madelyn James in some way (an in-home movie night that will be donated to our new, DC family or you can bid on an in-home massage). When your family is going through a childhood cancer diagnosis, finding some moments of refresh as a caregiver are critical to ensure you can make the best decisions possible for your child or children.
The Madelyn James Bow Bash Fundraising Event was a really fun night with our first ever DJ and full program.
Double "Maddy" Waves for our Sponsors!
We would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude businesses and sponsors who have generously supported the the Bow Bash.
These businesses and sponsors have played a crucial role in ensuring the success of this event and the impact it will have on our community.
Purple Bow Sponsors
Blue Bow Sponsors
Orange Bow Sponsors
The Rheingold-Neely Family Foundation 
Pink Bow Sponsors
Rainbow Bow Sponsors
We encourage everyone in attendance, and all of our community!, to show their appreciation by checking out these amazing businesses and sponsors. By supporting them, we are not only expressing our gratitude but also contributing to the growth and prosperity of our community as a whole.
Future Plans and Continued Celebrations
Madelyn James Philly Bow Bash is just the beginning of our efforts to continue celebrating Madelyn's legacy and making a positive impact in our community.
We will be celebrating 14 Days of Maddy over the holidays and stay tuned for an announcement of all of our events in 2025!
So many of you generously asked “how can we get more involved!?” If you’re one of those people, we ask you to get involved in three ways:
- Join our Bow Society, our monthly donor club. This society funds the rent payments for our families each month. It’s a great way to get insights on Madelyn James each quarter and receive a yearly bow from Little Poppy Co.
- Join our list of volunteers! One of our goals of 2025 is to integrate more volunteer opportunities into our work. We’d love to put your special skills and talents to work - from lived experience to graphic design and childcare to legal advice, we’re starting to create opportunities for everyone to get involved more with Madelyn James.
- Share our mission! Share this email with your friends and family and co-workers. Because the more people know about what we do the more of an impact we can make.
Check out more event photos here
