The Joey Bella Memorial Fund is defined by the families we support and the communities that give. Here, we share the core of our mission: the real stories of hope, resilience, and community that your generosity makes possible.
In 1986, the Bella family faced what is surely the darkest day in any parent’s life: their young son, Joey, was diagnosed with Acute Lymphatic Leukemia.
While Joey fought heroically against his disease for two years, treatment options were becoming scarce and financially out of reach. His last hope—a bone marrow transplant—was available only through a clinical trial located halfway across the country. The Denville community, witnessing the family’s struggle, rallied around them. Civic organizations donated, high school students held can‑shakes, motorcycle groups organized rallies—all for a little boy many had never even met. It was one of the greatest demonstrations of true community.
Tragically, Joey left us before the transplant could take place.
From their intimate and heartbreaking understanding of what families of critically ill children endure, the Bella family and their close friends made a profound decision: Joey’s memory, and the community’s spirit of generosity, would live on.
In 1988, The Joey Bella Memorial Fund was established. It was founded to ensure that no family in our local area would have to face a similar desperate fight alone. Our mission is direct: to provide financial and emotional assistance to cover health care and related expenses for seriously ill children, keeping families together through their catastrophic illness.
Joey’s legacy is not just a memory—it is the lifeline we extend to every family we support today.
— Coming Soon! —
If your family is facing a serious illness, please know that the Joey Bella Fund is here to help.
Your donation ensures we can continue to be a lifeline for families just like the Bella’s in our community.
