When deciding how best to apply the philanthropic powers of the Farid Foundation, which my brother Kamran and I founded as a way of giving back to the community, sometimes the challenge can be finding the right cause. And sometimes it’s a very easy decision, like the one we made this week.
As a child, my brother Kamran was diagnosed with leukemia, and treated at the Yale-New Haven Children’s Hospital. And so, the decision to donate a gift of $100,000 to the Yale School of Medicine on Wednesday was one we made with all our hearts.
The money donated from the Foundation will go specifically to support Yale School of Medicine’s Pediatric Oncology Department’s Psychosocial Service, which provides support for families going through difficult times.
As my brother himself said at the luncheon during which he presented the check for $100,000 to Dr. Gary Kupfer, Chief of the Pediatric Oncology Department, the terrible disease of cancer affects more than just the child diagnosed, but also the entire family, which suffers terrible emotional and financial stress. We can certainly testify to that. With the gift we’ve given, we hope to help other families to cope with exactly these stresses now and in the future.
Our contribution will be used in the Pediatric Oncology Department’s Psychosocial Service division to support the various needs of both patients and families, while also collecting research that will help future diagnosed children and families down the road. My brother and I are proud to have the ability to contribute to a cause like this. It’s one that’s so personally important to us, and we’re gratified to help those who need it the most.