Our History

Meet Theresa

Theresa Alessandra Russo was born on May 5th, 1986.  She was a “surprise baby” in more than one way: not only did we not know the sex of our third child, but we had no idea that she would be born with a severe handicapping condition known as microcephaly.  She was a beautiful miracle.  

The hospital staff, social workers and neo-natal doctors all told us that she would be a “burden” and that we should place her in an orphanage, or a home for disabled children, but we did not, and so her legacy began. 

Theresa loved music, movement, and art.  Her eyes lit up when playing on the playground!  Next to home it was her favorite place to be.  Theresa was quickly incorporated into all the activities and travels of our close-knit family, wrapped in the love of her two older siblings, her younger brother, and extended family.  

Theresa passed away on December 23rd, 1991—outliving every doctor’s prediction and enriching our lives in untold ways.  Theresa was an inspiration to all that knew her, and her legacy lives on through the Theresa Foundation, which was formed a year after her passing. 

A young girl with brown hair in a pink wheelchair, wearing a pink jacket, is drinking soda from a red Coca-Cola can through a straw. There is a note pinned to her jacket with her name, Theresa Russo. Other people are in the background, and the scene
A family of six posing in an indoor setting, with a man and woman standing behind four children, one of whom is in a stroller. The children are holding plush toys and wearing costumes or playful accessories, including a hat with a plush animal.
A man holding a newborn baby in a hospital room, with a boy and a girl standing beside him, all smiling.
A woman is leaning over a girl lying in a bed, giving her a gentle kiss on the forehead.
A man with dark hair, wearing a red T-shirt with gray sleeves, is carrying a young girl with dark hair, wearing a white long-sleeve shirt and gray sneakers, on his shoulders. They are indoors in front of a brick wall. The girl is looking to the side
A young child in a high chair with a toy attached to the tray, sticking out his tongue, wearing a white shirt with red and green patterns, with a pacifier on the tray.

The Theresa Foundation

When Theresa passed away, her family and friends established The Theresa Foundation to help children like Theresa. In her short lifetime, she was an inspiration to anyone who met her. In her memory, the Foundation supports music, dance, art and recreation programs locally and all over the country.

Since 1992, The Theresa Foundation has given over $2,851,596 in grants to over 200 organizations and charities, locally and around the country, which provided programs for children with special needs.

Our Mission

In 2003, in a collaborative effort with Cerebral Palsy Nassau County, the Foundation renovated and rejuvenated the playground with the latest adaptive equipment so that hundreds of children can enjoy the playground each day. That playground was then renamed Theresa’s Fun Place.

Since 2017, the Foundation has granted over $175,000 towards the much-needed revitalization. Theresa’s Fun Place is now able to once again serve 240 children on a daily basis with a brand-new, state-of-the-art, fully adaptive playground!

Outdoor sign for Theresa's Fun Place, featuring playful illustrations of children playing, skateboarding, riding bikes, and skating. Background includes trees and bushes.

Theresa’s Fun Place

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