We give support

and help reduce financial burdens.

The mission of the Louis Segreto 26 Foundation is to improve the quality of life for patients 26 and under who are battling life-threatening illnesses and lessen the financial burdens that come in times of crisis for their families.

The Louis Segreto 26 Foundation is a grassroots organization founded by families who lost loved ones to cancer and has been serving families for more than 10 years. In that time, we have reached over 1,200 families, providing financial grants of up to $1,000 each, holiday gifts, and other assistance to ease non-medical expenses such as household bills, meals, transportation, co-pays, and end-of-life costs. Based on Long Island, we support families across the tri-state area and beyond through referrals from leading hospitals including Stony Brook Cancer Center, Ronald McDonald House New York, Cohen Children’s Medical Center, Memorial Sloan-Kettering, and NewYork-Presbyterian Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital.

To date, we have contributed more than half a million dollars directly to families in need, with 100% of net proceeds going to support them.

In addition, we have invested in partner charities that provide support to families from across the world whose children are battling cancer and other life-threatening illnesses in New York, as well as special projects like donating iPads and gaming systems to a pediatric cancer, reaching countless families each year. 

This is Lou’s story

Louis Segreto was born in Port Jefferson, N.Y. on March 1, 1989, and lived his 25 short years as a loving son, brother, boyfriend and friend with respect, compassion, kindness and love to all who knew him. In 2002 he moved to Holtsville and attended Sachem East HS where he played lacrosse and football as #26 and graduated in the class of 2007. He graduated from John Jay College in 2012 with a B.A. in Criminal Justice and aspired to become a NYPD officer. He worked hard, studied hard and was in excellent physical condition in order to achieve this life long dream.

Louis was awaiting his admission into the police academy when, on January 30, 2013, (at the age of 23), he was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML), subtype M4, flt 3 positive, with a 50% chance of survival. Thirteen months later, after having to endure two stem cell transplants, multiple chemotherapy regimens, countless transfusions, radiation treatments, medications and hospitalizations, he succumbed to the illness and died on his 25th birthday, March 1, 2014.

Louis has left his mother, stepdad, brothers, sisters, girlfriend of four years, relatives and friends with a sadness and loss that will undoubtedly take a long time to understand and accept. However, his illness has also enlightened them about the challenges and hardships a family must endure living and coping with a life-threatening illness.

All of the hopes and dreams that they once shared will never come to fruition. Attempts to have some of his wishes come true were thwarted by his age due to the fact that many organizations do not extend support for young adults over the age of 18. In addition, the responsibilities of a caregiver and their family are enormous and often times can place the family in financial ruin. Funeral expenses, especially for a young adult or child, are not planned for and need to be made during a time of deep sadness and distress.