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A student-athlete fighting to stay in school. A mother recovering from a devastating stroke. Three brothers navigating life after losing both parents.
The stories of Holy Trinity student Giovanni Jefferson, Long Beach mother Kate Scanio, and the Jacobsen boys of Great River showcase how acts of kindness and support can provide stability and hope during challenging times.
Long Islanders are stepping up this holiday season to support neighbors in need. Across Suffolk and Nassau counties, residents are deploying their generosity to offer hope and light during times of hardship.
The three stories below showcase the profound ways people can make a difference.
Keeping Giovanni in his school: A mother’s plea heard in Hicksville
For Precious Jefferson, ensuring her son Giovanni could attend Holy Trinity Diocesan High School in Hicksville was a leap of faith. A hardworking student-athlete, Giovanni balances honors classes, varsity football, wrestling and a daily 6 a.m. commute from Brooklyn. But when his mom lost her job in September, the tuition payments became an overwhelming burden.
Determined to keep her son on his promising path, Precious Jefferson launched a GoFundMe campaign, asking for help to meet the Dec. 15 payment deadline. In just two days, the campaign surpassed its $3,200 goal, raising more than $4,000.
“Giovanni and I are blown away by the outpouring of support and love he’s being shown,” she wrote in an update. “You all are playing a vital role in the future of his bright path! Thank you all so much!”
Supporting Kate Scanio’s journey to recovery
Kate Scanio of Long Beach suffered a major hemorrhagic stroke at home on Nov. 17. Her husband, Paul, acted swiftly, calling 911 and ensuring Kate received critical care at Mount Sinai South Nassau Hospital in Oceanside and later at Mount Sinai West in Manhattan, according to a GoFundMe page established on behalf of their family.
After two emergency surgeries, Kate Scanio, a former cancer survivor, began to stabilize, and hope for her recovery started to grow.
Her loved ones, including her three sons—Tai, 17; Finn, 15; and 10-year-old Wolfe — have been uplifted by an outpouring of community support. In just three hours, a GoFundMe fundraiser organized by family friends raised more than $18,000 to help cover Scanio’s medical and rehabilitation costs. More than 100 donations have already been submitted.
“Kate is strong,” her family shared on the fundraiser page. “When she was battling cancer seven years ago, she never lost her drive and amazing sense of humor. We have no doubt she’ll approach this recovery in the same way.”
The funds are intended to ensure the Scanio family can focus on Kate’s healing rather than financial stress during the holidays and beyond, the GoFundMe page says.
Scanio will likely need to remain in the hospital and rehabilitation for weeks, and she will ned to continue with months of therapy after leaving the hospital.
Brightening the future for the Jacobsen boys
The Jacobsen brothers from Great River — Peter, Ryan, and Andrew — have faced unimaginable loss in 2024, losing both of their parents to cancer. Earlier this month, their father, Robert Jacobsen, passed away, just months after their mother, Elizabeth “Liz” Zanghi Jacobsen, succumbed to the same disease in April.
Despite their heartbreak, Peter Jacobsen, a Marist student, and his brothers, Ryan, enrolled at the Florida Institute of Technology, and Andrew, a high school senior with plans to attend Savannah College of Art and Design, are determined to honor their parents’ legacy of love, faith, and resilience, according to a GoFundMe page established to assist them.
“The sudden loss has left these children not only heartbroken but also facing an uncertain future,” wrote Michelle Powell, who established a GoFundMe campaign that has raised more than $12,000 in four days. “They have lost the love, guidance, and support of their parents, and we want to ensure they have the resources to navigate this challenging time.”
The proceeds from the GoFundMe campaign will go to the Jacobsen Family Education Trust, helping cover tuition and other educational expenses.
“Bob and Liz left a huge mark on our community,” the fundraiser reads. “Their boys deserve the support and security to carry on their parents’ incredible legacy.”
Top photos: GoFundMe
