Chestnut Hill Hosting Teen Dance for 'George Fund'

George Pappert died of an inoperable brain tumor one week before his fifth birthday. In 2008 his parents—former Pennsylvania attorney general Jerry Pappert and his wife Ellen—started The George Fund, a program to help families with terminally ill children afford care through Keystone Hospice.

In addition to medicine and medical equipment for the patients, the hospice provides therapeutic and coping services for their grieving families.

"[We offer] art therapy and dance therapy and exercise therapy. It’s the whole family that needs the services, not just the child who needs medical services," said Bonnie Squires, a representative with Keystone Care.

Squires added that "often times, insurance doesn’t cover expensive equipment and medication that the child needs, and that’s one of the reasons that the family set up this fund."

"It’s not a subject that people are comfortable talking about," said Squires, "hospice care for any age, but particularly hospice care for children."

Fortunately some area teens aren’t so squeamish.

Hosted by Connie Russin—a senior at Mount Saint Joseph's Academy and George’s cousin—on Jan. 27 from 7 p.m. through 11 p.m., the Seven Dolors Church Hall will host a teen dance, the proceeds of which will go directly to the fund.

Tickets for the event, which cost $20 each and are available at the door, raised $5,000 last year.

"It’s wonderful to see the younger generation so passionate and dedicated," added the Keystone rep.

Families in need of financial assistance through the George Fund, or interested in making a donation, can go to the Keystone Care website and click on the George Fund.