The Results

To date, the Zaccone Family Foundation has donated over $1,969,352 to carefully chosen people and institutions in Chicago, Illinois and Sarasota, Florida.

Where Our Funds Go

Making a donation can be a complex and difficult decision. Where is my donation going and for what purpose? How much of my donation is actually used for the purpose intended? For those reasons, we are completely transparent as to how all funds are used. Ours is a simple equation as 100% of every dollar raised benefits the causes that we support, and you as a donor can determine which of these areas you would like to contribute to. All expenses are borne by the family, which means that your dollars have an important impact and are never diluted.

We are grateful to our donors on behalf of the many people that have been served through their generosity.

Zaccone Family Foundation results pie chart showing grant distribution

“The foundation’s mission to train our future medical leaders in complex microsurgical techniques goes beyond helping just one patient.”
— DR. DAVID SONG

Ascension Saint Joseph Hospital

Since opening in November 2025, the Cancer Prevention and Wellness Program at St. Joseph has seen 64 women identified as being at high risk for breast cancer. By April the clinic expanded to five days per week, with monthly patient volume increasing five-fold. The program is now on track to see approximately 250 new patients in 2026, significantly exceeding initial projections.

The team has also been active in community education and outreach, including a breast cancer risk, screening, and genetics event in May. Additionally, 29% of patients seen have undergone genetic testing, helping identify individuals who may otherwise have gone undetected. We’ve received wonderful feedback from patients and primary care providers alike, with referrals continuing to grow.

Mercy Home for Boys & Girls

A Tradition of Confidence, Celebration, and Care

For more than a decade, the Zaccone Family Foundation has made prom season a special and memorable milestone for young people at Mercy Home for Boys & Girls. What began as an opportunity to help young women at the Walsh Campus attend prom in dresses they loved has grown into a beloved tradition that reflects Suzanne’s deep commitment to helping young people feel valued, confident, and celebrated.

The tradition began after Suzanne learned that some Mercy Home youth wanted to attend prom but faced financial barriers that made participation difficult. Believing that every young person deserves the chance to experience this important rite of passage, she stepped in to help make those dreams a reality. Her goal was never simply to provide a dress or outfit. It was to create a joyful experience, build lasting memories, and ensure that each young person felt special during an important moment in their life.

Over the years, Suzanne has accompanied Walsh Campus seniors on annual shopping trips to Peaches Boutique, where the owners and staff have warmly welcomed Mercy Home youth and helped them find dresses, shoes, jewelry, and accessories that reflect their individual personalities and style. The day traditionally concludes with a meal at Greek Islands, providing time for conversation, laughter, and connection beyond the shopping experience itself. Many Mercy Home staff members and youth have come to view the outing as one of the highlights of the year.

In 2026, Suzanne expanded this cherished tradition to include seniors from Mercy Home’s West Loop Campus. Working alongside her nephew, Patrick Mueller, Suzanne created a comparable experience for young men preparing for prom. The group visited Men’s Wearhouse, where staff helped each youth select attire that made them feel confident and ready for the occasion. Just as with the Walsh Campus outing, the day concluded with dinner at Greek Islands, reinforcing Suzanne’s belief that the experience is about much more than clothing. It is about making young people feel seen, celebrated, and supported.

Year after year, Suzanne’s generosity has helped Mercy Home youth approach prom with pride and confidence. More importantly, she has shown them that there are people who believe in them, invest in them, and want them to experience the same milestones and memories as their peers. Her commitment has transformed a simple shopping trip into a lasting tradition that continues to make an extraordinary difference in the lives of Mercy Home’s young people.

The Zaccone Family Foundation Transition Support Fund

In 2026, Suzanne Zaccone and the Zaccone Family Foundation created the Zaccone Family Foundation Transition Support Fund through a $20,000 gift made in memory of Judith Greiman, Suzanne’s first landlord. Suzanne was living on her own at age seventeen and experienced firsthand the challenges of transitioning to independent living. Inspired by those experiences, she wanted to establish a resource that would help Mercy Home young people navigate the often-overwhelming move from residential care to their first apartment.

The fund was specifically designed to assist young people who are transitioning from Mercy Home into independent living situations. It provides practical support for expenses associated with establishing a first home, including household essentials, furnishings, move-in supplies, and other resources that promote stability and success as young adults begin living on their own.

At its heart, the fund reflects Suzanne’s belief that transitioning to independence should be met with encouragement, dignity, and meaningful support. By helping young people create safe and stable living environments, the Zaccone Family Foundation Transition Support Fund provides critical assistance at a pivotal moment in their lives and helps ensure they begin their next chapter with confidence and hope.

University of Chicago

The Zaccone Family Foundation’s donations over the last several years have created a patient-derived organoid (PDO) biobank—a living library of miniature breast tumors grown from patients’ own cancer cells. Because these organoids closely resemble each patient’s actual tumor, they provide researchers with a much more accurate way to study breast cancer than traditional laboratory models. This remarkable resource is helping scientists better understand why some treatments are effective for certain patients but not others, bringing us closer to more personalized and successful breast cancer care.

Researchers at the University of Chicago are already using these organoids to tackle two critical challenges in breast cancer. One project is focused on identifying which patients are most likely to benefit from antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), an innovative type of treatment that uses antibodies to deliver cancer-fighting medicine directly to tumor cells while minimizing damage to healthy tissue. A second project is working to discover new treatment targets for triple-negative breast cancer, one of the most aggressive and difficult-to-treat forms of the disease. Together, these studies are paving the way for more personalized treatments, new therapeutic approaches, and better outcomes for patients with breast cancer.