Bella’s Angels is a Palm Beach County grassroots nonprofit organization dedicated to financially supporting families with children who have life-long physical disabilities beyond what insurance covers. Founded on the belief that every child deserves love, care, and access to necessary resources, Bella’s Angels was established to alleviate the financial, emotional, and physical burdens that families face during such challenging times. The organization aims to serve middle-class families who fall through the cracks. These families make too much money to qualify for government assistance, yet they don’t have the means to pay for their child’s medical expenses. In the organization’s 19-year history, they have helped many families with medical necessities like medical co-pays, equipment, therapy, supplies, medical-related travel expenses, educational conferences, respite care, and so much more.  

The organization’s history traces back to 2005, when it was established by Kerry Cavallo in Jupiter, Florida. She founded the organization to help with her daughter Bella’s medical expenses. Kerry always says, “I founded Bella’s Angels for a hot minute to help diagnose and then treat Bella for C.H.A.R.G.E. Syndrome, a rare genetic disorder affecting one in 30,000 children. I started meeting other families who were in the same boat as us. My husband and I worked for a school, yet we were making too much money to receive government help, but we couldn’t afford the medical expenses that our insurance company wouldn’t cover.” Originally named the Bella Cavallo Foundation, the organization’s name was quickly changed to Bella’s Angels.   Since its inception, Bella’s Angels has become a beacon of hope within the community, providing vital assistance to needy families. Their mission centers on fostering compassion, advocacy, and support for children and their families, ensuring they receive the comprehensive care and resources required to navigate their unique circumstances with dignity and resilience.

In 2013, the organization formalized a corporate Board of Directors and hired their first and only Executive Director, Deborah Jaffe. Since then, the organization has grown by leaps and bounds, with two and a half employees in 2024 and hundreds of volunteers. The organization went from serving 12 families to serving 38 families today. There are four qualifications to become a “Buddy,” as they affectionately call the children they serve. The child must have a life-long physical disability(ies), live in Palm Beach County, have insurance, and meet the income qualifications set by the organization. The first year a family is onboard, they will be reimbursed up to $10,000 for their child’s medical expenses, and then in year two, as long as they continue to meet the qualifications (until the child turns 18), the amount rises to $15,000. This is a meaningful amount but only puts a dent in their expenses. At least, it helps parents avoid worrying about whether to put food on the table or pay for therapy appointments. Bella’s Angels is helping these families focus on what is essential: making their children the best version of themselves, whatever that looks like. Because every child they serve is different, their success looks different than the others. Bella’s Angels is in the midst of a strategic plan, and as part of that plan, its goal is to serve 50 families annually by 2027.

On of Buddies, Camden, in his short 10 years, has had three open heart surgeries, one G-Tube surgery, and over fifteen Heart Catheterization surgeries. He has had for most of his life two to three therapy sessions a day that range from physical, occupational, speech, feeding, aqua, hippo, and behavioral therapies. Elsye Schwartz, mother of Camden, who has been a Buddy for the last 10 years, wanted to share why Bella’s Angels means so much to their family. “Being a Bella’s Buddy has immensely improved Camden’s quality of life. It enabled us to seek out-of-state medical care when physicians in Florida told us there was nothing more they could do to prolong Camden’s life (as a result, he is still here living his best life 9 years later!). Through the yearly stipend allotted to each Bella’s Buddy’s medical needs, Camden has also received intensive feeding therapy and constraint-induced movement at nationally recognized centers of excellence. While Camden has great health insurance, it does not cover expenses like intensive therapy, mobility aids, tube feeding supplies, or hotel, flight, and food costs when visiting hospitals out of state. Of all the gifts Bella’s Angels has bestowed on Camden, his favorite has been Ziggy, his Diabetic Alert and mobility service dog. Ziggy has been a huge blessing and help with Camden, and the cost of his yearlong training would not have been possible without the support of Bella’s Angels. Lastly, we want to mention that Bella’s Angels offers more than just their financial support. It is one of the few local organizations that provides information and community opportunities to families of children with medical issues. Some wonderful examples are the respite care and financial planning sessions available to all families in the community. Having a medically fragile child can be financially draining and emotionally isolating. Through the years, Bella’s Angels has helped us navigate these obstacles and improved Camden’s and our entire family’s quality of life.”

In addition to the medical program, they host a respite care program called “Thea’s Night Out Community Respite Care Program.” Initially established in partnership with a church in Wellington, this once-a-month Friday night program offers a FREE evening to any parents with children that have any kind of disabilities as well as their able-bodied siblings up to the age of eleven years old. There are staff and volunteers, including a nurse, on-site. The children play games, watch movies, play basketball and soccer, and create crafts. This is a community-wide program that has had tremendous success in a short period of time. In fact, a second location in Palm Beach Gardens will be opening in October.  

Through various fundraising initiatives, partnerships with medical institutions, and volunteer efforts, Bella’s Angels continues to make a profound impact on the lives of countless families, offering financial aid for medical treatments, emotional support programs, and practical assistance to enhance the quality of life for children facing severe health challenges. Bella’s Angels raises funds through grants and individual donations and hosts four key fundraisers yearly. An Afternoon Tea, Fashion Show & Marketplace held in April has been a key fundraiser, which has been held at Admirals Cove several times. On September 28, 2024, they will be hosting a Nine & Dine Golf Tournament to be chaired by Dorothy Bradshaw. They can always use friends, volunteers, and supporters. To learn more about how you can volunteer, please get in touch with Deborah Jaffe at 561.373.4823 or by emailing her at djaffe@bellasangels.org.

Overall, Bella’s Angels remains committed to its vision of creating a world where every child can thrive despite health adversities. In its tireless efforts, it embodies the spirit of community and compassion.

“I was introduced to Bella’s Angels several years ago through Judy Leibovitz and Susan Tancer. I had no idea what the organization was about, but I have fallen in love with the kids they serve and their mission. I like supporting them because I know that the funds stay local and help families in our own community.”  Suzi Herrendorf.