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missionThe TKO Strong Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to enhancing the lives of patients diagnosed with Microvillus Inclusion Disease. We are the only national non-profit organization that is committed to supporting families, promoting MVID awareness and raising funds for research;
Most importantly, research for the development of optimal cutting edge treatment options to greatly improve quality of life for every baby, child & young adult diagnosed with MVID. visionOur vision is that someday a family receiving an MVID diagnosis will hear something very different from what families heard when our journey began.
They will hear: “We understand this disease." "We have treatments." "We can help your child.” Until that day comes, we will keep fighting. |
Recognized by boston children's hospital
About Us
In 2013, our lives changed forever when our son, Thomas Kevin Onorato, was diagnosed with Microvillus Inclusion Disease (MVID), an extraordinarily rare and life-threatening intestinal disorder. At the time, there were few answers, limited research, and very little awareness of MVID. We knew we couldn’t simply wait for answers. So in 2014, our family created the TKO Strong Foundation with a simple but ambitious mission: bring families together, raise awareness, fund meaningful scientific research, and help move the medical community closer to better treatments—and one day, a cure—for MVID.
Our Impact: 2014–2026
One Child. One Family. One Mission.
More than a decade later, that mission continues.
Turning Donations Into Research
Every fundraiser, donation, raffle, sponsorship and act of generosity has helped us pursue the same goal: advance MVID research. TKO Strong Foundation has supported researchers working to better understand this devastating disease and develop potential therapeutic approaches. Our foundation has supported work associated with Boston Children’s Hospital, including research involving patient-derived intestinal models called enteroids. These models allow scientists to study MVID in the laboratory and investigate potential approaches to treatment. That work contributed to peer-reviewed scientific research published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation, with the TKO Strong Foundation specifically acknowledged as a source of financial support. For our family and everyone who has supported this foundation, seeing TKO Strong recognized in published scientific research represents something incredibly important:
The money our community raised helped science move forward.
The money our community raised helped science move forward.
Supporting MVID Research Around the World
Our mission has extended beyond the United States. TKO Strong has also supported the work of Professor Sven van IJzendoorn and his research team at University Medical Center Groningen in the Netherlands, whose work has focused on understanding the cellular and genetic mechanisms behind MVID and exploring potential therapeutic strategies.
This work has included research into whether certain medications could help restore functional proteins in particular MVID-associated mutations, as well as efforts to improve diagnosis and understanding of the disease.
Researchers in Groningen have also been involved with the International MVID Patient Registry, an important resource for collecting information about patients, genetic mutations and outcomes.
For an extraordinarily rare disease, connecting patients and researchers across countries is essential. Every additional patient and every additional piece of information can help scientists understand MVID more clearly.
This work has included research into whether certain medications could help restore functional proteins in particular MVID-associated mutations, as well as efforts to improve diagnosis and understanding of the disease.
Researchers in Groningen have also been involved with the International MVID Patient Registry, an important resource for collecting information about patients, genetic mutations and outcomes.
For an extraordinarily rare disease, connecting patients and researchers across countries is essential. Every additional patient and every additional piece of information can help scientists understand MVID more clearly.
Connecting the MVID Community
When Thomas was diagnosed, one of the hardest realities was realizing just how rare MVID was.
Families affected by rare diseases can feel as though they are facing something alone.
TKO Strong has worked to change that. Over the years, we have connected with MVID families throughout the United States and around the world. Their children, experiences, struggles and victories remind us why this work matters. Although MVID may be rare, no family facing it should feel alone.
Families affected by rare diseases can feel as though they are facing something alone.
TKO Strong has worked to change that. Over the years, we have connected with MVID families throughout the United States and around the world. Their children, experiences, struggles and victories remind us why this work matters. Although MVID may be rare, no family facing it should feel alone.
A Community That Made This Possible
None of this belongs to one family. It belongs to an entire community. For more than a decade, relatives, friends, neighbors, businesses, physicians, researchers, volunteers and complete strangers have attended fundraisers, purchased raffles, donated prizes, sponsored events and contributed financially to our mission. From large fundraising events to individual donations, every contribution has mattered. Our Franklin Square and Long Island communities have stood beside our family year after year.
We will never forget it.
We will never forget it.
More Than a Fundraiser
When people attend a TKO Strong event, they may see families having fun, children playing, music, raffles, prizes and friends spending an afternoon together. But behind every event is something much larger. Research. Every dollar we raise brings attention to a disease most people have never heard of.
Every researcher we support increases the world’s understanding of MVID. Every family we connect with makes the MVID community stronger. And every scientific discovery gives us another reason to hope.
Thomas Is Why We Started. Every MVID Child Is Why We Continue. TKO Strong began because of one little boy. Thomas Kevin Onorato. But along the way, our mission became bigger than Thomas and bigger than our family.
We continue for every child living with MVID.
For every parent desperately searching for answers.
For every physician trying to provide better treatment.
For every scientist trying to understand this disease.
And for the children who haven’t even been born yet.
Every researcher we support increases the world’s understanding of MVID. Every family we connect with makes the MVID community stronger. And every scientific discovery gives us another reason to hope.
Thomas Is Why We Started. Every MVID Child Is Why We Continue. TKO Strong began because of one little boy. Thomas Kevin Onorato. But along the way, our mission became bigger than Thomas and bigger than our family.
We continue for every child living with MVID.
For every parent desperately searching for answers.
For every physician trying to provide better treatment.
For every scientist trying to understand this disease.
And for the children who haven’t even been born yet.
TKO STRONG
Raising awareness. Funding research. Supporting families.
Searching for a cure Since 2014.
Co-Founders |
Board of Directors |
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MELISSA A. ONORATO
THOMAS ONORATO OfficersPRESIDENT: MARK ONORATO
VICE-PRESIDENT: CRAIG SCHMIDT SECRETARY: RICHARD GUEZ TREASURER: THOMAS ONORATO |
ALEXIS ONORATO
ALISON SCHWENZER CRAIG SCHMIDT JAMES FISCHMAN MARK ONORATO MELISSA A. ONORATO MICHAEL FITZGERALD REGINA PETERS RICHARD GUEZ SALVATORE VAGLICA THOMAS ONORATO WILLIAM PETERS |
Honorary Members
KEVIN KAVANAGH
MICHAEL W. KAVANAGH
CAITY STOLLE
MAJOR CHARLES KILBRIDE
MICHAEL W. KAVANAGH
CAITY STOLLE
MAJOR CHARLES KILBRIDE
TKO STRONG FOUNDATION, INC.
P.O. BOX 245
Malverne, NY 11565
516-606-4856
We are a non-profit article 501(c)(3) corporation
EIN 472113249
Established 2014
P.O. BOX 245
Malverne, NY 11565
516-606-4856
We are a non-profit article 501(c)(3) corporation
EIN 472113249
Established 2014
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