When Rebecca DiTore lost her husband Mike to brain cancer at 30, she was left to raise two young boys while navigating a loss few around her could truly understand. Rather than carry that weight alone, she built something for the families who would come after her. Small Moments Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit serving the Greater Philadelphia Area — including families right here on the Main Line — dedicated to bringing joy, relief, and connection to children who have lost a parent or sibling to cancer, and to the families grieving alongside them. As featured on Fox29 and Good Day Philadelphia, the foundation is just 2.5 years old and has already touched nearly 100 individuals through its programs.

“One of the greatest leaps forward in my own grief journey came when I connected with others who could truly understand the complexities of what I was feeling,” Rebecca says. “I know first-hand the destruction cancer does on a family. Cancer and grief fundamentally change you.”

Small Moments of Joy

Each family receives a fully funded, one-day experience tailored entirely to their interests — a thoughtful break from the weight of grief, planned with personal care and intention. No two experiences look the same, because no two families are the same.

Past gifts have included season ski passes, exclusive access to Phillies events and Eagles games, a memorial tree-planting at Hawk Mountain, monthly STEM subscription boxes delivered to the door, and memberships to Please Touch Museum and Dutch Wonderland. The through-line is always the same: what brings this particular family joy?

“In the middle of grief and exhaustion, you gave her magic — and you gave me something steady to hold onto,” shares Crystal, a Small Moments family. “I don’t feel alone as I move forward. I feel supported, seen, and reminded that there is life and connection ahead.”

Small Moments of Relief

A thoughtful care package is hand-delivered to every family, filled with self-care items, grocery and meal-delivery gift cards, and children’s items — small but meaningful comforts during unimaginably hard days. These packages are designed to meet both practical needs and emotional ones, offering relief in the moments when even simple tasks can feel overwhelming. Small Moments also partners with trusted local organizations to provide hands-on household support like laundry, cleaning, and home organization — the everyday responsibilities that quickly pile up when you’re navigating solo parenting, grieving a loss, or planning a funeral. In addition, Small Moments offers seasonal and holiday assistance, including meals and gifts, to help families feel cared for and supported during times that can otherwise feel especially heavy.

Small Moments of Connection

The foundation hosts regular community events, including a Healing Through Art painting night, an upcoming Family Mural Painting event, and a Trauma-Informed Yoga Workshop. Rebecca also runs Small Talks, a quarterly virtual support group offering a safe, open space for grieving families.

“This foundation has been a valuable source of support for us — they were able to sponsor a family day that allowed us to find some joy amidst our grief,” says Dominika, a Small Moments family.

Save the Date: 4th Annual Mikey D Memorial Golf Outing

Small Moments’ largest fundraiser of the year takes place September 28th at Five Ponds Golf Club in Warminster. The event brings together Small Moments families, local businesses, and community supporters to expand the foundation’s reach.

How to Get Involved

Know a local family grieving a cancer loss? You can nominate them for services through the Small Moments website. Businesses can get involved through annual giving, in-kind donations, or golf outing sponsorships. Donations can also be made via the Small Moments website, Venmo, or by check. Follow Rebecca and Small Moments on Instagram for grief-related content and event updates.

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Photos courtesy of Small Moments Foundation, as seen in the Spring Family Fun Guide. 

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