Our Story
The Berko Foundation Inc is a 501(c)3 charitable organization registered in the State of Maryland in June 2016.
The Foundation’s ideology dates back to 2006, when a mother battling breast cancer relapse found herself struggling to pay for both her cancer treatments and her adopted son’s last years of medical school while on a public school teacher’s pension. It was a seemingly insurmountable task for this mother, with such limited resources and means, to achieve both vital goals. However, somehow, through sacrifice, undying commitment and courage, she found ways to stretch her limited budget to meet both payment schedules, as many mothers will do.
Tragically, this courageous woman ultimately lost her battle against cancer on December 10, 2006. Nevertheless, she succeeded in ensuring that her son achieved his dream. It was this demonstration of strength, resolve and courage that planted the initial seed from which the Berko Foundation has taken root.
The Berko Foundation’s overriding mandate is to provide funding and other necessary support to deserving brilliant students who find themselves facing similar obstacles, especially those whose mothers are battling breast cancer. Our hope is that bright young minds will no longer have to wonder, in desperation, about how their fees will get paid in such circumstances, or who they can turn to for emotional support, motivation, and any other assistance they need. In this way, mothers who have high-school or college-age children who are doing well in school can rest assured that there is a safety net for them and their child. This is what the Berko Foundation stands for: giving every deserving child the opportunity to receive the education they desire, all the while educating the public about breast cancer.
In this way, we seek to honor the memory of one very special mother who once sacrificed so much, but never lived to witness her efforts bear fruit. We envision that her values will live on through this foundation.
