Tara Ann Ralph Foundation-About Us

Any individual or family in need of additional financial assistance in caring for an ill child may apply through a medical personnel referral. All applications will be reviewed and considered for assistance within the means of the foundation.

Click here to download the Funding Application Form.

For questions regarding elegibility and the application process, please visit our FAQs page. For assistance regarding the application process, please email help@taraannfoundation.com

In 1974 Tara Ann Ralph was born. Initially, she appeared to be a healthy baby girl. However almost immediately after arriving home, Tara began exhibiting symptoms relating to acute gastrointestinal illness. She could not eat and was losing weight quickly. The doctors did not recognize the cause and were not able to provide effective treatment.

Tara lost her brief battle with Necrotizing Enterocolitis (NEC) seven days after her birth.

A year later, the Ralphs' had a second daughter. Soon after she was born, she experienced symptoms similar to Tara. Over the next year, their newborn daughter received extensive medical care at Babies Hospital in New York where she stayed for the first few months of her life.

During this trying time, it was the help of family, friends and neighbors that proved to be the greatest gift. Help came in many forms; whether it was the pharmacist providing special formula at cost or a friend preparing a dinner. Many people were willing to help in any way they could.

“A simple act of kindness truly makes an enormous difference in your life. It is a feeling of hope that enters your heart just knowing that someone cares. The benevolence that my family and I received is what I want to give to other families who are experiencing what we went through so long ago.” says Diane, Tara’s mother.

Today, the Tara Ann Ralph Foundation, started and operated by Diane Ralph, is dedicated to being able to provide financial assistance to those families that are experiencing the financial hardships of having a child in need of continued medical care, regardless of the disease.

Although the foundation is not disease specific, these are some of the statistics on NEC.
Necrotizing Enterocolitis (NEC) is the most common acute gastrointestinal illness in neonates throughout the world, with mortality rates as high as 50% in infants weighing less than 3.3 pounds. It is more common in premature infants, but it is also observed in full-term babies as early as the first and second day of life. The signs and symptoms of NEC can range from mild feeding intolerance and abdominal distension to catastrophic bowel perforation. NEC is not a gender specific illness, is not hereditary, and has been seen in all nationalities.

The Tara Ann Ralph Foundation is a federally tax exempt charity that provides assistance to families throughout all fifty states. The Foundation is staffed solely by volunteers.

No money received is used for research or sponsorships. The Foundation makes its grants of financial assistance directly to the third party debtor or service provider for whom such a grant request is made.

The Tara Ann Ralph Foundation is a private foundation within the meaning of Section 509 (a) of the Internal Revenue code and is exempt from Federal Income taxation under Section 501 (c) (3) of the code. Your contribution is tax deductible to the extent provided by law. You should consult with your tax advisor.

The single goal of the Tara Ann Ralph Foundation is to provide financial assistance to those families caring for a child with a diagnosed medical illness that are unable to meet their regular financial responsibilities due to extensive medical bills.

By applying funds directly to an invoice, such as medical or utility, it is hoped that we can ease some of the burden placed upon the families whose children are receiving ongoing medical treatment.

Financial support is provided to qualified families with children under the age of 18 that are receiving medical treatment. Each family’s situation is unique and thus reviewed on a case by case basis.

A complete list of the required information can be found in the Funding Application Form. Click here to download the form in PDF format. Eligibility requirements can be found on the FAQs page.

Although the foundation is not disease specific, these are some of the statistics on NEC.
Necrotizing Enterocolitis (NEC) is the most common acute gastrointestinal illness in neonates throughout the world, with mortality rates as high as 50% in infants weighing less than 3.3 pounds. It is more common in premature infants, but it is also observed in full-term babies as early as the first and second day of life. The signs and symptoms of NEC can range from mild feeding intolerance and abdominal distension to catastrophic bowel perforation. NEC is not a gender specific illness, is not hereditary, and has been seen in all nationalities.