The Mandros Family

The foundational story of The Mandros Family Foundation is 11 years in the making, and it is still being written today. 

Stemming from discoveries in 2006 of brain cancer in Jim Mandros (our father) and breast cancer in Kari Mandros Voorhees (our sister) we began our longstanding battle against one of the most infamous adversaries in the medical landscape, cancer. Jim and Kari both endured successful operations, with Kari defeating the disease whole-heartedly, and Dad being released with dormancy levels of the remaining brain tumor. Years later, just a week before Jim’s 10 year anniversary of his successful brain operation in 2006, we were shook with news of its resurfacing in a more complex and deeper layer of his brain in June of 2016. While this was clearly brutal news to learn, we came together as a family (again) and prepared for lap 2 of Big Daddy’s race. 

During this time of preparation, our then pregnant sister Lucy Mandros Eliopulos, gave birth to a beautiful baby boy named George. The healthy birth of George illuminated symptoms of double-vision for Lucy that later identified as two separate tumors within her brain. Lucy too was diagnosed with our arch enemy, cancer. During this trying time many people, some we don't even know, stepped up and supported us in ways that are almost unimaginable. To name some, impossible to name all, Lucy's family received dinners on their doorstep for 5 months--many times dropped off by strangers. 

The operation on Lucy was had during Thanksgiving season, and we were able to babysit the miracle that saved mommies life (King George Alexander). Little did we know, this little man was gearing up for the battle of his life as well. George grew sick in the midst of Lucy’s recovery, and fought several different viruses within a 65 day span, including two viral blood infections and pneumonia. He was dependent on a ventilator for almost 2 months. George has proven his strength to the family and matched his mother and his grandpa in his will to fight. 

We wanted to create an organization that gives other families who think there is no hope (there always is) the hope & will to fight in order to battle the unthinkable. Incorporated in 2022, the Mandros Family Foundation (MFF NFP) is truly dedicated to its roots in helping other Chicago-land families who are in need not only of financial support to alleviate medical costs, but also in need of communal support due to their run-ins with various forms of medical hardship. We are a federally recognized Non-Profit with 501(c)(3) status as a Public Charity.

We strive to guide and support families the same way we, and many of you, guided us - by never faltering to a lack of faith, and fighting alongside your loved ones with tenacious and unconditional support.

- The MFF