Santisteban brothers honor their mother’s memory

A charitable organization founded by two brothers in memory of their mother has moved into its fourth year of existence and continues to grow and develop its brand, while helping to raise money and support for medical research and local high school scholarships.

Love Linda Inc. was established in April 2015, by Michael Santisteban and his younger brother (by a year) Joel, one month after their mother, Linda Santisteban, died after a hard fought two-year battle with leukemia. She was 56.

The Meadowmere Park resident worked in network television and the airfreight industry. Lisa Santisteban, the brothers’ older sister, is on the board. Linda and her husband, Joel, were married for 33 years.

The public charity raises money through an annual brunch and brand apparel that is donated to support leukemia research at Memorial Sloan Kettering Hospital and an endowment fund for student scholarships at Lawrence and Oceanside high schools.

“We started with a small idea to do something in her memory and expanded it,” Michael said, referring to his mother. “The No. 1 goal is to help find a cure for blood cancers and I’m a teacher so giving back to schools was a no-brainer.”

In its first year Love Linda raised $15,000, then $25,000 and last year $35,000, according to Joel. He credited the apparel line and the creation of two sports teams — one a collegiate level lacrosse team that plays in tournaments at Cantiague Park in Hicksville and a co-ed volleyball squad that plays in the Long Beach recreational league — for helping to spread the word.

“The scholarship fund and Memorial Sloan Kettering are the core fundraising targets, but we also have the gear T-shirts, sweatshirts and developed a brand,” he said. “We not only have the apparel items but the teams sporting those items such as the Love Linda (lacrosse) helmets and jerseys.” Joel and Michael played both football and lacrosse in high school and college.

“It means a lot to give back to the school and community and to young kids,” Michael said. “It’s such a pleasure when people to start to recognize us and it feels good to have a direct impact.”

Lauren Kelly, the development coordinator in the Office of Development for Memorial Sloan Kettering, noted that through Love Linda the Santistebans chose to donate a portion of the organization’s proceeds to leukemia research.

“I think it’s very admirable,” she said. “I attended the brunch in 2016, and saw how they bring their community, family and friends together to honor their mother’s legacy to help other families deal with what they went through.”

Memorial Sloan Kettering’s leukemia team is now leading new trials that combine what are called IDH inhibitors with standard-of-care induction chemotherapy, which is delivered for several weeks to eliminate as many leukemia cells as possible to improve patient results and help avoid relapses.

On Sept. 23, Love Linda will host its fourth annual cancer benefit brunch in Lido Beach. “For me, it’s taking all of her values, of all of what she believed and what she represented in the community — an involved, encouraging personality — and doing our part to spread those values,” Joel said.

For more on Love Linda, go to www.lovelindainc.com.