Seeds of Hope
A family’s devotion to their grandmother is changing lives for children and families in Central Florida.
In honor of Nonna, Mike and his wife, Maria, founded the Nonna’s Garden Foundation. Nearly 20 years later, it has grown from an act of gratefulness for Nonna’s love, into a family initiative — developed into the foundation for good it is today with support from Mike’s parents, Benny and Anna, family, and friends — whose tagline says everything: “Hope grows here.” Mike wants people to see Nonna not only as his grandmother, but as a symbol of all grandmothers’ love and care.
Far-Reaching Impact
Mike and Maria Repole and the Nonna’s Garden Foundation have made a $1 million pledge in support of several key pediatric subspecialties, including cardiology and heart surgery, diabetes, and behavioral and mental health, as well as the effort to bring these and other programs together via the Orlando Health Children’s Pavilion. The pavilion will be the region’s first advanced facility dedicated to coordinated, specialized outpatient care. Set to open in August 2026, the pavilion will bring together more than 30 pediatric specialties and related services under one roof.
From newborns requiring surgery in their first hours of life to teenagers managing lifelong conditions, the Orlando Health Children’s Heart Institute delivers expert care at every stage. Support from the Nonna’s Garden Foundation will advance innovation and invest in the next generation of cardiac specialists.
Behavioral and mental health providers within the Orlando Health Children’s Neuroscience Institute will be more fully integrated into the pavilion clinical spaces as well as inpatient environments, expanding access and quality for patients.
The gift also extends to the Pediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes program, where a team of physicians, diabetes educators and dietitians work with families to build long-term care plans. For families navigating this type of diagnosis, that kind of coordinated, ongoing support can make all the difference.
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“We want people to feel the work we’re doing. That direct impact — that’s everything.” – Nonna’s Garden Foundation |
Meet Nonna
There is a woman named Assunta whom most people never met, but whose spirit has quietly shaped the lives of thousands. She grew up on a farm in southern Italy, came to Queens as a young woman, and spent the rest of her life tending her garden and her family with the same abundance of love.
When Assunta, known to her loved ones as “Nonna,” was diagnosed with cancer at the age of 78, her family refused to accept the first prognosis they heard. Her grandson, Mike Repole, brought her to Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center for a second opinion, where she enrolled in a clinical trial and responded well to treatment. Nonna lived many more years, allowing her to meet her third great-grandchild, Gioia. Nonna passed away peacefully, of natural causes, at the age of 93.
A Foundation Built to Last
Nonna’s Garden Foundation stands out among others for not only writing checks to support leading-edge healthcare, but for showing up personally. Recently, at the pediatric heart month party, their family and friends helped expand the fun and family-feel of the event.
Nonna’s Garden Foundation wants children in our community and throughout Orlando Health to feel the same level of warmth and care in their own lives that their family felt through Nonna. Her memory lives on through the mission of Nonna’s Garden Foundation, helping to grow healthier communities with every touch.
