In memory of Joseph Lacroce, we put doctors, nurses and health screenings on wheels, and drive them to the South Jersey children who need them most.
$2 million. Two vans. 13,297 kids reached.
13,297
children served in 2025
596
community stops in 2025
3,315
ER visits avoided
$61 : $1
return on every dollar invested*
*2025 estimates from Virtua Health's Mobile Health Map data. Source: Virtua Pediatric Mobile Services 2025 Impact Report.
It started with one boy.
Joseph Lacroce loved cars. In 1975, at just 12 years old, he died of leukemia.
His family and a group of car lovers turned that loss into a mission. First as Carz N' Toyz, they brought toys and smiles to kids in Virtua's hospitals. Today, as the Joseph Lacroce Foundation, we're doing more than we ever imagined.
In 2017 we gave $1 million to launch Virtua's Pediatric Mobile Services. In 2023 we gave another $1 million to put a second van on the road. Together, the two vans now bring free checkups and screenings to children across Burlington, Camden and Gloucester counties.
A doctor's office that comes to you.
Many families can't get to a pediatrician because of work, transportation or cost. So the vans go to them: schools, daycares, shelters and community centers.
Vision & hearing screenings: catching problems before they hold a child back in school
Dental care: screenings, fluoride and oral health education
Lead testing: finding hidden lead exposure early
Developmental screenings: early help for early delays
Physicals & flu shots: so kids can go to school and play sports
Asthma classes: teaching kids and parents to breathe easier
The vans also give out diapers, formula, books, blankets and toys.
“There is an enormous need in South Jersey for these services, in every type of community, from urban to rural. We couldn't do this without Sam Lacroce and the Joseph Lacroce Foundation. The first million was such a gift, and the second million was magic!”
Maria Emerson, Director of Rehab Services, Virtua Health
Your gift keeps the vans rolling.
Since 2020, visits to the vans have grown from about 2,200 a year to more than 15,000, and the need keeps growing. Every donation helps reach the next child who would otherwise go without care.
The Joseph Lacroce Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Donations are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. EIN: [XX-XXXXXXX]