Our Mission
Honoring Matthew Cirelli’s spirit, Swirls Around the World brings hope, support, and meaningful experiences to children and young adults facing cancer.
The Swirls Around the World Foundation is a nonprofit organization, honoring the life and legacy of Matthew “Swirls” Cirelli who passed away at the age of 19 after battling Ewing Sarcoma.
The mission of the foundation is to honor Matthew’s legacy by embracing his courage, spirit, and kindness by paying it forward.
The foundation pays it forward by supporting children and young adults battling cancer by sending Swirls Packages of Love, organizing special Swirls Warrior Days for children and their families, scholarships, donations to Boston and local hospitals, as well as supporting other nonprofit foundations.
The foundation was created in honor of Matthew “Swirls” Cirelli, who was diagnosed with Ewing Sarcoma at age 17 and passed away in 2013 at the age of 19. Along with being an incredible son, brother, cousin, nephew and friend, he was also our inspiration. We have made it our mission to carry on his legacy by supporting other children and young adults battling cancer.
Swirls around the World Foundation is a continuation of Matt’s story to…
Travel the world…Matt had a love for travel, exploring new places, and a desire to someday visit places around the world. One part of the foundation distributes Swirls Strong bracelets, which were made by Matt before his passing. People are encouraged to take the bracelets with them on their travels and take a Swirls picture at their favorite place. Pictures can be emailed to swirlsaroundtheworld@gmail.com to be added to the Swirls Around the World Facebook page and Instagram so everyone can enjoy following all the places Matt continues to travel. Swirls has already traveled along with friends and family to over 1000 destinations and 6 continents! A beautiful reminder that Matt’s spirit lives on everywhere we go and to raise awareness of childhood and young adult cancers.
Go to College…The foundation organizes several fundraising events each year to raise funds for annual scholarships in Matt’s name for high school seniors helping to pursue Matthew’s dream of attending college.
Pay it forward… Matt always went out of his way to help others in need. The Swirls Around the World Foundation continues to Pay it Forward for Matt by sending out Swirls Packages of Love each month to a child or young adult battling cancer or by organizing a special day for a warrior and their family to help make their day a bit brighter.
To show our appreciation for the care Matt received, several times per year, the foundation also donates packages of gifts to the Massachusetts General Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Center.
