​Keefe Gorman is a managing director and wealth advisor with Merrill Lynch in New York. When he is not working with clients at Merrill Lynch, Keefe Gorman spends time and resources contributing to charitable organizations such as the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and Meals on Wheels.

The Meals on Wheels Association of America (MOWAA) is a national charity that provides food and other necessary items to older adults who may struggle to complete grocery shopping on their own. It should be noted that the MOWAA mission extends far beyond grocery shopping, with programs around the United States offering a number of unique services to meet the specific needs of the local senior population. 

MOWAA Volunteers are tasked with not only acquiring and delivering food, but also with providing older adults with companionship and an added sense of security. MOWAA visits provide seniors an opportunity to converse with a visitor, while volunteers can check on an individual’s health and living situation. In some areas, MOWAA volunteers actually drive adults to local markets, or to MOWAA food events that bring together local residents. More than 2 million volunteers are joined in this mission by local businesses and organizations sharing the same passion for a united community.

More information on services and volunteer opportunities appears online at www.mealsonwheels.org.

Keefe Gorman is the managing director of investments and a wealth management advisor with Merrill Lynch in Ithaca, New York. A professional with more than 29 years of experience, in addition to running The Gorman Group at Merrill Lynch, Keefe Gorman is involved with numerous charitable organizations, including ShelterBox USA.

ShelterBox is a non-profit organization that delivers emergency supplies to communities recovering from disasters or undergoing humanitarian crises. The organization provides practical items such as thermal blankets, water storage and purification equipment, tents, and solar lighting.

In recent months, ShelterBox has been deployed to a number of nations in need of assistance, including:

-Malawi, Africa. Flooding in the southern regions of Malawi brings with it the dangers of crocodile attack and malaria. This year, the area experienced the worst flooding it has seen in decades, and communities require safe shelters.

-Cameroon, Africa. Some 45,000 families need assistance after various conflicts left many displaced. ShelterBox has delivered hundreds of boxes, and provides training to the staff of the central relief facility.

-Nepal, South Asia. In April and May 2016, two earthquakes of magnitudes over 7.2 caused extensive damage. Rebuilding was hindered by monsoon season and the accompanying flash floods and landslides. In league with another relief agency, ShelterBox has distributed the equipment required for thousands of temporary shelters. 

​Merrill Lynch’s managing director of investments Keefe Gorman has three decades of experience in finance. Outside of his work for Merrill Lynch, Keefe Gorman is a philanthropist who gives to several organizations, including ShelterBox.

ShelterBox provides emergency services to people facing natural disasters and humanitarian crises in more than 90 countries. When a calamity occurs, ShelterBox offers emergency supplies and temporary shelter to people who have been displaced. Since its founding, the organization has assisted more than 1 million people.

The group takes its name from an actual “box,” a utilitarian supply kit it passes out to people and families in crisis. ShelterBox customizes its boxes to meet specific needs, but each box generally includes a tent, blankets, tools, and methods for purifying water. ShelterBox also provides mosquito nets in regions where malaria is a concern.

ShelterBox also provides for children in need, many of whom have lost their possessions and their family. Included in the survival kits are children’s packs, which contain art supplies, educational materials, and other small treasures. The organization also prepares special school boxes, each of which comes with educational materials sufficient to keep 50 students learning in spite of a catastrophe. 

A financial professional with Merrill Lynch, Keefe Gorman also contributes time and energy to various community organizations. One research and patient support organization to which Keefe Gorman donates is the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS).

While leukemia and lymphoma are both blood cancers, the former disease affects cells in bone marrow, while the latter is found in the lymphatic system. LLS sponsors in-person and online resources for mutual support. No fees are charged for these gatherings.

Persons who appreciate “live” small group settings may be interested in the organization's family support groups, where meetings allow patients and families to share feelings and get information. Experts trained in oncology facilitate the groups, which usually meet monthly. Currently some 230 groups exist, with numbers rising steadily.

Those desiring a more private setting can take part in the Patti Robinson Kaufmann First Connection Program. In this program, newer patients pair up with peers experienced in living through blood cancer. Peers receive training in counseling and access to educational materials. When possible, participants and peers are matched by gender, diagnosis, and age.

Finally, electronic discussion boards mediate conversation about various blood cancers and other topics of interest. Caregivers, young persons, and those experiencing blood cancers can also sign onto weekly online chats.                               

Industry-recognized financial advisor Keefe Gorman serves as a managing director with Merrill Lynch. On top of his responsibilities at Merrill Lynch, Keefe Gorman has held several advisory roles with organizations in his community, including a position on the Board of Directors for Foodnet Meals on Wheels in Tompkins County, New York.

In March, Foodnet hosted another Mac ‘n Cheese Bowl, a community fundraising event that benefits the organization’s efforts to support elderly community members and individuals with disabilities who are unable to shop or cook their own meals. The 2015 event at Ithaca High School featured a wide range of exciting activities for attendees of all ages, including a demonstration on the science and art of pasta from the co-founder of Wide Awake Bakery. For young mac ‘n cheese lovers, Foodnet organized a KidZ Korner, where children could make postcards to accompany the meals that are distributed to Foodnet clients.

A number of first-time Bowl participants, such as Coltivare and Greenstar Cooperative Market, debuted their products at the 2015 event, while other local caterers and restaurants returned to present their wares at the most recent Bowl. For the 2015 Bowl, Foodnet also created a Kid’s Choice Award so children between the ages of 5 and 12 could vote for their preferred mac ‘n cheese dish.