Pietro’s Fight

What Pietro’s Fight does

Pietro's Fight is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) charitable organization founded in 2012 by Dayna and Manni Scarso after their son Pietro was diagnosed with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) at age 3. The organization is dedicated to raising awareness of DMD and funding translational research aimed at finding a cure. It is based in the Brooklyn/Staten Island area of New York (mailing address: 50 Blackhorse Court, Staten Island, NY 10306) and operates with 1–10 staff/volunteers.

The organization's offerings consist of community fundraising events—annual Fight Night galas (held through at least Round VIII), a recurring 5K Run/Walk ("Pietro's Fight to the Finish Line"), the PJs for PJ pajama day school fundraiser, children's events, Halloween-themed events, and raffles—alongside branded merchandise (END DMD T-shirts, tanks, and kids' shirts). Pietro's Fight does not sell software, platforms, or technology services; all technology descriptors are marked not applicable. The organization is a member of the Duchenne Alliance and has supported Sarepta Therapeutics' development of Eteplirsen (Exondys 51), the first FDA-approved DMD drug, approved September 19, 2016; Pietro participated in the clinical trials.

Pietro's Fight generates no product revenue; its funding comes from donations, event proceeds, raffles, and merchandise sales. It pursues a community-led go-to-market model anchored in local Brooklyn schools, businesses, and earned media (NY1, WABC, Fox 5 News, Brooklyn Eagle). The founders and an Executive Board of family and community members govern the organization, supplemented by an Advisory Board that includes pediatric specialists from Columbia Children's Hospital and New York-Presbyterian.

Name

Pietro’s Fight

Legal name

Pietro's Fight (pietrosfight.org)

Website

https://pietrosfight.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Pietro's Fight is a Brooklyn/Staten Island-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2012 that raises awareness and funds for translational research to cure Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, primarily through community events, galas, and merchandise sales.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit Patient Advocacy and Disease Research Fundraising

NAICS

Voluntary Health Organizations (813212), Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Grantmaking and Giving Services (8132)

akta.pro primary industry

Disease-Specific Research & Support (e.g., Cancer, Diabetes, ALS) (BPAGACAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Health & Medical Research Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAL), Research & Science Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAI)

Keywords

• Nonprofit fundraising
• Duchenne research funding
• Patient advocacy services
• Community event fundraising
• Charitable foundation grants

Headquarters

HQ city

Staten Island

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Fundraising: The organization raises funds through various community events including Fight Night galas, 5K runs, raffles, and direct donations. All funds raised are directed toward Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy research.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Pietro's Fight is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit foundation that raises awareness of and funds for research into Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD). The organization mobilizes community support through annual fundraising events such as Fight Night galas, 5K runs, pajama days and Halloween events, sells branded END DMD merchandise, and channels all proceeds to translational DMD research programs. It also advocates at the FDA for accelerated approval of DMD therapies.

Product overview

Pietro's Fight is a nonprofit organization (501(c)(3)) founded in 2012 by Dayna and Manni Scarso after their son Pietro was diagnosed with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. The organization operates as a charitable foundation rather than a technology product company. Its primary offerings include community fundraising events (annual 5K runs, Fight Night galas, pajama day fundraisers, and Halloween events), branded merchandise (END DMD T-shirts), and awareness campaigns. All funds raised are directed toward DMD research. The organization does not offer a software product, platform, or technology service.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• END DMD Branded Merchandise Branded merchandise including Unisex Adult T-Shirts, Women's Adult Tanks, and Unisex Kids T-Shirts sold via the Pietro's Fight online shop to raise funds for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy research.
• Pietro's Fight to the Finish Line 5K Run/Walk Annual community 5K running and walking event organized to raise funds and awareness for DMD research.
• Fight Night Gala Events Annual gala/dinner events (Fight Night Round I through VIII) featuring entertainment, raffles, and auctions to raise funds for DMD research.
• PJs for PJ Pajama Day Fundraiser Community-wide pajama day fundraiser where schools allow students to wear pajamas in exchange for donations to support DMD research.
• Pietro VS. DMD Special Raffle Raffle event offering prizes including consultations and merchandise to raise funds for DMD research, with $25 raffle tickets.

Quantifiable outcome

• FDA approval of Exondys 51 (Eteplirsen) - the first drug approved to treat patients with DMD
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Duchenne AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPietro's Fight is a member of the Duchenne Alliance, an alliance of foundations committed to accelerating Duchenne muscular dystrophy research and care.
• Sarepta TherapeuticscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPietro's Fight has supported Sarepta Therapeutics in the development of Eteplirsen (Exondys 51), the first FDA-approved drug for DMD treatment. Pietro participated in clinical trials for this drug.
• Senator Marty GoldenminorOthersNew York State Senator who introduced resolutions supporting DMD research and FDA approval of new drugs.
• Cureduchenne.org, Charleysfund.org, Ryansquest.org, Michaelescause.orgminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOther DMD-focused organizations that the Scarso family connected with after Pietro's diagnosis to share information about treatments and research.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA): MDA is a large, established nonprofit that funds research and provides care across multiple neuromuscular diseases, including DMD. It is a broad incumbent serving the same patient community but with a substantially larger research budget, multi-disease scope, and national lobbying presence.
• Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy: Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy is the largest U.S. nonprofit focused on Duchenne and Becker muscular dystrophy, funding research, advocacy, and care. It is a broader incumbent with a national footprint and significantly larger fundraising and grantmaking capacity than Pietro's Fight, but it pursues the same DMD research mission.

Others

• Sarepta Therapeutics: Sarepta Therapeutics is a commercial biotech focused on developing gene therapies and RNA-targeted treatments for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. It is an ecosystem partner — not a peer nonprofit — that has collaborated with Pietro's Fight on Eteplirsen clinical trials and advocacy.
• Duchenne Alliance: Duchenne Alliance is a coalition of DMD-focused foundations that pools fundraising and coordinates research funding. Pietro's Fight is a member; it is an ecosystem/umbrella organization rather than a direct competitor, and it provides collaborative structure for collective grantmaking.

Direct peers

• Charley's Fund: Charley's Fund is a family-founded DMD nonprofit that funds research and drug development for Duchenne. It is explicitly listed as a peer organization that Pietro's Fight's founders collaborated with, and shares the same family-story-driven fundraising model targeting DMD cures.
• Jett Foundation: Jett Foundation is a family-driven nonprofit that funds Duchenne research, supports affected families, and advocates for improved care. It is comparable in mission to Pietro's Fight and operates a similar community fundraising and awareness model.
• CureDuchenne: CureDuchenne is a national nonprofit that funds translational research for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy and supports clinical trials and drug development. It is directly comparable to Pietro's Fight in mission (funding DMD cure research) and operates with a larger but similarly venture-style research funding model.
• Michael's Cause: Michael's Cause is a family-founded nonprofit dedicated to raising funds and awareness for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy research. It is a direct peer in size, mission, and grassroots fundraising approach, and is explicitly named as a peer organization by Pietro's Fight.
• Ryan's Quest: Ryan's Quest is another family-founded DMD-focused nonprofit that funds research and raises awareness for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. It is a direct peer in both mission (DMD cure research) and the small, personal-story-driven fundraising approach.

Regional players

• Duchenne UK: Duchenne UK is a UK-based charitable foundation funding translational research and clinical trials for DMD. It is a peer in mission (DMD cure research funding) but operates in a different geography, with a larger research budget and a portfolio-style approach to grantmaking.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/pietrosfight
• Facebookfacebook.com/pietrosfight
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/2778082

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments1 record

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Pietro’s Fight