A SUNY Brockport nursing student is transforming personal loss into action through a new nonprofit focused on improving access to neurological care.
Lilianna Palumbo, a student in Brockport’s School of Nursing, co-founded the Mountains, Minds & MRIs Project (MMM Project) with her brother, Giovanni Palumbo. Lilianna serves as President, Chairwoman and CEO, while Giovanni is Vice President, COO and CFO.
The nonprofit addresses a critical healthcare gap: helping individuals who experience neurological symptoms but are denied or unable to afford diagnostic testing. The organization provides financial support for preventative screenings such as MRIs, aiming to enable early detection of conditions like multiple sclerosis and other neurological disorders, where timely diagnosis can significantly impact outcomes.
The mission is deeply personal. The Palumbo family faced years of medical uncertainty after their father was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis and a brain tumor. Insurance-related barriers delayed diagnostic testing for Giovanni, who was ultimately diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) at age 15. Subsequently, Lilianna was diagnosed with MS at age 13 after her family persistently advocated for further evaluation.
Following their father’s death in 2025, the siblings launched the nonprofit to help others avoid similar delays and challenges.
The MMM Project is already gaining traction in Western New York. A recent MS Awareness Walk at SUNY Brockport drew more than 100 participants, supporting fundraising and outreach efforts. The organization also received regional exposure after being featured on WGRZ-TV’s WNY Living on June 20, 2026, highlighting its mission and impact to a broader audience. As the nonprofit continues to grow, its founders remain focused on a simple goal: ensuring equitable access to early neurological testing so that no one is left without answers when symptoms arise.