Raising Awareness about Cord Blood Banking
www.savethecordfoundation.com

“Years ago in Tucson, I meet two families whose children had been diagnosed with terminal illness.  One boy had sickle cell anemia and the other had a rare form of leukemia.  Both of these children had siblings whose cords had been saved.  Both were perfect matches, the resulting transplants saving the lives of both young boys.  When I had a baby six years ago, we saved his cord but I really didn't know why and wase unfamiliar at the time with all of the diseases that can be treated and cured with cord blood,” said Charise Ober, a founder, along with Kim Widener of Rumson, Michelle Cicalese of Red Bank, and Anne Sarabia, of the Save The Cord Foundation.

Informal conversations made the women realize that few people knew of the importance of cord blood.  Many were confused and only had heard about the controversy regarding embryonic stem cells in the media.  They became more and more impassioned with the idea of saving this valuable medical resource and of educating expectant mothers, young adults and others. 

"Save The Cord Foundation hopes to raise awareness of current and future medical advancements involving cord blood, which hold a rich supply of stem cells, and why banking or donating every baby's cord is so very important,” says Widener.

Widener hopes to dispel public perception about the collection and applications of adult stem cells, which are often confused in the ethical debate concerning the collection of embryonic stem cells.  There is no political, moral, or ethical debate with the collection of adult stem cells, which are collected from the blood-rich umbilical cord.  Also, as a mother of three boys of Latino descent, she knew that her children would be much less likely to find a stem cell match from a public bank, should they ever need stem cell therapy.  “Racial minorities are grossly under represented at public stem cell banks,” says Widener.

Co-founder Michelle Cicalese began her stem cell journey on behalf of her disabled son, Peter.  Cicalese produced Got Stem Cells?, a documentary film seen through the eyes of individuals who are searching for answers and cures.  “The most important message I took away from my extensive travels to interview and film researchers, physicians and families was the hope that adult stem cells hold for the future of children like Peter, as well as the stem cell treatments that are now available to treat Type 1 diabetes, sickle cell anemia and heart disease, just to name a few.”

Help for Individuals Battling Brain Tumors   1-877-577-9800

Judy Zocchi’s husband David died in December 2005 after a nearly six year battle with brain cancer but today David’s legacy is improving the lives of other brain tumor patients through services available at The David.  S. Zocchi Brain Tumor Center at Monmouth Medical Center.

“The vision was to provide access to top-notch medical treatment, a research library stocked with the latest data, networking support and comfort at a place where patients and their families need it most, close to home,” says Zocchi, a Manasquan resident who conceived the Center as a tribute to her late husband.  “We were able to travel every few weeks to specialists out of state, but many people can’t drop everything and go.  I realized we needed a local, high-quality care facility.”

Zocchi tapped her husband’s many friends, reached out to corporate and non-profit contacts, and organized fundraisers, ultimately raising over $500,000 in monetary and in-kind donations to furnish and staff the beautiful new facility at Monmouth Medical Center which opened in October. 

Currently staffed with a social worker to help loved ones sort through insurance and find support such as home health workers and mental health counseling, Zocchi hopes to add insurance experts and legal aides by next year to advocate for patients who are turned down for treatment coverage.

Remembering Michael & Helping Others
www.michaelsfeat.org

"In the beginning, people donated to us after hearing what we had personally gone through," said Dana Puharic, remembering the loss of her four day old son Michael, who died of complications from a chromosome disorder known as Trisomy 13, which causes congenital defects, brain development problems and breathing difficulties.  "As the years have passed, I believe there is a growing recognition of the important services that we provide."
Following Michael’s death, Puharic and her husband, Adam, of Aberdeen, decided to channel their grief into The Michael Gerard Puharic Memorial Fund, known as Michael’s Feat, which provides support to parents caring for seriously ill newborns.  Since its inception in 2000, Michael's Feat has donated over $150,000 to Monmouth and Ocean county families with seriously ill newborns.

Most recently, the fund created the Family Resource Room, located adjacent to the NICU at Monmouth Medical Center.  “It’s an ideal waiting room, carefully designed to function as a living room away from home, and includes soft seating, computer access, children’s toys and books, a flat screen TV, private bathroom, coffee service snacks and refrigerator,” said Dana.  “The room is so important for parents to have a place to go to regroup and relax, and find the strength to face the trials ahead.” 

A Mother’s Quest for an Answer
www.thezacharyfoundation.org

Rhonda Friedberg knew that something wasn’t quite right with Zachary from day one.  As the months went by, Zachary didn’t hit the normal milestones other babies his aged achieved.  Along with Zachary’s father Michael, the Friedberg’s, of Morganville, began making the rounds from one specialist to another, trying to find the answer. 

Sadly, the answer they had to hear was not encouraging.  Zachary was diagnosed with a rare form of mitochondrial disease called pyruvate dehydrogenase deficiency, causing developmental delay and failure to thrive.  Zachary’s metabolism is unable to convert sugar into energy.  His symptoms include lethargy, poor feeding, vomiting, and seizures.  In its severest forms, the disease causes developmental delay, poor muscle tone, abnormal eye movements, and more severe seizures.  Therapies can help to manage the biochemical abnormalities but cannot undo the progressive neurologic damage.  Zachary’s life expectancy is somewhere in his early 20’s.

Leaving her job and devoting herself to everything that can give Zachary the best chance at a normal life, Rhonda started The Zachary Foundation to raise funds for research and to create a legacy for Zachary, now 9.  Zachary is truly an example we can remember as we face our own individual challenges.

Zachary and his parents recently provided the impetus for the NJ State Senate Bill that became law recognizing Mitochondrial Disease Awareness Week, the third week in September in NJ, quickly becoming a model for other US states.

Special Strides
www.specialstrides.com

When Laurie Landy, an occupational therapist, first came to visit 200-acre Congress Hill Farm in Monroe, she knew that it held a special magic.  Today she is even more convinced, as she and her partner, Susie Rehr, a physical therapist who lives in Marlboro, oversee sixty children with disabilities and other special groups of kids who benefit from the amazing bond that forms between horse and rider.

Guided by experienced volunteers and trained therapists, Special Strides kids receive hippotherapy  - hippo being the Greek word for horse - a medical technique that aids children with movement dysfunction.  Movement on the horse can help to improve neurological function and sensory processing, which can then translate into improvement in the child’s activities of daily life.  “It is magical to see a child begin to respond,” says Landy, “and they do.  In the Special Strides program, children with disabilities can reach their potential.”
Donations make possible full and partial scholarships for children in need as well as fund a wish list of necessities for horses, staff, and volunteers.  Special Strides’ eight therapeutic horses, six therapists, two therapeutic riding instructors, an equine specialist, and many dedicated volunteers make Special Strides a very special place for special children.

“We receive more than we give,” says Landy.  “I am totally amazed every day by what these children experience.  We are given so much hope from seeing how this program truly enhances the lives of these very special children.” 

Project Hope – Recognizing Dating Violence
www.180nj.org

Lindsey Lerman, Samantha Carr, and Eileen Cox had a plan - to show victims of relationship abuse that they are not alone.  There are alternatives to an unhealthy relationship.  As Manalapan High School students with one clear goal in mind, the three sophomores set out to help break the silence of dating violence.  As teenagers, they have the ability to talk to their peers and educate students on a personal level.  Project Hope was introduced to the student body as presentations to freshman health classes to prevent dating violence through education.

With awareness posters, petitions, and fundraisers, the three, now juniors, work overtime to accomplish this goal.  They plan two major charity events per school year.  The majority of the proceeds from these events are donated to the 180° Turning Lives Around in Monmouth County, as well as funding continuing education programs through Project Hope.  “We believe in tolerance and respect above all else.  Our goal is to spread awareness of this monumental epidemic, things will never change until we change them,” says Lindsey.  “Dating violence stops with us” Their strength comes from those who are and have ever been victims of abuse.  Project Hope’s motto is - Learn to recognize it, learn to stop it, and learn to prevent it.

Toys Do Calm
www.toyscalm.org

“One day while undergoing my own chemo treatment, I returned to my hospital bed to find a gift from some organization, which simply said, ‘We care about you.’  I was so touched by that gift, and the fact that I didn't have to thank anyone or be nice to a stranger when I felt so terrible.  I could just enjoy the gift and the feeling of knowing somebody cared about me, aside from my family.  In my eyes, that was the purest kind of giving and I've never forgotten that kindness.  While watching how doctors and nurses would explain to kids why they needed certain procedures, and feeling so sorry that these children had to endure such difficult treatments, I hoped to provide just a small measure of comfort to them.  I realized giving a child a small toy or doll could calm their fears just a little - sometimes more quickly and simply than words,” recalls Erin Puck, Fair Haven, now a junior at Villanova University but then just a 12 year old being treated for brain cancer.

Toys Calm is dedicated to easing the anxiety of ailing children that goes along with being in the hospital.  More than 75,000 toys have been donated to hospitals in New Jersey, New York, and Philadelphia.  Recently, funds have been raised to provide 54 laptop computers so hospitalized kids can stay in touch with friends. 
Toys Calm is currently working on funding the construction of a teen center for young patients at Jersey Shore University Medical Center.

Bringing Cancer Support, Education & Hope to the Jersey Shore
www.thewellnesscommunity.org
Graduating Bennington College, Ilene Winters worked on Wall Street until ‘retiring’ shortly after September 11 to pursue other interests.  She returned to school and received a Master's Degree in Human Nutrition from the University of Bridgeport.
After her Mom was diagnosed with Stage 4 ovarian cancer, Ilene decided she needed to do something to help people affected by cancer.  She initially thought she would use her new Master's degree to counsel cancer patients on proper nutrition during and after treatment.  Somehow, this did not seem like enough and after reading a book called The Force Program, Ilene decided to open a "cancer wellness center".  Through her association with the Lance Armstrong Foundation, she learned about The Wellness Community and discovered how close it was to what she was looking to create.  She inquired about a charter, and set the wheels in motion to bring cancer support, education and hope to the Jersey Shore.
The Wellness Community program has four core components: support groups, educational workshops, mind/body classes, and social events.  There is no set regimen or required program; participants choose programs based on their comfort level and what they believe will help them the most.  The Wellness Community offers more than 70 free programs, services, and activities each month.

"Community is at the core of everything we do,” says Winters.  “We were built by our community, with our community, and for our community.  Although we are part of a strong national organization, we are community focused, community led, and community funded.  One hundred percent of the money we raise to fund the programs and services stays here - in our community - helping our neighbors.”

The Art of Survival
www.Herspacebreast.com/artofsurvival

The Art of Survival is a unique Monmouth County-based arts program created to raise awareness and funds for breast cancer research and education.  Dr. Beth Deutch, founder and medical director of HerSpace Breast Imaging Associates, developed the original concept for The Art of Survival as a way of merging her passion for art with her professional commitment to breast cancer education, finding a cure, and helping women during their treatment and in their lives beyond cancer.  Now in its fourth year, The Art of Survival features the work of artists personally touched by breast cancer, presented in media ranging from painting, photography, sculpture, dance, music and the written word.

“Art and beauty are the essence of life and all that we celebrate,” says Dr. Deutch.  “Those who make art embrace what they see around them in life.  What better way to celebrate life and survival and to honor those who battle breast cancer than with a show of art – The Art of Survival.”

Not Ready to Start Your Own Foundation?
Here’s How You Can Be Involved . . .

The Woman’s Foundation of Monmouth County
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“By the year 2010, women will control sixty percent of the wealth in the United States,” says Delly Beekman, a community partner who has volunteered her time to develop a new initiative for the United Way of Monmouth County.  “The Women’s Foundation of Monmouth County helps women to funnel their charitable donations, in amounts from one hundred dollars on up, to make an impact in the lives of other women in our community,” says Beekman.

United Way grants will be directed toward funding new and existing programs led by Monmouth County women, and donors will participate in the selection process.  During the year, seminars will be offered so that donors can learn more about philanthropy, such as how to assess a community program, and network with other women in the county.

The Community Foundation of New Jersey &
The Monmouth County Community Foundation
www.cfnj.org

Individuals, families, businesses, and foundations have been partnering with the Community Foundation for over a quarter of a century.  The Foundation works with donors, community organizations, leaders, and foundations to identify and address challenges by the people who truly are New Jersey’s communities. 

Working on behalf of donors, the organization provides a full palette of giving options, planning, tools, and guidance for achieving lasting philanthropy.

Locally, the Monmouth County Community Foundation, founded in 2001, combines the benefits of being a large, statewide organization with the advantages of a local network with an intimate knowledge of area organizations and their initiatives.

Offering the same products and services as the parent organization, such as donor advised, memorial, scholarship and endowment funds, the Monmouth County Community Foundation provides a clear path for those who would like to promote philanthropy in their community.  “Women can view the Monmouth County Community Fund as an opportunity to meet their planned giving needs while achieving their goal to serve the community and support local charitable organizations,” says Jennifer Anderson, Monmouth County coordinator.  The Community Foundation of New Jersey maintains over $200 million in assets, including $11 million in the Monmouth County Community Foundation.