Circle of Life Magazine: Spring 2015

SPRING 2015 VOLUME 6

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ISSUE 1

A P U B L I C AT I O N O F NJ SHARING NETWORK

Transformed Through Giving THE NEVER-ENDING STORY: Life, Legacy and Generosity

I was given the opportunity to return to Pasadena, CA, to help build the Donate Life Float at this year’s Rose Parade.

It was a special time for me to be with six NJ Sharing Network families.

BOARD OF TRUSTEES Vito Pulito Chair

Bruce I. Goldstein, Esq. Vice Chair

Howard A. Nelson Treasurer

Marc H. Lory Secretary

Patrick M. Buddle, MD Bonnie Evans Edward J. Florio, Esq. Michael P. Hedden Anthony L. Marchetta Timothy J. Touhey Charles G. Walker

ADVISORY BOARD Mark J. Zucker, MD Chair

It was my second consecutive year at the parade, so I had the esteemed role of serving as group photographer. It ended up being a superb opportunity to capture the faces of these families as they built the float, attended many of the parade-related events, and met families from across the country who also know the tremendous miracle of organ and tissue donation.

There were smiles; there were tears. And I don’t think any of the participants would have missed such an opportunity to honor their loved ones. The NJ Sharing Network Foundation was proud to sponsor two families for the trip; the others received support from Bridge to Life Ltd., Dignity Memorial® New Jersey, Dignity Memorial® New York and One Legacy.

Such an inspiring event was the perfect way to begin 2015. It helped me prioritize what is truly important for NJ Sharing Network, and what we focus on throughout the year. Of course, reducing the number of people on the state’s waiting list for life-saving organs and tissue is always the top priority.

This year is also about building more connections and “Transforming Lives,” the theme of this issue. Our efforts are not just about meeting more people and shaking more hands. This is the year in which we create deeper, lasting relationships with our hospital partners, our volunteers and the communities in which we live and serve. They are the backbone of this organization, and make such a difference in the lives of people. NJ Sharing Network is successful because of the connections we cultivate that last for a lifetime.

Loretta Aigner, RN Gail Clegg Roseann DiBrienza, MS, RN Stuart R. Geffner, MD Michael Gould, MD Sarah E. Jensen, Esq. David A. Laskow, MD James Lim, MD Debra L. Morgan, MSW, LCSW Shamkant Mulgaonkar, MD Trish O’Keefe, PhD, RN Ty J. Olson, MD John S. Radomski, MD, FACS Prakash Rao, PhD, MBA, FACHE, HCLD Bruce Stroever Harry Sun, MD Dorian J. Wilson, MD

EDITORIAL TEAM Mara Barlow

One of those connections is the Mercado family of Paterson, who traveled with us to Pasadena to honor their six-week-old infant, Melissa, an organ donor who saved two lives. They have become vital ambassadors in their community, educating their neighbors about the importance of registering to become organ and tissue donors.

We also tell the special story of Carolina Gutierrez, who delivered a baby boy she knew was going to die. Determined to find some good in such tragedy, she ensured that the infant’s organs were donated to further medical science. Although her baby, named Lionel, was here for just 27 minutes, he made a defining impact.

We work with many families to increase awareness about organ and tissue donation. To learn more, families, volunteers, doctors, nurses hospital administrators and many others committed to our mission will attend our Symposium on Organ and Tissue Donation, to be held Nov. 14, 2015.

The day will be about how you play a critical role in saving and enhancing lives.

In closing, allow me to congratulate Elisse Glennon on her new position as our Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer. Elisse will continue to serve as Executive Director of the NJ Sharing Network Foundation.

Thank you for all you do to help transform lives in New Jersey.

Assistant Director, Marketing and Communications NJ Sharing Network

Jan C. Hines Manager of Hospital Services NJ Sharing Network

Co-Produced by Jaffe Communications & Campbell Health Media Special Thanks to Our Contributors: Jeanne Blanchard David O’Hara Alberta D’Addio John Valentine Alyssa D’Addio Carolyn Welsh Comments to editor@njsharingnetwork.org

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SUMMER 2013

Joseph S. Roth President and Chief Executive Officer On the Cover: Angel David points to a picture of his sister Melissa on the Quilt of Love while his father, Angel, looks on.

Melissa gave the gift of life at the age of six weeks. Inset: Katty and Angel Mercado at the Rose Parade.

Above Right: Joe Roth places a dedication rose on the 2015 Rose Parade float.

FOUNDATION BOARD Peter Rooney, Chair

I have so much to share with you about our mission to save lives.

I am pleased to announce our Symposium on Organ & Tissue Donation this Fall. The educational event will bring together the talents of so many people involved in organ and tissue donation — doctors, nurses, faith-based leaders, volunteers, donor families, recipients, funeral directors and others. Health professionals will have the opportunity to earn Continuing Education credits as they learn more about the miracle of donation. I encourage you all to consider attending this important event on November 14, 2015, at the Renaissance Woodbridge Hotel in Iselin, NJ. And I am sure you know that our annual 5K continues to grow and evolve. We have changed the name to better reflect what it’s all about: a Celebration of Life. This year, two events will be part of our 5th Annual 5K Celebration of Life, chaired by Dan Sarnowski, a Foundation board member and member of Team Betsy’s Dash. For the first time, we will have a 5K Walk in Paramus, Sunday, April 12, at Bergen Community College, and the Annual 5K Walk and USATF Certified Race will be Sunday, June 7, at our headquarters in New Providence. These wonderful events bring together friends and families — from babies to grandparents — to honor the legacy of donors, celebrate the second chance of life for recipients and give hope to those waiting for the gift of life. So many of the lives of the families involved in our 5K have been transformed through giving.

Please let me also take this opportunity to welcome three new members to the Foundation board: Michele Dabal, a liver recipient, mother of two from Mendham and a business owner, is a long-time volunteer for NJ Sharing Network. Michele views her volunteer work as a way to honor her donor and give thanks for her second chance at life. Also joining us is Laura Coti Garrett, a registered dietitian and a diabetes educator with more than 25 years of experience. She works to help people improve their health and specializes in diabetes and cardiovascular disease. She is the founder of Realtime Nutrition, a business that provides health professionals as resources to companies. And a third new member is Bhavna Tailor, President of Operations at Eastwick College. She said that volunteering with the NJ Sharing Network Foundation complements her work at the college, where many students pursuing degrees in health care learn about organ and tissue donation.

And I would like to recognize Alberta D’Addio for her years of service on our Foundation board.

Alberta’s husband, Joe, gave the gift of life in 2009. Ever since, the D’Addio family has been among our most active supporters. Alberta is leaving the Foundation board, but we will continue to work closely with her as she leads the Joseph D’Addio Family Fund, which supports our work at NJ Sharing Network. She also still sits on many committees, supports our philanthropic efforts and serves as an office volunteer, which keeps her connected to our mission.

Riley’s Dance, the first family fund at the Foundation, was created to honor the legacy of Riley Kogen, a kind-hearted little girl who gave the gift of life at the age of five. Riley’s legacy will live on as the fund provides financial support to those waiting for transplants, or those who received transplants, who desperately need help during this stressful time in their lives.

Finally, let me thank each one of you for the special talents and gifts that you bring to support the NJ Sharing Network Foundation and all the lives you touch advocating for organ and tissue donation.

Ogilvy CommonHealth Worldwide Resident of Mendham

Marla Bace, Vice Chair Resident of Berkeley Heights

Philip S. Kolm, Treasurer Resident of Fort Lee

Randi Geffner, Secretary Resident of Livingston

Cheryl H. Cohen, MBA, FHFMA Wells Fargo Equipment Finance Resident of Chesterfield

Michele Dabal Resident of Mendham

J.D. de León Resident of Jersey City

Lenore C. Ford Resident of Morristown

Laura Coti Garrett, MS, RD Realtime Nutrition, Inc. Resident of Morristown

Honorable F. Michael Giles Resident of West Orange

Derlys M. Gutierrez, Esq. Adams Stern Gutierrez & Lattiboudere, LLC Resident of Montclair

Thomas Ludlum, Esq. City of Paterson Law Department Ludlum Law Offices Resident of Glen Rock

Lisa J. Meyers Resident of Summit

Yvonne Payne Resident of Teaneck

Anthony E. Pizzutillo Smith Pizzutillo LLC Resident of Lawrenceville

Suzann Rizzo Investors Bank Resident of Staten Island, NY

Dan Sarnowski Resident of Cutchogue, NY

Bernard Simon Resident of Edison

Bhavna Tailor Resident of Nutley

Ex-Officio Members: Joseph S. Roth President and CEO NJ Sharing Network

Barry Newman Chief Financial Officer NJ Sharing Network

Elisse E. Glennon Executive Director NJ Sharing Network Foundation

Elisse E. Glennon VP & Chief Administrative Officer Executive Director, Foundation

Michele Dabal

Laura Coti Garrett

Bhavna Tailor

www.NJSharingNetwork.org

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news

SHARING

NJ Sharing Network Hospital Partner Wins National Recognition for Increasing Donor Enrollment Hackensack University Medical Center, working closely with NJ Sharing Network in a united mission to save lives through organ and tissue donation, is the first hospital nationwide to be recognized by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as reaching the “Phase IV Gold” level of achievement.

The recognition marks the hospital’s impressive efforts to conduct activities promoting enrollment in the New Jersey state organ donor registry.

Hackensack University Medical Center is one of 1,342 hospitals and transplant centers participating in a national hospital campaign, sponsored by HHS’s Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), which has added 327,815 donor enrollments to state registries nationwide since 2011, exceeding the original goal of 300,000.

This campaign is a special effort of HRSA’s Workplace Partnership for Life to mobilize the nation’s hospitals to increase the number of people in the country who are registered organ and tissue donors. The campaign unites donation advocates at hospitals with representatives from their organ procurement organizations, like NJ Sharing Network. Donate Life America affiliates, and state and regional hospital associations. Working together, the teams leverage their communications resources and outreach efforts to most effectively spread word of the critical need for donors.

The hospital, supported by NJ Sharing Network professionals, conducted awareness and registry campaigns to educate staff, patients, visitors and community members on the critical need for organ and tissue donors and, by doing so, increased the number of potential donors on the state’s donor registry.

The hospital earned points for each activity implemented between August 2014 and January 2015 and was the first to be awarded “gold” recognition in the fourth phase of the Workplace Partnership for Life Hospital Campaign, which continues through April 30.

“The nurses, doctors, executives and all of the staff members at Hackensack University Medical Center have shown their tremendous support for the life-saving mission of organ and tissue donation. We are proud to work beside them and educate more people about the critical need for organs,” said Joe Roth, President and CEO of NJ Sharing Network.

“We believe these efforts will translate into more life-saving organs for the nearly 5,000 people in our state waiting for the gift of life.”

Inside This Issue…

Sharing News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 Honoring the Gift . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8 Baby Lionel’s Gift Makes History . . . .9 Landscape of Life Tribute Wall . . . .10 Baby Melissa Transformed Lives . . .12 Six Families Recount Rose Parade . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15 Stories from the Rose Parade . . . . .16 Social Life . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18 Tribute to 2014 Organ and Tissue Donors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22 A Day in the Life . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24 4

SPRING 2015

“The walk and the experiences of the day have been a real blessing to me. Grief changes every day but for the past week I have had a feeling that the world is a much bigger place, and that there are so many people who have their own inspirational stories. Thank you for helping us change the sadness of the loss of our son into good memories of his willigness to help others.”

— Mary Louise Fessel, Team Fes

Our Website Gets a Makeover Our website is an important way for us to communicate with our supporters and also reach members of the community interested in learning more about organ and tissue donation. After months of coordination and construction, NJ Sharing Network is pleased to unveil its new look at www.NJSharingNetwork.org.

The updated design offers dual navigation, in which visitors can access information based on their specific connections to NJ Sharing Network. Donor families, for example, can have easier access to information relevant to them, while students, educators and other visitors can navigate the site in ways more specific to their interests.

And, in the age of smartphones and tablets, this enhanced design is easily accessible and looks great from whatever device visitors are using.

Also, to reach even more people in more communities, we have created a Spanishlanguage section that helps engage our Spanish-speaking community.

We believe our refreshed website will be a trustworthy resource for all who are interested in learning more about organ and tissue donation, joining the registry or supporting our programs.

Many thanks to the NJ Sharing Network staff and volunteers who collaborated with us for this exciting makeover!

Come check us out! If you are looking for something you can’t find, please let us know at editor@njsharingnetwork.org.

Application Available for 2015-2016 Scholarship The NJ Sharing Network Foundation is pleased to announce the availability of one NJ Sharing Network Foundation Scholarship in the amount of $4,000 ($2,000 per semester) for the 2015-2016 academic year. The scholarship awardee must be an awareness advocate who is personally affected by donation; is a family member of someone who has been personally affected, such as a donor family, living donor or transplant recipient; or is waiting for a transplant.

The NJ Sharing Network Foundation supports the work of NJ Sharing Network to increase the number of lives saved through education, research and public awareness about the life-saving benefits of transplantation. The scholarship is awarded to honor those who gave, to pay tribute to those who received, to offer hope to those who continue to wait, and to remember the lives lost while waiting… for the gift of life.

Applications must be submitted and postmarked by Friday, May 22, 2015. For an application visit www.NJSharingNetwork.org.

For questions, please contact scholarship@ njsharingnetwork.org.

www.NJSharingNetwork.org

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news

SHARING

April is Donate Life Month How Can You Make A Difference?

YOU Can Share the Life-Saving Message Join us at our 5th Annual 5K Celebration of Life!

✓Volunteer ■ ✓Create a team ■ ✓Come celebrate with us on April 12th at Bergen Community ■ College in Paramus, and on June 7th at our Headquarters in New Providence, for a fun-filled celebration including music, snacks, prizes and activities for all ages.

In Your Town:

✓Post Donate Life or 5K Flyers in store windows.

■ ✓Wrap green ribbon around trees throughout ■ your community.

✓If you have been personally impacted through donation ■ contact your local paper and share your story.

On the Web:

✓Include an organ and tissue donor registry link to ■ www.NJSharingNetwork.org on your Facebook page during National Donate Life Month in April and beyond.

✓Share on your personal Facebook and/or Twitter account ■ that it is National Donate Life Month, and include the link www.NJSharingNetwork.org for followers to register as organ and tissue donors.

Above, NJ Sharing Network supporters share photos depicting their blue and green spirit for the DLM photo contest.

✓Like us on Facebook.com/NJSharingNetwork and ■ follow us on Twitter @NJSharing and on Instagram @NJSharingNetwork.

In your workplace:

✓Does your organization have a workplace newsletter?

■ If so, share your story with your coworkers.

✓Invite NJSN to speak to your coworkers at a lunch & learn.

■ ✓Set up a table with donor registration information for a ■ day in April or for the entire month.

✓Wear blue and green, and ask us for festive blue and green ■ leis and pom poms.

✓Submit photos for our DLM photo contest.

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SPRING 2015

NJ Sharing Network can support your efforts. Educational materials and items are available from John Keating, at jkeating@njsharingnetwork.org or 908-516-5431. NJ Sharing Network also can provide speakers for your event. Contact Veronica Horvath at vhorvath@njsharingnetwork.org or 908-516-5637.

Visit www.NJSharingNetwork.org to download our Donate Life Month Resource Kit for various resources, sample proclamations and for more information on how to get involved to help promote organ and tissue donation in your community!

MARk YOUR CALENDAR! Several days of recognition have been set aside during the year in support of organ and tissue donation. These days, along with other health-related observance days, provide an opportunity for those who support organ and tissue donation to remind their friends, families, coworkers and community about the importance of the life-saving mission of NJ Sharing Network.

APRIL

Donate Life Month

6-12

National Public Health Week 12

5K Celebration of Life Bergen Community College, Paramus, NJ

17

7

World Health Day 16

National Healthcare Decisions Day 19-25

National Blue & Green Day

Medical Laboratory Professionals Week

Some ways people show their support on these days include wearing a Donate Life pin or blue and green clothing, posting or sharing photos or testimonials on Facebook, or talking with their loved ones about their donation wishes.

Consider the ways you can show your support for the life-saving mission! Check www.NJSharingNetwork.org and our Facebook page for more information.

MAY

JUNE

6-12

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National Nurses Week 19

5K Celebration of Life & USATF Certified Race NJ Sharing Network New Providence, NJ

Team Liberty Golf Outing Ballyowen Golf Club Hamburg, NJ

AUGUST 1-7

National Minority Donor Awareness Week

SEPT

OCT

NOV

DEC

13

National Liver Awareness Month

13-15

1

National Donor Sabbath

Giving Tuesday

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14

NJ Sharing Network Cycling Team Rides at Gran Fondo Morris County, NJ

29

World Heart Day

17th Annual Golf Classic Baltusrol Golf Club, SpringďŹ eld, NJ

Symposium on Organ & Tissue Donation Renaissance Woodbridge Hotel, Iselin, NJ www.NJSharingNetwork.org

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Honoring the Gift The greatest gift that can be given is the gift of life. Our hospital partners understand the importance of this gift and honor it in a number of ways throughout the year. Whether they are coordinating a flag raising or a balloon release to honor organ and tissue donors, or inviting those touched by donation and transplantation to speak to their staff, New Jersey’s hospitals remain active in supporting our life-saving mission.

These photos represent some of the ways hospitals continue to support organ and tissue donation. If you are a hospital employee and would like to learn more about how you can become involved in our mission, contact Brooke Hartrum at 908-516-5412 or send an email to hospitalservices@njsharingnetwork.org.

Clara Maass, part of Barnabas Health, honored the gift of life by lighting their hospital green.

Staff gathering to hear transplant recipient and donor families testimonials at Morristown Medical Center Flag-raising ceremony.

A visit to recognize and thank Valley Hospital for their support of our events.

Donate Life Month hospital event in honor of those that gave the gift of life.

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SPRING 2015

Baby Lionel’s Gi Makes History Although Lionel Asprilla lived for just 27 minutes, he transformed lives.

Lionel was the first newborn in the United States to donate all his organs for the advancement of education through research.

His lungs, heart, kidneys, liver, pancreas and small intestine were donated to provide lifesaving education, allowing countless other infants a chance at a healthy life.

This was made possible through the groundbreaking advancements of the International Institute for the Advancement of Medicine (IIAM), and the generosity of a mother who knew Lionel’s brief life had a purpose.

Carolina Gutierrez was overjoyed by the news that she was carrying twins. But the joy became sorrow when the family learned Lionel had a serious birth defect known as anencephaly, in which his brain would never develop.

It was at that moment Carolina began researching whether anything positive could come of the family’s loss. A miracle came in a most surprising way.

will and to see how far I could go with the pregnancy,” Carolina said. “God had given me this battle. He knows I am strong.”

Lionel and his sister, Leah, were ready to enter the world on October 16th. Their parents anxiously awaited their arrival, and NJ Sharing Network’s dedicated team was there to facilitate the gifts Lionel would provide.

The staff from NJ Sharing Network spoke with Carolina and Leonardo about their options regarding donation. They were there every step of the way.

After much coordination, the twins were delivered at 4:51 p.m. at St. Joseph’s Regional Medical Center in Paterson. Lionel was given to his mother, who held him tightly as the priest from the family’s church baptized him. A cousin

“My son is a hero o has done somhing good for hers.”

By the time the pregnancy reached three months, Carolina and her fiancé, Leonardo Asprilla, knew Lionel’s reason for being here — to provide life through organ and tissue donation. It was very important that he continue to grow so his life could somehow make a lasting impact. They sought out NJ Sharing Network for guidance.

“My faith played a really big part. We decided to let God take over, to accept his

took photographs, as family and friends gathered around, hugging each other and saying goodbye.

“After 27 precious minutes, his heart stopped,” said Carolina, in a whisper. “I got to see him. I got to kiss him. I got to see his last breath.”

After the recovery was completed by NJ Sharing Network’s surgical team, Lionel was returned to his family for final goodbyes. More photos were taken, see above and left, and more tears and hugs ensued. He was laid to rest on October 27 at Calvary Cemetery in Paterson.

NJ Sharing Network was able to provide his precious organs and tissue for research, making a connection through IIAM, a nonprofit that assists in placing organ and tissue donations with medical and

scientific researchers. This was the first time so many organs had been recovered for research from an infant.

IIAM, based in Maryland, has a neonatal donation program designed to serve families facing infant loss. The nonprofit works with researchers studying neonatal hearts, livers, lungs and pancreases. For more information on IIAM, please visit www.iiam.org.

Jeremy Brown, regional director for IIAM, said the organization is able to use organs and tissue for research.

Lionel’s short life is changing the path of history by aiding in a study through a Food and Drug Administration project to develop medication for pregnant women who have a cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection. CMV can cause birth defects in early development.

IIAM said early results of the testing have been very positive.

Carolina said she feels at peace with her decision to donate her baby’s organs and tissue.

“My son is a hero who has done something good for others.” She noted his twin sister is doing well.

Paula A. Gutierrez, Hospital Services Manager for NJ Sharing Network, said this is an important story to tell, noting Paterson is a diverse community where many people have a misconception of organ and tissue donation.

“Yet, so many of the people on the transplant waiting list are African-American and Hispanic,” she said.

Carolina says Lionel’s gift would have never been possible without NJ Sharing Network. There is comfort through the grief, knowing her baby boy was able to accomplish so much in his short time on Earth.

“I tell my family we have an angel looking over us,” she said. “And he will always be with us.” www.NJSharingNetwork.org

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TRANSFORMED THRO We graciously acknowledge contributions made to the NJ Sharing Network Foundation in honor or in memory of the individuals listed below from January 1 - December 31, 2014. The names denoted with a butterfly or leaf icon represent gifts in their honor or memory totaling $10,000 or greater and $5,000 or greater. These names are proudly displayed on our Landscape of Life Tribute Wall at NJ Sharing Network Headquarters.

We sincerely regret any errors or omissions.

Mark Abrams katelyn ”katie” Ackerman Andrew Ahimovic, Sr. Adele A. Albanese Stanley Aleski Tony Alicia Jordan Allen Jack Althoff Colleen Amaro keith Amato Scott W. Andersen Todd W. Anderson Tommy C. Anderson Amy Elizabeth Anderson Gina Andrade Enrico Antonelli Gerardo Ascolese Mary Ellen Attiya Edward Aungst Heather Anne Aurora Nikhil Badlani Edith M. Baker-Jackson Joanne Balint Georgia G. Bancheri John E. Bannister Barbara Barbagallo Rick Bartlett Edward Bartol Lois Baukema Ron C. Bavagnoli Woodwerth C. Bein, III Steve Ben’Ary Ronald A. Bennett Eric Berlin Brian Bernstein Frances ”Mima” Berry Richard C. Bertodatti John Betihavas Alyssa Bialko Jillian Nicole Billerman David Bird Carol E. Birkhead John Bischoff

Raymond E. Bladzinski Sandra Blatt Ted Blew, Jr. Aliyah Boatwright Michael Bocknack Michelle Bocknack Robin Bogush Edward Bond Angela Bongiovi Dominick Bongiovi Martha Bowles Howard Boyce Cindy Boyea Ronald Brandstetter Jamie Lee Brazina Brian Brice Stanley R. Brinster Nathan F. Brown Sr. Michael Robert Brown Michelle Brugger Samantha Bruno Daniel S. Buckiewicz Evelyn Buddle Anne Bulger Duane Burlew Michael Buro Joseph Buscemi Monica and Chris Butler Garrett Buttel Nancy D. Byran Malachy Joseph Byrne Edward William Byron, III Mildred Caffrey Evelyn Amanda Caljean Janice Campbell Peter L. Campisi Andres Canela Ralph Canning Eric Caposele Sandra Carbone Nicole Caruso Ryan Casper Gilberto Castro

Nick Cerbo Leonard Cerefice Frank Chiorazzi Benjamin R. Chirls Arthur ”Sandy” Christiansen Joseph Ciccone Eileen Cinquemane James T. Clarke Greta Clausen Sean Patrick Clegg Walter Cockcroft Elliott Cohen Howard Cohen David William Compton Carmella Conca William Patrick Connors Christopher L. Consiglio kyle Patrick Conway Thomas Cooke Stephen Coopersmith Arthur J. Corniola Veronica Coyle Priscilla Crocken Catherine Crosbie Michael k. Cunningham Alyshia Rae Cunningham Futchko Michele Dabal Joseph V. D’Addio Savanna Dallessandro Ronald J. ”Spanky” Davis Courtney Lynne Dayback Frank Dayon J.D. de Leon Richard Michael DeFilippis Arthur L. Del Preore Frank P. Dell’Aquila, MD James G. Dempsey Steven Denholtz and Lisa Maultasch Bobby and Roni Denholtz ken Dereshin June Desimone Judi Melillo-Dethloff Victoria Paige DeVivo Beatriz Diaz Robbie Dillon Beverly L. DiMaggio Maria Livia DiMeo Romano DiNizo Michael DiPiano Joey DiSanto

Gene Doherty John J. Donovan Sarah Doshna Brandon Dowler Norman A. Doyle, Jr. Michael Drozd Jerry Du Dorothea Duffy Sondra Eagen Matthew Edinger Jerome Eisler Ryan A. Engelke Stanley Epstein Doris Esposito Barry Faigan The Morgan/Rhodes Family Frances N. Farber Patrick J. Fargnoli Donnie Farrell Matthew Fedorochko Ronald Feldman Matt Felix Paula Judith Felmeister James J. Fessel, Jr. Michael Storm Fischer Tim Flavin Noreen Fleischman Wyatt Fleming Thomas Flynn William Ford Louise Fox Franklyn ”Chris” Frawley katlyn Freeman Michael A. Frodella James Gallagher Amanda L. Gambacorto Antonio F. Ganhito Will Ganter Reinaldo Garcia Antonio Gasparro Robin Gentile Dawn Geoghegan John D. Gerard, Jr. BJ Giannone kevin Gilbert Dr. Randall Marc Giles kimberly Githens Robert Goarcke Jorge Gonzales John Gorr Virginia Gottlieb Timothy Wayne Grace

Andrea Grace Michele Grana kyle Gregory James Groden Richard E. Grossman Nicholas Gulics David Gurland Garrett Gurrieri Debbie Gutenplan Matilde Gutierrez Bill Haddon Brian Hahl Jacky Hahl-McCurdy Albert G. Hanania Daniel Hansen Ivy Hardy Stephen Hasbrouck David Heiblim Mark Henderson Mary Higgins Jane Hillier Erin Paige Hoer Jeffrey Hornecker Richard Horvath Theresa ”Terri” Howell Lisa Hulbert Beverly Hunt Thomas Hunter Helen Hunter Daniel Hussey Barry Hyman John C. Iannacone kayla Ibrahim Thomas S. Iozia Jamila Irons Johnson Joanne Iuliucci Zoe Jackson John Januszanis kyle Jaskot Robert M. Jaworowicz Binnie Joffe Steven Joe Morgan Johnson William James Johnson, Sr. Grace B. Johnson Andrew Jova Sham karnani Rudy kelly Brian kern Jay khare Paul kieltyka Alice king

The Landscape of Life Tribute Wall, which was expanded in November 2014, was created as a special place to honor organ and tissue donors, transplant recipients, community members and also acknowledge contributions made in their honor.

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SPRING 2015

Giving

OUGH… Daniel J klein Matthew klemchalk Valerie Monroe kloss Stephanie knaub Lake Matthew James koch Andrew koflanovich Riley kogen Richard kokinda Christopher kolb Brian koller Elliott kominsky Howard korn David kornas James Joseph kozo, III Sammie kane kraft Susan krakowiecki Alice kramer Ben kuhmichel Marvin kurland Jonathon kuzminski Evan Charles Laible Fernando Lalama Rebecca ”Becky” Larsen Holly Beth Larsen Roy Larsen kevin Latham Dave Lenz Frank Leone Curtiss Ling Anthony Lisanti Larry Liskovec Victoria Longo Lisa Luciano kimberly M. Ludwig Ena Lue Jackie Lue Raia Brian Lynch Gerard Lynch Robert Lynch, Sr. Scott M. Lysenko Hugh MacDonald, Jr. kevin MacDonald katherine Mack John Thomas Macklin Michael Joseph Mangarella Dr. Michael D. Markowitz Antonio Marrufo Judith Martin Michael J. Martorella Louis Massetti Michael McAllister Wayne McCormack

Stanley McGinley keith McLaughlin Devin McQueen Mike Meehan Sherryl Meier Smith Edward Meola Melissa Bena Mercado Michael ”Mick” Meritz Sarah J. Meyers Maddie Midwinter Sadie Mignott kellye Miller Marisa Miller Gina Mingrone Mathew Misdom Hudson Savanna Mitchell Edwin T. Mixtacki Jahan Mladnick Joyce Mokrzycki Suzanne Thomson Monohan Maryann Montano Jillian Nicole Moor Gary N. Moore, Jr. Tracy E. Moore Robert Moyle, Jr. David Moyle Bryan Mueller William R. Mueller Sarah Murnaghan James Murphy NJ Lenders Corp.

Ben Nachsin Jonas and Marie Nachsin Mark Naughton Emma Navarro Jason Necker Sue Negrin Susan Elizabeth Nelson kevan Nelson Dee Nelson Gia Nesbitt Andrea G. Nicora Betsy Niles Ellen Nusbacher Shaun T. O’Brien Frank O’Connell Nancy O’Donnell kristen O’Hara Mary Ann Oleszkiewicz Barbara Olgivie Rhonda Olshewitz The Olszewski Family

Dennis J. O’Mara Sean O’Neil Megan O’Neill Thomas ”Tommy” O’Neill Jeff Orr Ron Oswick, Jr. Jose Padilla Arthur Palew Angelie J. Paredes Allan Penner Catherine Pentz Deborah M. Pentz Michael R. Pentz E. Denise Peoples Michael P. Pepe Ines Jahira Perez Roberto DeJesus Perez Christian Robert Peters Deirdre Peters Scott Peterson John D. Pflug III Tanya Piccini Grace Piccini D. Shawn Pierson, MD Chris Pini Tom Pini Jennifer Piscopiello Robert Plona Paul Podrazik Stephen Greg Pollack Fran Portine Peter Prakapas Roy Praschil Sam Prince John Rake Melvin J. Raphael Mark Reagan George R. Reagan Darlene Reiff William Reitsma James Rhatican Ronald Rippey Cecelia Ritter Anthony Rizzo Robert Roettger Alan Rogolsky Blake Rogolsky Peter Rooney Joseph S. Roth Emma Rothman Linda Rubinstein Markus Rupp

Nick Ruvelas Roy Ruymen Olivia Ryan Justin Sanchez Lorraine Sanchez Carole A. Sarnowski Janet Saulter-Hemmer Nicos Savva Nicodemo Scali Danielle Schrenk Valentine Schumakoff Matt Schutz Susan Schwartz kenneth R. Schwarz, Jr. Jocye Ann Scolari Susan Sher karen Shimomura Gerard Sigtermans Carlton Simpson Sherryl Lynn Smith Rose Smith Michael D. Snyder Zachary Snyder Carol Sue Steadman Patricia Steinberg Eric Strand Arnold Strong Michael Strusiak Shannon Sturgis Thomas Sudano Jr. Robert James Sullivan Dana Sutkowski Judith kay Swarthout kevin Szabo Leon Szewcyk Paul D. Talbert Al Tanner Eugene Teich, MD Michael Tetta Matthew Tetta Shannon Thatcher David Thiel Erica Thompson Bob Thomson Michael Thomson Peter Thomson Geoffrey Tibok Patrick Tommaney Alexandra Tozzi Zan Tozzi Thomas ”Tom” William Tracey Frank N. Travia Sr.

Matthew Trengove Paul F. Trimboli, Jr. Stephen Tucciarone Barbara Turci Anne Ulbrich Rosa Valle Bill Van Etten keith Van Puttenvink Romeo VanBuskirk John Vargas Anne Varley Dennis Vazquez Jaime Vega Marie Venezia Calvin A. Verduga Robert ”Bobby” Verite Edward Verrico karen Von Robert Walker, Jr. Jim Wall Steven Wall David Wall kevin Wall John Walsh Sandra Drozd Warfield Leonard Watson, Sr. Lenny Watson, Jr. Rich Weber Elle Weber Mark Weiss Donald Wells Catherine Wells ken Wenger Richard Whitaker Ursula Widocki Anthony Williams John W. Williams, Jr. Benjamin Wittich Cameron Wohl Hope Wolf Marcia Wolf Edward B. Wood Mary H. Wu Jodi Yeskel Linda Zessos

To learn more about the Landscape of Life Tribute Wall or other philanthropic opportunities, please contact Alyssa D’Addio at 908-516-5432 or adaddio@njsharingnetwork.org. www.NJSharingNetwork.org

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K

Katty Mercado knew her daughter’s organs would transform lives. And indeed, six-week-old Melissa’s heart saved the life of a baby boy, and her kidneys saved the life of a young mother.

Yet Katty and her husband, Angel, soon realized that the family’s decision to donate also would transform the lives of all those who loved Melissa. The entire family gains solace knowing that Melissa’s legacy lives on through her life-saving gifts.

“Melissa was able to save two other families from the pain and grief and tears

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SPRING 2015

that we feel,” Katty said. “She is our hero. We get strength from her gift. We know that by sharing Melissa’s story, we are supporting organ and tissue donation and keeping Melissa’s legacy alive.”

For many donor families, the decision to give the gift of life can bring meaning and purpose to lives struck by sudden tragedy. That has been the case for the Mercado family.

Ever since Melissa died in an automobile accident in March 2013, Katty and Angel have dedicated much of their lives to sharing their

story and telling others about the miracle of organ donation. They speak in churches, hospitals and schools and at community gatherings. And they are working with community organizations to dedicate a park in Paterson to the memory of their baby (see photo above).

When the family went to the park to clean it up, neighbors came out to help. For Katty and Angel, it was another opportunity to share Melissa’s story with people in the Paterson community.

Recently, in the family’s Paterson home,

Angel and Katty Mercado with their three children and two nephews: son Angel David, 3, center. From left to right is nephew Brandon, 13, nephew Shawn, 12, daughter Shaila, 10, and daughter Mirielis, 7.

Baby Melissa Transformed Lives Through

Giving “She is our hero.

We get strength from her gift.”

– Katty Mercado

the couple’s seven-year-old daughter, Mirielis, described how she tells her friends and teachers about organ donation.

“Melissa saved lives,” she said.

Then, Melissa’s three-year-old brother, Angel David, pointed to a photo of his sister and said, in clear toddler words, “Lissa a hero.”

Joe Roth, president & CEO of NJ Sharing Network, said he frequently sees the lives of donor families transformed through giving.

Donation does not erase or end grief, he said, but the decision to respond generously, even at

a time of tragedy, can help families.

“It’s the most common thread I have seen in donor families, even families that were reluctant to donate at the time. They come back and say they are glad they had the opportunity to donate. The donation brings comfort and so often helps families find something meaningful amid their tragedy,” he said.

Katty said her work for NJ Sharing Network helps her cope.

“If it was not for NJ Sharing Network, I would not be standing here today,” Katty said.

“We will never stop grieving for our daughter, but NJ Sharing Network has helped us live through this tragedy. Melissa’s gift has transformed our lives as well.”

The Mercado family had called Melissa a “butterfly,” the theme on her blankets, sheets and toys. The Mercado children and two of their cousins have “Team Butterfly” T-shirts from last year’s NJ Sharing Network 5K Walk & USATF Certified Race. Recently, they wore the T-shirts under warm coats as they slid down slides and pushed swings at the Paterson park www.NJSharingNetwork.org

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The Donate Life Rose Parade Float featured 60 butterflies, one for each life that can be transformed by a single deceased donor.

that they consider “Melissa’s playground.”

The family hopes to erect a sign that tells all those who come to the park about Melissa’s story and her life-saving gifts.

In another way of honoring Melissa, Katty and Angel traveled to Pasadena, CA, to see their daughter’s “floragraph,” a depiction of her created with flowers, seeds and natural materials, on the Donate Life Rose Parade float on New Year’s Day. Melissa was among 71 deceased donors honored on the float. The NJ Sharing Network Foundation sponsored the family’s trip to Pasadena and Melissa’s floragraph.

“Being in Pasadena was a once-in-a-lifetime experience,” Angel said. “There were so many emotions. To see Melissa’s story shared with the

world was amazing. But it was bittersweet, too.

And it was helpful to talk with other donor families who really know how we feel.”

Katty said she was moved to tears when she learned that this year’s float would depict — in flowers — 60 butterflies emerging from books that tell “The Never Ending Story” of organ and tissue donation.

“I was stunned when I saw the theme was butterflies. That was Melissa!” Katty exclaimed.

Angel said he knew little about organ and tissue donation, and might even have been inclined to oppose donation, until his mother had a liver transplant in 1995. The transplant gave his mother seven more years of life, and he remains grateful.

“That’s when I began to understand the value of organ and tissue donation,” he said. So after Melissa’s tragedy, when the family was approached by NJ Sharing Network transplant coordinators at St. Joseph’s Regional Medical Center in Paterson and asked to consider donation, the answer was simple: they would do so. They hope one day to meet the recipients of Melissa’s organs, and perhaps listen to her heart beat again in the chest of another child.

They also want to correct some misconceptions about organ donation. They tell people they had a beautiful funeral for Melissa, and that organ donation has given the family solace amid tragedy. They also said they now feel part of the NJ Sharing Network family, a community that has provided them with comfort, support and hope.

“We will never stop sharing Melissa’s story,” Katty said.

Angel and Katty with their three children at Melissa’s “floragraph” finishing ceremony at NJ Sharing Network headquarters.

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SPRING 2015

For Six Families, Rose Parade Becomes Transformative Event The Donate Life Rose Parade Float activities began long before New Year’s Day and continued after the memorable parade.

Six families connected to NJ Sharing Network participated in the float activities.

For many, the events were emotional, even life-changing. The activities began in New Jersey with a series of emotional “floragraph” decorating ceremonies that preceded the parade. Families put the finishing touches on floragraphs that depicted their loved ones with flowers, seeds and other natural materials.

Newspapers, television stations and other media outlets covered these poignant events and further spread the stories of those who gave the gift of life. There was also a send-off event at Liberty Science Center for Joe DiSanto, a heart recipient, and Reenie Harris, a living kidney donor.

Meanwhile, NJ Sharing Network’s hospital partners participated in a series of rose dedication ceremonies, where hospital CEOs and others wrote messages of hope and

remembrance attached to rose vials that joined thousands of others to create the Dedication Garden featured on the float.

Then just before New Year’s Day all the families traveled to Pasadena to join other donor families, recipients and living donors from around the nation — all personally connected to the mission to save lives through organ and tissue donation. The floragraphs of our NJ donors were displayed on the Donate

Life Rose Parade Float and viewed by hundreds of thousands of people on the parade route and millions more on television.

For families, helping to create the floragraphs — and then viewing them on the float — was a powerful way to honor their loved ones. In the months following the parade, families returned to their communities to share their stories and to permanently display the floragraphs of their loved ones in places of honor.

www.NJSharingNetwork.org

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Float Participants Tell Stories of

Liv Transformed rough Giving Floragraph of Riley Kogen

A

As a living organ donor, Reenie Harris of Cedar Knolls walked five miles alongside the Donate Life Rose Parade Float on New Year’s Day in Pasadena, CA. As a heart recipient, Joe DiSanto of Hillsborough rode on the float with other recipients.

And as deceased donors who gave the gift of life, Melissa Mercado of Paterson, Riley Kogen of Livingston, Anthony Rizzo of Staten Island and Joe D’Addio of Stirling were honored with “floragraphs” — depictions of them created with flowers, seeds and other natural materials — displayed on the soaring float.

Together, the stories of Rose Parade honorees connected to NJ Sharing Network showed the many faces of organ and tissue donation. The float celebrated the second chance of life for recipients, highlighted the generosity of living donors and honored the legacy of those who gave the gift of life.

Those who attended the parade described the float as a flower-filled tribute to organ and tissue donation. They said people cheered from the stands, sidewalks and rooftops as the float moved down Colorado Avenue.

“I remember the moment I saw Joe honored with a floragraph on the float,” said Alberta D’Addio, a NJ Sharing Network volunteer. “It is a moment I will always remember. And then you see recipients on the float — people who are alive because of the choices you made. I think Joe was smiling from heaven.”

Alberta’s husband of 25 years died from a cerebral hemorrhage in 2009; he donated two kidneys as well as tissue.

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SPRING 2015

Others echoed Alberta’s thoughts and told stories of how their lives were transformed through giving. Their personal stories showed how organ and tissue donation heals in many ways. For families of deceased donors, the floragraphs honored the legacies of the people they loved.

“To see Anthony’s floragraph on the float as it came down Colorado Avenue was an amazing experience for us and a profound way to honor my son,” said Suzann Rizzo. Anthony Rizzo died in an accident at the age of 16; his organs saved the lives of five people and gave the gift of sight to two.

Suzann said the New Year’s Day event was healing for her entire family, including her children, who climbed on scaffolding to help decorate the float. They also found support by meeting siblings of other deceased donors. In the weeks preceding New Year’s Day, the family unveiled the floragraph during a ceremony at Anthony’s high school in Staten Island.

“Being involved in NJ Sharing Network has helped my family heal,” said Suzann, a member of the NJ Sharing Network Foundation Board.

“We can see Anthony living on in a different way … but still living on.”

This year’s float featured 60 butterflies — one for each life that can be transformed by a single deceased donor — emerging from an open book. The theme was “The Never-Ending Story.” Thousands of people watched on the parade route, and millions more watched on television.

For Joe Roth, President & CEO of NJ Sharing Network, it was a second trip to the Rose Parade.

“I had the esteemed role of serving as group photographer,” Joe recalled. “It ended up as a superb opportunity to capture the faces of these families as they experienced building a float for the parade — or attending events where they met so many families across the country who understand the tremendous miracle of organ donation.”

The Rizzo Family remembers Anthony at his floragraph ceremony.

The D'Addio Family proudly diplays Joe D'Addio’s floragraph in Pasadena.

ank you to all  our hospital partners and suort om their CEOs for once again dedicating ros for the Donate Life Float in honor  organ and tiue donors. We greatly ariate your participation and suort as we spread our life-saving mage.

He called the parade a perfect way to begin the year.

“There were smiles. There were tears. It was a poignant and emotional experience that touched all of us who participated,” he said.

Katty Mercado, and her husband, Angel, traveled to Pasadena to see Melissa Mercado as one of the 72 deceased donors honored with a floragraph.

“To see my baby on the float and to know that her story was being shared with the world … was very emotional and fulfilling,” said Katty.

Her daughter Melissa died in a car accident at just six weeks old. Her heart saved a 13-monthold baby boy, and her kidneys saved the life of a young mother.

“The parade was an amazing experience for all of us,” she said.

For Ali Kogen, the event was moving and fulfilling, but not without painful moments as she saw her daughter, five-year-old Riley, honored with a floragraph. Riley’s organs saved the lives of two people.

“The parade was amazing, and we were honored to be a part of it all. It was an experience I will never forget,” she said. “It was a beautiful event and very emotional.”

For Reenie Harris, 72, the five miles she walked — as one of 12 living donors marching alongside the float — showed how a person can donate a kidney and continue to live an active life. Reenie said she feels no different today than she did before she donated her kidney to a man she had never met. Coincidently, the recipient of her kidney lives near Pasadena, and she had lunch him and his family while in California for the parade.

Reenie’s recipient had been on dialysis for five years, and now he can travel with his wife and get back to living a more normal life with

his children and grandchildren. “They were such a lovely family. I was a reminded that when you save a life with organ donation, you save an entire family,” Reenie said. She was inspired to donate her kidney when her daughter, Natasha, who lives in California, became an altruistic kidney donor. Mother and daughter had the opportunity to walk together alongside the float.

“One voice can save many lives. It’s that powerful,” Reenie said.

For Joe DiSanto, it was another opportunity to thank donors — and every donor family — for the gift that has given him a second chance at life. He received a heart transplant at the age of 12 and now is a student at Monmouth University in West Long Branch.

“It was all so incredible to be there. Just awesome,” he said. During the parade, he stood on the float near the spot where Melissa Mercado’s floragraph was displayed, a special honor, he said. He said he believes that all those in the transplant community are connected.

Sharing his story is his way of thanking his donor, a young woman from Washington, D.C., who died in a car accident.

“I tell my story as my way of saying thanks,” Joe said. “If it was not for my organ donor, I know I would not be here today.”

Rose Parade participants display the NJ Sharing Network banner at the Rose Parade.

The generous sponsorship of organizations dedicated to the mission of organ and tissue supported each family’s participation in the Donate Life Rose Parade Float activities.

• Bridge to Life Ltd sponsored the D’Addio family • Dignity Memorial® in New Jersey sponsored the kogen family • Dignity Memorial® in New York sponsored the Rizzo family • NJ Sharing Network sponsored the DiSanto and Mercado families • One Legacy sponsored Reenie Harris www.NJSharingNetwork.org

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SOCIAL Donate Life Around the World Will you be traveling or spending time with friends and family? Don’t forget to contact John Valentine at 908-516-5428 or jvalentine@njsharingnetwork.org to request your own Donate Life/NJ Sharing Network banner to bring along so you can submit your photo for our “Donate Life Around the World” campaign!

So strike a pose and post it on our Facebook page.

NJ Sharing Network volunteer, Skip Stabile, and Carol Galhardo spread the word in Carol’s hometown of Palmital, Brazil.

5K Team Karma members, Gaurang Kalsaria and Rishi Ramchandani, brought our life-saving message to Sting Ray City in Grand Cayman and were actually photobombed by a stingray.

NJ Sharing Network Foundation Board member Dan Sarnowski and Sally Apgar honored organ donor Betsy Niles by bringing the life-saving message to Red Square in Moscow.

5K Team Fes members brought the message of organ and tissue donation to Machu Picchu in honor of tissue donor James Fessel.

Janice and Bob Kern, parents of tissue donor Brian Kern, shared our message with Captain Christopher Turner of the Zuiderdam on a cruise to the Panama Canal.

NJ Sharing Network staff member Jeanne Blanchard in Chile spreading The Power of One at Hotel Brighton perched on Valparaiso’s historical Concepción Hill.

The sunflowers were beautiful!

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Calling all Volunteers One of our newest classes of volunteers is ready to share the message of organ and tissue donation. If you are interested in becoming a volunteer for NJ Sharing Network, contact volunteers@njsharingnetwork.org.

Teeing Up for Baltusrol

It was a day of sun and warm breezes at the 16th Annual Golf Classic at Baltusrol Golf Club. There was a special clinic for first-time golfers as well as an opportunity for veteran players to enjoy one of America’s most prestigious golf courses.

Please mark your calendar for our 17th Annual Golf Classic once again held at Baltusrol on October 5, 2015. For participation and sponsorship contact jlueraia@njsharingnetwork.org.

Sta and Volunteers Support BRA Day In honor of BRA (Breast Reconstruction Awareness) Day, the staff and volunteers at NJ Sharing Network collected and contributed bras to the Connie Dwyer Breast Center in Newark, NJ. Breast reconstruction surgery is one of the many medical procedures that tissue donation makes possible.

Connie Dwyer and Janet Lesko, Director of Development, came to NJ Sharing Network to tour our building and meet with our Assistant Director of Resource Development, Jackie Lue Raia, to discuss partnership opportunities.

To see more pictures from our events, please visit Facebook.com/NJSharingNetwork.

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SOCIAL

The Zeta Chi Chapter of Alpha Chi Omega at Muhlenberg College held its Annual Dodgeball Tournament to support organ and tissue donation in memory of Joseph D’Addio.

To honor the memory of their daughter, Riley, the Kogen family created Riley's Dance, a program of the NJ Sharing Network Foundation that supports organ recipients and those waiting for organs. Riley became an organ donor at the age of five. Recently the Kogen family visited Saint Barnabas Medical Center to share toys with children at the hospital.

The family fund also supports a children's book to educate younger generations on the topic of organ and tissue donation by sharing Riley’s story. The book, written by Lily’s Laces author Rebecca Perlman Coniglio, is titled Running for Riley and is available for pre-sale on www.MascotBooks.com until it is officially released on May 5, 2015.

Heart transplant recipients pose for a photo with Dr. Margarita Camacho, Surgical Director of Cardiac Transplant at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center. They all gathered at the Donate Life Rose Parade Send Off Event at Liberty Science Center.

Joseph looks so happy because his grandpa, John Rose, received a liver transplant this year. He has a special message to share.

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NJ Sharing Network hosted the inaugural meeting of the Multicultural Nursing Association Collaborative. The organization is committed to saving and enhancing lives through organ and tissue donation — in New Jersey and beyond.

Bruce Goldstein, third from right, a heart recipient and Vice Chair of the NJ Sharing Network Board of Trustees Governing Board, and Gail Clegg, third from left, Advisory Board member and mother of organ and tissue donor Sean Clegg, visited Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital to share their personal stories and thank the staff for their commitment and continued support of organ and tissue donation.

NJ Sharing Network President & CEO Joe Roth, holding the trophy, was honored at the 41st Annual Meadowlands Regional Chamber Gala for his leadership of our organization for the past 16 years.

The nursing faculty at Montclair State University braved a snowstorm to talk about organ and tissue donation with their classes.

It was a poignant moment at NJ Sharing Network headquarters as the family of organ donor Dr. Jamila Irons-Johnson met the recipient of Jamila’s lungs, Janice McNamara, and her daughter. Jamila’s mother, Janice Campbell, was deeply moved to see the woman whose life her daughter saved. Janice McNamara said she “couldn’t have asked for a better family to share the gift” and was so thankful to have met them.

To see more pictures from our events, please visit Facebook.com/NJSharingNetwork.

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MANUELA C. WALTER B. RICHARD M. CLEMENTE T. KRISTOPHER M. EUGENE S. EUGENE D. ROBERT H. PATRICIA N. ROBERT P. CHRISTINA D. PAUL C. GAIL G. THOMAS B. JOSEPH W. KIM P. EDWARD B. BRIAN H. CAROL L. GAIL B. DANIEL K. JOHN W. DONALD H. KELLY T. FRANCIS D. THOMAS H.

NANCY E. SANTOS MAURICIO M. HENRY W. FREDERICK K. EDWARD P. WAYNE E. SHARON S. KAREN L. THOMAS N. CARL L. ELAINE B. MICHAEL C. RIGOBERTO G. JAMES D. WILLIAM I. JAMES S. ELAINE F. ANNA L. JAMES P. DWAYNE H. ARTHUR T. GREGORY S. MARGARITA M. DORRIE K. KENNETH L. GEORGIA W.

DAVID S. CHARLES P. EUGENE B. ERIC R. CHARJUAN W. THOMAS G. MARK D. JUDITH V. ROSANN C. JUDITH P. ANDREW W. JOSEPH P. RALPH J. KENT K. MYRON B. JOSEPH G. CHARLES B. SONJA D. ANTONIO A. KATHLEEN B. LINDA B. MARTIN N. UMILO S. SUZANNE P. MICHAEL A. TERESA K.

JOYCE M. ROBERT M. ROSALYN A. HELDER D. DAVID H. PETER L. CAROL M. ROBERT D. PATRICIA P. WALTER S. DONNA L. IVAN L. SHERRI L. MICHAEL B. JONATHAN G. WILLIAM C. GEORGE R. YAHDON Y. MICHAEL M. QUADRIQUE P. JAMES S. KEVIN N. MILAN H. ROBERT P. ANGELO G. GERARD H.

JOSE P. NOLA T. VINCENT E. JANET M. BARTLEY K. DON M. JANET C. AUDA F. ELAINE B. DAVID S. PATRICIA R. MICHAEL Y. DOMINICK C. ROBERT L. ELI B. JUDITH S. THOMAS H. TERRY C. JOSEPH C. DARLEEN H. LINDA E. EFRAIN M. ASHWIN P. BENITO Z. ELENA R. KONSTANTIN V.

HOPE W. WILLIAM M. WILLIAM M. PATRICK R. MARIA C. TERRENCE G. ROBERT B. EVELYN S. FRANCIS D. MARGARET L. ROBIN S. HSIUYEN G. VIVIAN B. JULIANNA E. MICHAEL B. ANDREW R. ANTAWANETTE W. ALFRED C. GEORGE H. WILLIAM O. DONALD C. LENORE A. NICHOLAS G. RACHEL M. COLLEEN S. THERESA P.

CYNTHIA G. JAMES P. VINCENT I. MAUREEN C. PATSY R. AL T. CINDY F. SANDRA E. GLENN S. DONALD F. BERNITA P. JASON R. DONNA M. BRADLEY B. HELGA B. BRIAN T. JOSEPH R. FRANCIS J. ARTHUR B. MADELINE H. JAMES H. GARY R. PETER F. TARA H. BARRY J. CHRISTOPHER P.

PATRICK T. WILLIAM C. ROBERT D. BARBARA S. RITA R. DIRK E. MARIE D. JOSEPH A. VICTORIA M. ELAINE B. ELIJAH S. JOSEPH A. WES M. WILLIAM D. ROGER D. NIKOLAS D. LEONARD H. DEBORAH C. WILSON G. MICHAEL W. FRANCISCO L. BARBARA D. JANICE B. MARY A. ARLENE H. BERNARD D.

PETER P. SHARON M. JAYA V. VALERIE A. HAROLD A. CLAYTON W. KATHLEEN D. DORETHA C. CAROL J. MICHAEL V. MARIANA V. MICHAEL K. ARNALDO M. ROBERT A. SHARON K. THEODORE J. GARRY G. BETH B. HECTOR G. JANICE L. RICHARD S. CALVIN S. MATHEW M. KAREN D. LINDA G. ARIE B.

THEY GAVE

With Everlasting Gratitude to all of our 2014 DAVID C. PATRICE T. CYNTHIA B. KEITH L. JESUS S. FRANK O. MARY C. OZELL R. JOSEPH B. PILAR B. FREDRICK H. MARY S. LYNN B. GERALD M. MARIA N. SCOTT C. VIJAIYANAND P. CHARLOTTE S. BARBARA G. WILLIAM D. DANIEL C. DIANE V. ANTHONY M. JOSEPH C. ANTHONY R. ROBERT W. JAMES A. CAROLYN M. MARIANA R. JUAN C. MATTHEW C. GEORGE T. RUSSELL Z. ANN H. JAYDEN M. KATHERINE M. WAYNE M. NOEL N.

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JOHN Y. NANCY H. FRED E. JOHN S. VALERIE L. LINDA C. PENELOPE S. ANTHONY S. LAWRENCE S. KATHLEEN S. LINDA Z. JEROME K. MICHAEL B. MARC D. KETTLY L. JOHN B. KIMBERLY H. HEATHER S. ALFRED C. BRUCE B. DALE B. JAMES L. COLLEEN D. DUANE B. HILDA J. MARION T. JOSE A. HOWARD H. ROBERT G. CLAUDE P. SHARON K. JOHN R. MICHAEL E. JUDITH B. WALTER B. ROBERT M. RAJNIKANT P. JOSEPH B.

SPRING 2015

LAVINIA C. SUTHAM G. ARTHUR S. LOUIS C. RAYMOND C. BARBARA J. MATTHEW K. RONALD D. JOHN G. EDWIN L. RONALD B. JANE P. CHESTER W. STEVEN Z. RICARDO P. LOZIUS B. JAMES B. ROBERT M. CAROL Z. WILLIAM P. JOSEPH P. JOSEPH C. PATRICIA S. LINDA G. PATRICK F. JAMES S. JOSE GRACIA T. CHRISTOPHER N. HELMUT L. CRAIG R. SAMUEL B. JOHN D. JESSE P. SANDI M. RICHARD S. JOHN B. MYRA R. VIVIAN P.

ESTHER E. TIFFANY S. LOUIS G. JUSTINE K. MARGARET V. RICHARD R. RAKESH S. AGUSTIN R. DREW K. JERI C. EVA T. EFRAIN Q. BARIN S. CHANDRESH S. ALEXANDRA C. REGINALD L. MATTHEW B. MARIE M. ABDELMESSHI B. PHILLIP D. GLEN P. REY DAVID C. RUSSELL B. HARRY J. ETHEL L. MARIANELA G. CAROL B. KATHLEEN N. BARBARA K. ALAN W. KATHLEEN H. RICHARD H. MARGARET S. JOHN M. SUSHILABEN V. PAUL M. ZAIDA S. MARGARITA D.

DARIUS R. SANDRA P. WEDNER D. NICHOLAS G. KEITH S. DANIEL V. OLEG F. CAROL D. JAMES O. JUDITH M. PATRICK W. CHARLES N. JILL R. MARK L. RONALD R. GODOFREDO G. JOHN C. ROBERT M. SANDRA M. EUGENE D. NICHOLAS D. KATHLEEN A. RAMASWAMY K. CAROLYN D. MICHAEL D. SHEILA O. ANN B. ROBERT S. DIANE L. ANGEL R. EFRAIN R. ALLAN C. GERALD N. NATASHA V. WALTER P. HELENE P. MARYANN C. WINFIELD B.

RANDY S. CARLOS F. CHRIS C. MICHAEL M. HARRIET F. CONRADO B. THOMAS G. JOHN C. NANCY C. JOSEPH K. MARVIN S. JEFFREY G. DUSHYANT S. NASHAAT A. JOHN G. LESLIE A. JONATHAN W. MARTIN B. ROSA R. GLADYS A. ARCHANGELO D. TRUDY B. JOSE O. CAROL B. FRANCIS R. NANCY L. DAVID K. KASANDRA P. ROBERT M. ROBERT C. MARY W. KARINA B. BARBARA H. EUSEBIO B. JANYSE M. CHRISTOPHER O. TY T. CHRISTIAN D.

ANTHONY J. ELAINE M. JAIRO A. RICHARD D. FRANCIS O. DORIS H. LATESHIA T. RONALD S. WILLIAM C. VENESSA F. WILLIAM R. JEAN A. CHARLES J. REYNOLDS S. EDWIN N. EMELY E. PATRICIA K. FORREST H. JAYNE T. SHAUN S. ROBERT M. RENEE S. DONNA F. JUAN N. ROBERT E. SHAWN S. CAROL F. WILLIAM J. JAMES B. MYRON D. STEVEN S. EDWARD K. RICHARD S. ROBERT E. JOSEPH E. PABLO F. MATTIE P. MARIA SELCA M.

ROBERT H. MICHAEL M. DOMINICK B. ANA H. PATRICIA W. JUDITH S. ROBERT B. ELLIS S. THERESA S. QINGLIN Z. ROBERT P. ANJALI N. CARLOS A. CLIFTON H. THEODORE W. ANITA S. MAUREEN M. CARL J. JANET R. CAROL O. JOHN K. TONI T. LOUIS P. RICHARD S. DOROTHY S. LINDA M. GREGORY R. MICHAEL W. PAUL G. ADOLFO L. DIMITRI M. ANDREA H. DOREEN I. LAURA P. BRENT S. ALEX R. DAVID B. JENNIE M.

DARLENE R. ROBERT K. JOANNE R. MARIO G. GARY M. NARENDRA D. VINCENT N. LIAM A. HAROLD D. THOMAS V. CESAR C. LILLIE B. DONALD H. CAROL M. ARNEL P. PAUL P. JOHN G. GARY S. JUSTIN L. ERICH W. MACE K. CONNIE J. CHARLES K. GENESIS R. FRANK H. MARYLEE C. MOOKASH N. PATRICK M. SILVA V. JAVIER R. JOHN R. GARY W. PHILIP M. ANTHONY E. DARRYL O. MICHAEL S. FAY P. THOMAS G.

MARK D. MELVIN S. HARVEY L. ROBERT S. AMELIA D. ERVIN S. CARMELO A. BARBARA M. MARGARET H. KATHLEEN B. JOAN L. SHEILA B. ADEDEJI A. ANTHONY C. HELEN R. JAMES K. DOMINICK S. MARTIN B. JUAN S. ANNA T. GLEN D. ROBERT M. TRACY B. EILEEN M. RAYMOND B. DOMENICO A.

MANUEL R. DONALD S. JOHN R. CHANTAY G. ANNIEASE C. PAUL K. EVANTHIA G. BOLIVAR G. SALLY S. BERT M. KRISTIN W. BRUCE H. PATRICIA F. MILES R. DANIEL D. VINCENT S. DAWN R. CHARLES L. JACK T. ALICE W. HERBERT W. CALVIN V. SHARON E. KEREN F. JOYCE H. ROSA H.

JARED C. CRAIG O. JOAN Z. MICHAEL K. PREEYA S. WILLIAM G. FRANCIS B. HARRY B. RAJESH P. ROBERT R. CATHERINE B. JERRY M. PETER R. YVETTE C. DAVID S. ANDREA N. ARVIND P. CAROLE C. DOLORES L. CHRISTOPHER N. STEVE W. ROBERT C. PATRICK S. JIGNESH P. GREGORY B. NANZI A.

THOMAS M. ROBERT L. CHARLES S. JUDY N. WILLIAM K. TAHIRAH J. CARY C. PETER M. CARMELO R. BERTRAM P. CORNELIUS O. THEODORE S. GARY N. RONALD F. MONSERRATE R. EDWARD G. JAMES J. DAVID C. ROBERT P. KENT S. WILLIAM S. RODERICK N. LEONARD P. KEMPSON W. MARK R. JAMES M.

BRIAN B. TALEA S. ELIN T. CHRISTOPHER N. AMANDA G. TRACI T. JOSEPH M. PETER M. CHRISTINA A. EDITH D. VIRGINIA C. RONALD B. NELLY H. ENID F. DIANE S. THOMAS K. JAMES M. WILLIAM L. JEFFREY D. HUEY M. MAGDALENA S. RUTH K. GEORGE B. VICTOR L. ERIC O. ROSEMARIE F.

MICHAEL S. ANTHONY M. RONALD B. CHARLES O. ALBERT C. KENNETH S. ELLIOTT R. ALFONSO R. MARILYN R. JOHN R. BRIAN W. LADONNA R. ROBERTO M. MARY O. PHYLLIS D. KATHLEEN M. PAUL D. CHARLES L. ANN D. ZACHARIE H. JAYANTILAL S. JORGE R. PATRICIA Y. ROBERT J. JOHN H. PATRICIA G.

RICHARD M. JANET G. JOHN F. WINSTON S. THOMAS Y. ANTONIO G. ELLEN N. RICKY W. JOHN L. JAMES K. ALBERT M. ANGELA W. STEVEN P. DAVID T. BRIAN J. THOMAS K. ERIK A. DEBORAH S. ZOILA H. WILLIAM H. SARA H. ALPHONSO B. JOHN H. YBELKA A. JUSTIN A. DONELLA B.

JOHN S. JOHNATHON D. NICHOLAS M. MOIRA S. ALEXANDER R. RUSSELL C. RICHARD B. SANDRA S. COREY C. ANTHONY G. EDWARD L. DENISE W. JAMES B. DAVID G. ROBERT W. GAIL T. PATRICIA C. ELIZABETH C. JOSEPH H. ROWENA L. WILLIAM M. RICHARD P. RENEE D. FREDERICK D. JANET D. THOMAS M.

ROBERT P. SUEANNE G. JOSEPH F. ANTHONY V. PATRICIA M. ELSIE K. FINA A. CAITLYN K. ALEXANDER S. CAROLYN R. EDWARD S. MARYLOU S. JANICE H. RASOOL M. ROBERT K. CAROL R. JACOB L. DAVID S. ANTHONY P. WANDA G. MARK S. FELICIA J. PEDRO P. WILLIAM T. RICHARD W. EILEEN C.

LONDA M. JACQUELINE S. DAVID M. KENYETTA H. ARTHUR W. PEDRO S. RICHARD P. CLYDE D. CHRISTINE D. CHARLES B. OSWALD N. JOHN F. JAIMEE T. ELLEN S. JUSTIN C. ELEANOR C. SAISERAM S. JAMES J. JOSE R. DEBORAH M. LOUIS E. LUISA C. KAREN M. SHANNON S. LOUISE L. JEANNINE L. CHRISTOPHER D. MARION M. JAMES C. ALEXANDER H. ANDREW K. KELLY G. LEONA R. JOHN D. ALIRIO O. VIRGINIA M. JOHN S.

DEREK M. TIMOTHY R. BRUCE M. JOSEPH C. HERBERT G. EVELYN M. STEVEN S. DEREK B. CARLMICHAEL W. STEPHANIE K. OSSIE S. JEFFREY D. DEBRA K. JORGE C. DENNIS L. BARBARA C. TAWANNA H. NANCY T. DAVID M. NANCY T. JOSEPH F. ANTHONY F. AUTUMN G. IDA K. RICHARD S. ANGEL C. THERESA H. ALEXIUS H. MICHAEL L. FRANK B. RHONDA B. RAFAEL T. VICTOR T. SANDRA T. SIMON D. LORRAINE P. HOPE C.

DORIS M. WILLIAM C. OTTO R. JOANN K. JOSE M. VALERIE L. PAUL D. NEHA M. VERONICA A. MICHAELINE G. BRYAN S. RADAMES P. EDWARD B. DOUGLAS P. FREDDY F. KATHY R. JAMAR H. ROBERT E. CHARLES A. GEORGE M. ALEXANDER H. JOHN N. FRANK R. PAUL S. WILLIAM P. PATRICIA M. ELZILENE S. THOMAS S. ARMANDO R. JOHN R. MICHAEL M. PERRY H. MICHAEL A. TRACY V. RICHARD M. DAVID S. ZACION C.

CARLOS V. DEBRA R. BRIAN S. THOMAS S. JUANANTONIO A. CATHERINE M. JEREMIAH D. PAUL L. JOHN R. CHRISTINE S. DEMETERIS W. GEORGE R. DAVID G. RENEE P. KRISTI S. ANDREW P. JOSEPH M. JAMES W. JOELLEN L. ROSE P. JOSE M. JOANN E. JAMES B. SUZANNE M. RODNEY S. MANEESHA S. ROSA K. DONALD W. PEDRO S. NICOLE W.

LIFE.

Organ and Tissue Donors

ALFREDO P. BERTRUM B. ABDUL B. LLOYD R. SALLYANNE S. VALERIE M. VINCENT G. TYQUAN C. ROBERT S. CHARLES L. DEBRA S. NEDRA K. ELIZABETH R. DORIS R. THEODORE K. ROBERT S. JOSE G. JEROME A. VANESSA G. LINET C. LAWRENCE M. KEVIN C. DAVID M. BELINDA R. SIMON W. LISA J. AALIYAH R. WILLIAM T. VERNA S. ANNE U. ERNEST P. MARVIN K. NEIL B. MAUREEN W. ALLIE J. JUSTIN M. CAROL G.

GEORGE C. MARIA F. LEONARD L. FREDRICK F. TERRANCE M. BRETT H. EDWARD C. FRANKLIN M. KARLOS I. LEO M. SAMUEL S. MICHAEL H. JOAN E. JAMES S. JOHN M. ORISSA M. PHYLLIS B. DAVID D. LAWRENCE J. CAROLYN K. ELIZABETH F. BARRINGTON W. JOHNSON F. GARY C. PAUL D. WILLIAM B. STEVEN K. WILLIAM B. BABY A G. KUAN W. RICHARD S. JOSEPH H. DAVID W. ROBERT S. VINCENT S. MICHAEL T. JOHN H.

ROBERT U. DOMINICK P. SHARON A. JOAN T. CORINNE S. SHESHARATNAM C. CATHERINE D. HECTOR I. KYLE J. LYNETTE A. RICHARD B. MITCHELL B. AMIE D. JERRY S. MIGUEL G. KATHY B. CHARLES F. EUGENE B. ROBERT P. MICHAEL Q. REGINA S. KENNETH K. DWAYNE H. MICHAEL E. KEVIN K. CAROL S. DARIA S. EDWARD B. JOSEPH G. ROBERT M. DANIEL O. RUSSELL L. SHAMIA G. ALICE J. FREDERICK L. CRAIG K. CARMEN A.

ROLAND S. THERESE P. GREGORY S. PATRICIA K. JUDY N. PATRICIA D. MARCELLUS S. JERRY R. TYRAN H. MARK W. ROBERT D. WILLIAM N. JOHN V. MALACHY B. JOHN F. CANDICE G. LAMAR A. DENNIS S. PRADEEP K. JAHAD H. ANGELA B. TONYA F. GARY A. NICHOLAS S. MORRIS D. JEAN M. GLEN I. JOSEPH L. RAYMOND M. STACEY J. MICHAEL W. DIANE D. CLEMENT P. KARL W. JOHN M. THEODORE P. DENIS L.

PETER S. STEWART N. PATRICIA M. FRANK S. RICHARD M. JOHN S. LINDA K. HEDWICK R. DAVID L. HOWARD H. CHARLES M. MEERA K. KATHLEEN G. KARL D. KANDI G. JOSE DE JESUS C. ANA S. KATHERINE V. ANDRE H. ROGER B. SERGIO C. GHANSHYAMBHAI P. CHARLES L. MABLE H. THOMAS D. NORBERTO M. GARY S. EDWARD M. OMAR C. EUGENE V. KIMIA B. WILLIAM C. KENNETH L. STEPHEN T. RAMON A. KEVIN T. CARLOS J.

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691 Central Avenue New Providence, NJ 07974 1-800-742-7365 • 908-516-5400

Permit No. 931

NJ Sharing Network is a member of Community Health Charities of NJ

www.NJSharingNetwork.org

WHO WE ARE NJ Sharing Network is a non-profit, federally designated organ procurement organization responsible for the recovery of organs and tissue for the nearly 5,000 New Jersey residents currently awaiting transplantation, and is part of the national recovery system, which is in place for the more than 120,000 people on waiting lists.

NJ Sharing Network is CMS certified, AOPO accredited, designated OPO by UNOS, FDA registered, CAP accredited, ASHI accredited, registered with NJ State DOH, and soon to be AATB accredited.

If you no longer wish to receive information from NJ Sharing Network, please call 908-516-5400.

Day in the Life: Office Volunteers

Alberta D’Addio

Nancy Tomich

Ever wonder who are all those helpful people around the office? You see them busy preparing for the next event, offering some big help with office support or answering phones.

These are our office volunteers, the backbone of NJ Sharing Network, who help make sure everything gets done – big or small – on time, no matter the challenge.

Two of our cherished volunteers are Alberta D’Addio and Nancy Tomich, both of whom are willing to do it all.

“This is a wonderful organization to volunteer with; my work here is all very rewarding,” said Alberta D’Addio. “I am a volunteer with a personal connection to organ donation through my husband, Joe who was an organ and tissue donor more than five years ago.

I love the atmosphere of NJ Sharing Network. Along with all of the Foundation committees on which I sit, I am very pleased to volunteer here.”

You can find Alberta on any given day around the office completing mailings, answering phones and even helping to proofread this magazine.

Nancy is another volunteer, who is happy to spend some hours of her retirement helping us prepare for programs at NJ Sharing Network. She is active with us throughout the year, helping with the

upcoming 5K Celebration of Life, computer work and answering phones.

“This is a great and supportive organization,” said Nancy, who began volunteering three years ago. “I am not part of a donor or a recipient family; I’m just someone who really appreciates the good work that is done here.”

Both Alberta and Nancy have received volunteer training and are knowledgeable about the organization’s mission to enhance and save lives through organ and tissue donation.

“NJ Sharing Network is such a special place,” Nancy added. “I am happy to help out in any way I can.”

For volunteer opportunities contact us at volunteers@njsharingnetwork.org.

Join the conversation about the power of donation!

SAVE THE DATE

Like us at facebook.com/njsharingnetwork

April 12, 2015

June 7, 2015

October 5, 2015

5K Celebration of Life

5K Celebration of Life & USATF Certified Race

Golf Classic

Bergen Community College Paramus, NJ

NJ Sharing Network New Providence, NJ

Baltusrol Golf Club Springfield, NJ

Follow us on twitter @ njsharing Follow us @NJSharingNetwork for daily pictures and updates!