2009 Chapter Award Recipients
Chapter Awards were presented by
Board Member and International Committee of the Red Cross Florence Nightingale Medal recipient Susan Hassmiller

Clara Barton Leadership Award
Gilbert Lugossy

Gil Lugossy

Gil Lugossy began volunteering with the American Red Cross during his high school years. His value to the organization was evident from the start, serving as a youth representative to the American Red Cross National Convention.

Continuing with the Trenton Chapter, Gil served on the Board of Directors and years later, was instrumental in creating a merger with the Princeton Area Chapter to form the NJ Capital Area Chapter – one of the precursors to our existing Chapter.

Gil currently serves on the American Red Cross of Central New Jersey Board of Directors and is a member of its Executive Committee and Chairman of the Nominating Committee. We can attribute a great deal of our Chapter’s success over the years to Gil’s leadership. He has recruited top community leaders to the Board and made sure that most major Central New Jersey organizations had representation. Gil worked hard to sustain a Board that reflects the communities it serves. As a committed Board member, Gil continuously influences others to support the work of the Red Cross in addition to his own generous support.

Nonprofits succeed on the strength and dedication of their Boards and it is because of the enthusiasm and efforts of Gil Lugossy that the American Red Cross of Central New Jersey Board of Directors truly leads by example.

Every Day HeroAward
Claire Geyer

Claire Geyer

Claire Geyer possesses many qualities that make her invaluable as a Red Cross volunteer. She is dedicated, reliable, conscientious and always willing to go the extra mile. Two Chapter departments – Blood Services and Emergency Services - consider Claire a "go-to" volunteer.

Working with Blood Services, Claire covers several blood drives a month and is a Volunteer Trainer for the department. Her vast experience with blood drives allows her to pass on knowledge not found in any manual. New volunteers paired with Claire leave the six-hour blood drive well-trained and enthusiastic to return to follow the highly competent example set by Claire. Always thinking of ways to make the volunteer experience better, Claire shares details like potential traffic situations, where to park, and if there is a cafeteria on site with fellow volunteers.

Only once did Claire back out of her commitment to work a blood drive; when she was needed to manage a Red Cross shelter for flood victims during a major disaster operation in Trenton.

Claire added Emergency Response to her volunteer role following Hurricane Katrina. She serves as a dispatcher and as a Lead Responder on the Disaster Action Team. In a pinch, we can count on Claire to cover fire response wherever needed in our service area. In addition to several administrative initiatives developed and implemented by Claire for better efficiency during emergency response, she accepted the demanding position of Staffing for Disaster Services, making sure there are volunteers available and ready to open a shelter, drive the Emergency Response Vehicle, and help comfort a client, should a disaster occur.

Claire Geyer exemplifies the caring, compassionate American Red Cross volunteer known for service excellence, always and everywhere. Her compassion, professionalism and enthusiasm are an inspiration to all.

Outstanding Youth InvolvementAward
Sayreville War Memorial High School

Sayreville War Memorial High School Red Cross Club members with Advisor Denise Brown (center)

Last year was the first year for the Red Cross Club at Sayreville War Memorial High School – and they started off with a bang! Led by school nurse Denise Brown, this club of 40 students was engaged in nearly every type of available activity consistent with the Red Cross mission.

In October, the students conceived, organized, and participated in a Walkathon fundraiser that raised $1,700 to support Chapter programs and services. During the holidays, they held a gift card collection to complement the personal care items they had collected for the troops through the Adopt A Unit campaign and wrote letters to soldiers to add a personal touch. Next, the club channeled its efforts into a winter blood drive which collected over 80 pints. In the spring, the club prepared lessons for the Masters of Disaster program, which they then taught to 300 students in elementary school.

To enable their endeavors financially, the club held bake sales, t-shirt sales and holiday card sales. This group showed incredible initiative, optimism in the face of new challenges, and commitment to the Red Cross mission. Rather than slowing down at the end of the year, the club instead put energy into planning the following year. They set the date for their next walkathon, designed a web page to enhance communication, scheduled two blood drives for the upcoming year, and garnered interest in the club from 100 incoming freshman!

An exemplary first year Red Cross Club, Sayreville War Memorial High School has set the bar high for all that follow.

John Hibben Philanthropic Award
Tyco International

Tyco International has been a supporter of American Red Cross efforts to help those affected by major disasters across the nation, including a significant donation following the 2008 Hurricane Season.

Paul Fitzhenry of Tyco International

Tyco also has the Chapter’s big picture in mind with their decision to support the work of the Red Cross in Central New Jersey. Through their generous financial support, they have made a commitment to the mission of the Red Cross and their hope to see Red Cross services delivered to the community for years to come.

Two years ago, our Chapter was selected to participate in a five-year pilot program to build a sustainable funding program to provide unrestricted operating funds to support local programs well into the future. Entering our third year, we have surpassed all other pilot program Chapters in raising pledges and contributions and have surpassed our own financial goal for this past year by 150%. This in large part is attributed to Tyco.

A Tyco representative attending our May Giving Hope...Saving Lives Fundraising Breakfast was moved by the live testimonials presented that morning. She heard from a disaster victim who lost everything during a house fire and a young woman with physical and mental challenges who learned to swim through our Adapted Aquatics program. A week later, Tyco pledged a five-figure gift to the Chapter for the next five years.

Tyco is also supporting Red Cross Blood Services through company blood drives, and is working with the Chapter to help improve our internal processes, controls and project management. With Tyco’s assistance, the Health & Safety department is currently implementing changes expected to improve efficiency, customer satisfaction and staff performance. Lending this expertise has been a significant cost savings to the Chapter, allowing the Red Cross to concentrate its financial resources on programs.

Tyco recognizes the fundamentally vital work of the Red Cross in keeping families, children and people of all ages safe and prepared in times of emergencies. We applaud their philanthropic spirit, as well as their recognition of the critical need for financial resources before, during, and after disaster strikes for years to come.

Distinguished Volunteer Service Award
Sally Easter

Sally Easter

Sally Easter has volunteered with our Meals on Wheels program for more than 16 years. In addition to delivering meals with her husband George, she also accepted the daunting job of putting together the monthly volunteer schedule for the program. Sally recently retired from the Meals on Wheels program, but her years of Distinguished Volunteer Service were always evident to the clients she delivered to, the staff that depended on her, and to her fellow volunteers, who were inspired by her dedication. The following is what fellow volunteer Carl Haag wrote about Sally:

It was the third week of the month, the phone rang midmorning, and I knew who it was. It was Sally Easter, as I anticipated. She was calling to ask when I could deliver Meals on Wheels the following month. I gave her available dates, we had a brief catch-up, she thanked me and then she went on to make many more calls.

Sally was involved with the Red Cross Meals on Wheels program forever, well before I started at her invitation. Since many of the people involved when I began were also members of the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Princeton, I was quite sure she had recruited them also.

Making all those calls was not an easy job, I sensed. Not everyone answered her first call and people’s schedules varied. So Sally would keep calling, trying to reach people and to fit them into the needed slots. If it got close to the deadline for the schedule to be mailed, the empty slots would often be filled in with the names Sally & George Easter.

Computers have made it all electronic now, and perhaps easier. However, I really miss Sally’s friendly call, our interchange, and the feeling of wonderment and gratitude I felt about her and others who volunteer for major assignments to help worthy organizations.

Sally has been a constant in the Meals on Wheels program. A new Meals on Wheels Coordinator could always count on Sally to show them the ropes. Her monthly volunteer schedule helped the program run smoothly and efficiently, ensuring that our senior clients received their much anticipated meals.

Sally’s many years of dedicated service - delivering and scheduling for the Meals on Wheels program - truly makes her a distinguished volunteer!

Distinguished Volunteer Service Award
Emma K. Aseltta

Greg Aseltta, accepting on behalf of his mother Emma who was in hospital

Since our founding in 1881, an important mission of the American Red Cross has been to support members of the Armed Forces and their families. Emergency Communications is one of the services provided. In the event of an emergency, critical accident, illness or death in a service member’s immediate family, the Red Cross verifies the situation, facilitates communication between service members and their families and if necessary, relays an emergency leave request to the proper military authorities.

Emma Aseltta is an integral part of the unique network of Red Cross volunteers that provides time-sensitive help 24 hours a day, seven days a week to the Armed Forces and their families. Each year, the Chapter assists military personnel and their families with hundreds of emergency communications. Emma has been a leader with this service for nearly 16 years.

Emma has dedicated more than 7,000 hours of service since she began volunteering with the Services to the Armed Forces (SAF) program in 1993. Her background and experience as an officer in the Mortuary Office for the Pacific Area during World War II and as a retired funeral director make her especially well-suited to help families during their time of need. She has spent many late nights speaking with service men and women and their families; not only ensuring that important messages are relayed, but also helping these families to solve problems and comforting them during difficult situations.

And the news is not always bad. Emma has had the pleasure to announce exciting news about the babies born to service men during her many years of Emergency Communications service!

We honor Emma Aseltta for the compassion, dedication, and superior performance she provided to both the Red Cross and the Armed Forces during her many years of distinguished volunteer service.

Richard Mack Communications Award
WPVI-TV Action News
Trenton Bureau

Cathy Gandolfo of WPVI-TV Action News

Local television stations rely on their news operations for identity and programming strength. WPVI-TV has continually built its news operation into the highest rated local newscast. Action News is the most watched news programming in the Philadelphia area, including Mercer and Hunterdon counties.

Thanks to the dedication of WPVI-TV’s Trenton Bureau, attention to the Red Cross’ work in Central New Jersey is always relevant for this ABC station in the country’s fourth largest media market.

The Trenton Bureau of WPVI-TV Action News has repeatedly displayed a dedication to the mission of the American Red Cross.

When the blood supply dips dangerously low, WPVI will let their audience know how and where they can help by donating blood. To help bring attention to hunger amongst our homebound and elderly, WPVI has consistently covered special events such as Mayors for Meals Day with our Home Delivered Meals program. After house fires displace families, Action News coverage includes that the families are now in the care of the American Red Cross. WPVI-TV also helped bring attention to the new location of our Blood Donor Center and new Disaster Operation Center through coverage of our Grand Opening.

WPVI has helped communicate the Red Cross programs and services delivered throughout Central New Jersey, with some of the best coverage highlighting the great work of dedicated Red Cross volunteers to this television station’s large viewing audience.

Together We Prepare Award
Sarah and Alstyn Hart

Sarah Hart (center) with Kathleen Pearson, Health and Safety Director, who also presented this award

Sarah and Alstyn Hart have been committed to the American Red Cross and its mission for over 60 years. In addition to our Chapter, the Harts have volunteered with 11 other Red Cross Chapters throughout the state.

The Harts have numerous Health and Safety instructor authorizations and together have trained more than 10,000 individuals in life saving skills. Add to that the training of more than 700 individuals as Health and Safety instructors and you can begin to imagine the reach this couple has had within New Jersey and beyond. Giving people the skills to save a life during an emergency was not just an altruistic activity to help the Red Cross; it was a passion, a belief, and a way of life for the Harts.

The Harts inspired people to continue with training, often seeing students through most of the levels themselves—watching many go from a basic First Aid course all the way to Paramedic. A true testimony to any great instructor is to have someone you trained use the knowledge you gave them to save another person’s life.

Donating blood has also been a passion for the Harts. Sarah and Alstyn, both Multi-Gallon blood donors, helped organize countless blood drives at area facilities.

The Harts also enjoyed working with Red Cross Youth. They held Babysitter’s Training, First Aid for Children Today courses, Basic Aid Training and taught Red Cross safety information programs to Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts while helping the scouts achieve merit badges.

Always willing to help wherever needed, Sarah and Alstyn have also worked at shelters during disasters, educated others about disaster preparedness, been loyal supporters with various fundraising campaigns, and helped spread the message that defibrillators and training can make the difference between life and death – and helped the Red Cross place AEDs in several locations.

Sarah and Alstyn have been an inspiration to us all and have been an invaluable asset to the American Red Cross. The Harts will always hold a place in our hearts as well as a place in our Chapter’s history.

It is with deep sadness as we praise this wonderful couple for their combined and tireless dedication to the Red Cross mission,
that we must also say goodbye to one. Alstyn Hart recently passed away; he will be missed terribly. The legacy the Harts have left
will continue on with the people whose lives they have touched and by the lives that are saved by the thousands of individuals they trained.

2009 Pacesetter Award Recipients
Pacesetter Awards were presented by Board Member Michael Kollar and Associate Executive Director Sarah Mertz

Health and Safety Services

Cardiac Science
During our first year working with AED distributor Cardiac Science, the company, and in particular Brian Vaughn, have gone above and beyond to assist the Chapter with AED sales. Although we are still building steam around the facilitation of this particular AED unit, Brian has been a great resource. We have been accompanied to installations and assisted during presentations aimed to help the employees at purchasing companies become more comfortable with their new AED unit.

State Trooper Sean Fitzgerald
On March 31, a 44 year-old truck driver suffered a heart attack while driving on the Turnpike in Edison. The truck passed through the toll booth, but then suddenly veered across eight lanes of traffic, jackknifed and crashed into a guardrail. Fortunately, no other vehicles were struck. Lucky for the driver, State Trooper Sean Fitzgerald was close by and carries an automated external defibrillator (AED) in his cruiser. At the scene in less than four minutes, the trooper grabbed the AED and joined an off-duty NY firefighter who had stopped to help and they performed CPR. The truck driver was not breathing, so they attached the AED to his chest and provided two shocks. Following the AED's voice commands, CPR was continued until paramedics arrived. The driver began breathing again and has since fully recovered. We applaud Trooper Fitzgerald's quick thinking and use of his training to help save this man's life.

Jenny Ke
Jenny hasn’t been volunteering with the Health and Safety Department for very long, but her time with us has made a huge difference. Jenny is always willing to help with any project sent her way. Through her efforts, the back office work of Health and Safety, specifically the tracking of instructor activity and records, has become extremely manageable and timely. Jenny’s attention to detail and generous donation of time has truly made a great impact on the everyday workings of the department.

Judy Nemes
Judy joined the Health and Safety Team this year as a volunteer instructor and has jumped in with both feet. She eagerly gives us her available dates to teach courses on a monthly basis. Judy’s passion for her work, along with her knowledge of the material she teaches, encourages student participation. She is a goodwill ambassador for the Red Cross and an active volunteer instructor who is always willing to teach a class at a moment’s notice. Her dedication is truly appreciated by the department and by the people who take her courses.

Princeton University, Aquatics, Department of Athletics
Princeton University has a longstanding relationship with American Red Cross Programs. Under the direction of Aquatics Director Greg Paczkowski, the facility has several instructors and trains hundreds of people in Lifeguarding, First Aid, CPR and the use of AEDs. Their dedication to quality assurance and safety is unprecedented. They are always willing to pitch in and support the community and the Chapter whenever the need arises.

Detective Sergeant First Class Edward Tobin
Security officers are required to have 20 hours of training which may include First Aid, CPR and AED use. DSFC Edward Tobin invited the Red Cross to present our programs to the State Police Security Officer Trainer Program. These presentations led to Red Cross training hundreds in First Aid and Preparedness. We also conducted leader orientation courses, allowing many to become instructors and train additional security officers in the Tri-State area. If it were not for Detective Tobin, the Red Cross would have missed out on this opportunity to provide important knowledge about First Aid to so many in our community.

Walgreens
New regulation requires all pharmacists to be certified in Adult and Child CPR and Blood Borne Pathogens. Walgreens employee Elaine Lee was assigned to coordinate Red Cross training for all Central New Jersey area Walgreens pharmacists at the training center in Hamilton. Thanks to Elaine’s efforts, these trainings run smoothly for the Red Cross. Since March, Walgreens has trained 110 individuals in these lifesaving skills.

Community Services

Meals On Wheels

Diane Batten and Ruth Varney
Diane Batten and Ruth Varney are considered the “Dynamic Duo” of the Meals on Wheels program. Between the two of them, they have been delivering meals for over 40 years. They deliver together every Thursday in Princeton and when finished with their route, they go out for lunch and make a day of it. Diane and Ruth are two friends who enjoy each other’s company and share that happiness with the Meals on Wheels clients they visit each Thursday.

Christian Christiansen, Jr.
A relatively new volunteer to the Meals on Wheels program, Chris began in the fall of 2008 and took ownership of the routes in Hightstown. Not only was he interested in volunteering three times a week, but he would do any route that the program needed help with. When summer rolled around, Chris would bring many of his clients, as well as the coordinator, freshly cut sunflowers to brighten their day. Chris definitely shines as one of the top Meals on Wheels volunteers!

John Mason, Charlie Mapes, Doris Mapes and Jessica Coons

Doris and Charlie Mapes
Doris and Charlie Mapes have been delivering Meals on Wheels in Princeton for over five years. Their commitment to the program is evident just by glancing at the schedule each month. Doris and Charlie exemplify the phrase “last but not least.” They are the last volunteers called when the delivery schedule is nearly finished because they’ll always ask, “What’s left?” When told, they simply reply, “We’ll do it.” This couple is truly a wonderful asset to the Meals on Wheels Program.

Meals At Home/Weekend Mobile Meals

Jessica Coons
Last year was the first year Jessica Coons started delivering with Weekend Mobile Meals. She since has recruited her co-workers to join her and volunteer with the program as well. In addition, Jessica went above and beyond by securing a grant from her company for both Home Delivered Meals programs. Jessica now delivers with the Meals at Home program during the week!

Frank Flandinette
Frank Flandinette has been delivering meals for more than two years and is a wonderful asset to the Meals at Home program. He helps out on extra days whenever needed and always goes the extra mile to make sure that the clients get their meals each day. Frank also did a wonderful job representing the program’s volunteers when he delivered meals with Hamilton Mayor John Bencivengo as part of Mayors for Meals Day.

John Mason
A volunteer with the Meals at Home program for more than 10 years, John Mason has been called “an angel” by the clients he delivers to. He delivers the same route every Monday and throughout that time he has shown dedication and commitment to all of the clients on his route. Every Monday, they know they will be greeted with a big smile and kind words.

Blood Services

Mimi Yong

Dean Behrend
Dean has been a volunteer with the Chapter’s Blood Services department in conjunction with the 55+ Club for several years. Not only does Dean volunteer at multiple blood drives himself, he is also in charge of coordinating other members of the 55+ Club to volunteer at area blood drives. Dean is always willing to step up at the last minute to help cover open drives, even if it means driving far out of his way. As a long time Blood Services volunteer, Dean frequently offers helpful suggestions to his fellow volunteers.

Mary Rudy
Mary, a long time Blood Services volunteer, is always willing to go the extra mile. She is happy to show up at a drive early to train a new volunteer so that they feel comfortable at their first blood drive. Mary happily accepted an invitation to help improve the volunteer experience for other blood volunteers by serving on our Blood Volunteer Leadership Committee. She truly understands the critical need for blood and the role of volunteers at the drives. She even recruited and trained her daughter to help out at blood drives. Mary volunteers at several blood drives a month and is incredibly dependable.

Mimi Yong
Mimi has over ten years experience as a volunteer with our Blood Services department. She volunteers at several blood drives a month and also helps train new volunteers as needed. She currently serves on our Blood Volunteer Leadership Committee. Mimi is so good at what she does that the hosts of area blood drives request her as their volunteer when they are planning their drives. She is always willing to step in to help at the last minute and is extremely dependable. Mimi’s friendliness and cheerful attitude surely impact donors and encourage them to return and donate blood again.

Youth Services

Sarah Mertz with Neeli Mishra and Michelle Chang

Michelle Chang
Michelle is an active volunteer, both at the Chapter and with West Windsor Plainsboro South’s Red Cross Club. Since freshman year, Michelle has participated in blood drives, Meals on Wheels, Community Disaster Education, CPR/First Aid training, Whales Tales, First Aid for Children Today, and Halloween Safety. This past year, she served as youth chairperson with the Health and Safety Department. This year she serves as president of her Red Cross Club and as Youth Representative to our Board of Directors. Determined to be part of a successful Danceathon, Michelle initiated a lollipop fundraiser at her school that raised $500 for last year’s event. She also engaged her club in our Adopt a Unit campaign and went a step further by applying for and receiving a $400 grant from her school’s Parent Teacher Student Association to ensure that their Red Cross Club would have the necessary resources to continue their programs for years to come.

Bri McCarthy
Bri, a member of Hopewell Valley High School Red Cross Club, was involved in just about every department at the Chapter during her senior year of high school. She spearheaded an Adopt a Unit campaign at school, collecting a large box of items for the troops and handcrafting cards to soldiers serving overseas. Around the Holidays, Bri spent hours wrapping presents for our Holiday Gift Run. As if that wasn’t enough, she also spent time fundraising for the Youth Council’s annual Danceathon. All the while, Bri did her best to encourage friends and family to get more involved in the work of the Red Cross.
 
Neeli Mishra
Neeli, the 2009-10 Youth Council President, has been actively serving our Chapter through her school’s Red Cross Club, the Youth Council, and as a departmental volunteer since her freshman year of high school. She has volunteered for a multitude of activities including: Halloween Safety, Community Disaster Education, Blizzard Bags, FACT, blood drives, and registration at the Blood Donor Banquet. This past year, Neeli was the Youth Council’s Community Services chairperson. She came to every Youth Council meeting and updated the members about Community Services activities and how the school clubs could become more involved. Neeli also played an integral role in planning and fundraising with last year’s Danceathon.

Emergency Services

Dawn Brower
Since joining the Red Cross in June of 2008, Dawn has embraced the Red Cross mission to help those in need with a great passion. Her talents and compassion for disaster victims have spurred her to become a Disaster Action Team (DAT) lead responder and is one of our most active DAT volunteers. She also volunteers many hours with disaster case data entry and assists with our efforts to educate the public about Disaster Preparedness. Dawn is truly an inspiring volunteer, and we are proud to count her as one of our own.

Dawn Brower, Rebecca Smith, Peter Meyers, Rebecca Russell and Amish Talwar

Peter Meyers
Pete Meyers came to the Red Cross in 2008 through his membership with the Hummer Club and the American Red Cross H.O.P.E. (Hummer Owners Prepared for Emergencies) program. Pete has since joined the Disaster Action Team (DAT) to respond to local disasters. His caring personality makes him a natural when dealing with people who’ve experienced disaster. Pete’s skills are indispensible when it comes to the Fire Safety Trailer. He has spent many of his weekends towing and maintaining the trailer, even taking time away from his vacation to help out! Pete reminds us of what the Red Cross Spirit is all about.

Rebecca Russell
Becky Russell is one of our newer volunteers, but that hasn’t stopped her from becoming heavily involved in two Emergency Services activities in a very short time. With Service to the Armed Forces, Becky has spent many hours visiting with veterans. Next, she added Disaster Services and is a trainee Disaster Action Team member responding to single family fires. Her new degree in nursing opens the door to work in Disaster Health Services. One of Becky’s first calls after receiving the news about passing the nursing boards was to the Red Cross to learn how to become the “Nurse on Call!”

Rebecca Smith
Becky Smith is active as a Disaster Action Team lead responder, a Disaster Services Instructor and a Service to the Armed Forces volunteer.  Becky is a tireless volunteer and is always there when you need her. To show her support of local soldiers serving in Iraq, Becky baked thousands of cookies and brownies.  One serviceman wrote that the cookies had been “demolished” and her caring and kindness made the troops’ Christmas immeasurably better.  It is because of  dedicated individuals like Becky that the Red Cross can provide services 24 hours a day, seven days a week.   She and her mother Joan often pair up to respond to fires, even on holidays and weekends. Becky is an incredible young woman to work with and is a valuable asset to the Emergency Services Department.

Amish Talwar
Amish is one of our newest volunteers, but that hasn’t stopped him from becoming a leader in disaster services. Since joining the Red Cross a year and a half ago, he has taken training classes and has responded to numerous local disaster calls. His compassion and skills have made it possible to move from trainee to responder and then lead responder in a very short time. More remarkable is the fact that Amish has accomplished all this in his “spare time” while enrolled in medical school.

Financial Development

Richard Hoynes
As a table captain for this year’s Giving Hope...Saving Lives campaign breakfast, Richard filled two tables - exceeding the goal of each table captain to fill one. The breakfast serves as an important part of our sustainable funding program and helps to educate people about the work the Red Cross does throughout the community. The success of the event is dependant upon volunteers like Richard, who also serves as a Board Member, to invite friends, colleagues, and neighbors to the program.

The Infinity Foundation
The Infinity Foundation contributed a significant leadership gift in support of our Giving Hope...Saving Lives campaign. The funds will be used to help sustain the many vital programs and services our organization provides throughout the community.

Detlev Schroeder of Miele, Helena Kardassis, David Kluscik of Rhodia, Inc., Charlotte Grace Laracy, Richard Hoynes and Jasmine Malhotra of The Infinity Foundation

Helena Kardassis
Helena has served on the gala committee in a leadership role for several years. This past year, Helena was chairperson of the silent auction. In that role, she secured considerable contributions such as dining gift certificates, travel packages, luxury items and more. These auction items raised much needed funds for the organization, and were especially significant during tough economic times.

Charlotte Grace Laracy
Charlotte, a student at Timberlane Middle School, selected the American Red Cross as the subject of a service project. In addition to her research and writing on the history and mission of the Red Cross, Charlotte visited the national headquarters in Washington, DC. Charlotte also raised $1,145 to support Comfort of Home packages and created two dozen handmade thank you cards for soldiers overseas. She secured an additional $745 in matching gifts as well.

Miele
Miele has been a longstanding top-level supporter of our annual Gala. In addition to the significant funds provided throughout the years, Miele has donated their event seats back to the Red Cross, allowing the organization to invite volunteers and services recipients to attend the function at no cost.

Rhodia, Inc.
Rhodia provided the highest level of support to this year’s Gala. The significant funds donated by Rhodia helped to make this year’s event a financial and social success, despite the economic challenges of the time. Jim Harton, President of Rhodia, served as the honorary chairman of our premiere event.

State Street
For several years, State Street has been a faithful supporter of our annual Golf Classic. State Street has participated at a variety of sponsorship levels, providing teams each year and underwriting various aspects of the event.

Westgate Management
Westgate Management has consistently supported our annual Golf Classic and have sent a team of golfers each year. Funds raised via the Golf Classic are used to support the variety of programs and services our organization provides throughout the community.

Public Relations

Marv Goodman

Marv Goodman
In addition to his outstanding work with our Emergency Services, Marv’s constant effort and accomplishments with community outreach is an immeasurable asset to Red Cross Public Relations in Central New Jersey. To help increase our sheltering capabilities and encourage volunteerism, Marv met with dozens of faith-based groups, provided bulletin communications and arranged shelter training sessions with various congregations. Marv is always looking for new ways to engage the community in the work of the Red Cross. Whether he’s encouraging others to attend a fundraising breakfast, sharing his volunteer experiences during a television interview, or surfing the Net to research posting volunteer opportunities on Craig’s List, Marv’s passion and dedication to the organization are distinctive in everything he does.