The Valerie Fund Susana Milachouski & Anita Peterson
Since 1976, The Valerie Fund’s mission has been to support
comprehensive health care close to
home for New Jersey children diagnosed with solid and brain tumors;
leukemia; sickle cell disease; and other blood disorders.
Today, six Valerie Fund
Children’s Centers are located at the major hospitals in Newark,
Livingston, Summit, Morristown, Monmouth, and at the Children’s
Hospital of Philadelphia Specialty Center in Voorhees. Before The Valerie Fund existed, families had
to incur the additional stress and expense of traveling away from their home
and support systems to access treatment.
The Valerie Fund Children’s Centers provide outpatient
medical care, as well as psychosocial services not reimbursable by health
insurance. Central to these services is
the support of child life specialists who help the child deal with the
emotional aspect of their disease and its treatment and help the child feel
nurtured and safe. Family members receive support and assistance from social
workers who support parents and siblings, serve as advocates to secure
additional services like transportation, home health care, and emergency
funding, etc. The Valerie Fund recognizes that when a child is seriously ill,
the entire family is affected, each member in a different way.
The Valerie Fund also operates Camp Happy Times, a totally
free one-week overnight summer camp for children who have or have had cancer.
Additionally, in 2009 the Valerie Fund embarked on a new program for childhood cancer
survivors, a growing population of older children and young adults who will
encounter emotional, cognitive and medical issues like fertility, cardiac,
pulmonary and growth problems as a result of the powerful life-saving therapies
they have received.
NJSFWC-JM State Project 2008 - 2010
Jewelry Fundraiser
On July 23rd, Junior Woman's Club of Rutherford (JWCR) and the Woman’s Club of Rutherford (WCR) held a Jewels by Park Lane fundraiser to benefit their State Projects: Foster & Adoptive Family Services (FAFS) and Autism New Jersey. Each organization raised $285 for their State Project.
Escape the Winter Blues We held an Escape the Winter Blues fundraiser in February, 2009. The focus of the event was awareness of the Bedtime for Children in Care Literacy Initiative. Attendees were asked to donate a pair of new children's pajamas or slippers.
This program is designed to promote literacy for children in care by providing gift bags that contain pajamas, slippers, and new books for bedtime reading.
Special thanks to the event committee (Anita, Laura, Wendy & Sue F.), to Dave Rangel who donated his catering services and helped to create the Tropical atmosphere, members who attended and brought family & friends, and those who helped promote the event.
Special thanks also to Christopher Dunyak, Carol Frisby, and the Junior Woman's Club of Hasbrouck Heights members who attended the event.
Beefsteak Dinner The Beefsteak Dinner held on behalf of Foster & Adoptive Family Services (FAFS) was very successful. We increased awareness of the FAFS organization within the community (via flyers, press releases, e-mails and word of mouth and brochures at the event)....17 members listened to a presentation from an FAFS representative....and we made about $986 for FAFS. In addition, $650 was raised from the placemat advertising for the General Fund.
Special thanks to the event committee (Anita, Laura, Sue F., Terri, Linda S., Kirsten & Ana), members who attended and brought family & friends, and those who helped promote the event.
This event was a great start to our fundraising and awareness campaign on behalf of FAFS! Walk Me Home...to the place I belong On Sunday, October 19th, Anita & Laura, along with their families, walked in the Walk Me Home three-mile walk in New Brunswick to raise funds and awareness of Foster & Adoptive Family Services.Jersey Juniors raised $1,403.22, of which JWCR raised $593.22.Thank you Wendy, Ida, Kirsten, Linda D., Motrja, Sue F., Laura, Anita, Helen, Carolyn and Linda S. for sponsoring our participation in the walk. Wish List Items donated at State Fall Conference We donated 14 backpacks, school supplies, toys and pajamas to FAFS.Thank you Motrja, Linda S., Kirsten and anyone else that donated items.We used $35 of the money raised thus far to purchase the backpacks.
FAFS Monkeys FAFS monkeys are available for $12 each.They are being used as a way of raising funds for FAFS.Please let us know if you are interested in purchasing one.
A Gift for Every Child Holiday Initiative - Bridging the gap between loneliness and holiday cheer The goal of the program is to provide every child in foster care in New Jersey with a gift during the holiday season.At the October meeting we displayed a Christmas Tree displayed containing paper ornaments. Members interested in participating, took an ornament and brought the gifts to the November meeting. Members of the community also participated in this project. The focus of the gifts collected will be for children 0-3 years old and teens. We collected 45 gifts.
Foster & Adoptive Family Services (FAFS) is a state-wide non-profit organization. Their goal is to meet the needs of foster and adoptive families and also try to improve foster care services.
There are approximately 10,000 children in foster care.FAFS provides services to help more than 5,600 families who care for these children.
About FAFS
Founded in 1972, Foster and Adoptive Family Services (FAFS) is a state-wide grassroots non-profit organization dedicated to meeting the special needs of foster and adoptive families and advocating for improved foster care services.FAFS is headquartered in Monmouth Junction, NJ and has 22 County Volunteer Committees, one in each county and two in Essex.
FAFS currently receives funding through the NJ Department of Children and Families to provide services to more than 5,000 foster and adoptive families who provide a safety net for children removed from their biological families due to abuse and neglect.Some of the contract services FAFS provides include support services, training, and state funded scholarships. FAFS has identified gaps in services to children in foster care and has developed programs to meet these gaps. Since we receive no government funding for these programs it has become essential for us to partner with charitable organizations such as the NJSFWC Junior Membership to meet these needs.
Together we are stronger and the children benefit.
GFWC Junior Woman's Club of Rutherford, PO Box 1657, Rutherford, NJ 07070
