For a Child’s Sake Summer 2005 We’ve been building healthy families since 1894 www.chsofnj.org

Hundreds “Open their Hearts” to Celebrate 111 Years of Service esponding to an invitation to “Open your heart… for a Rchild’s sake,” more than 300 friends and supporters of The Children’s Home Society of New Jersey attended the agency’s 111th Anniversary Gala held in June at Merrill Lynch in Plainsboro, NJ. Board chair Rosalind Doctor, Ph.D., and board member Stacey L. Meisel, Esq., co-chaired the event. This year’s “Champion of Children Award” was presented to Capital Health System in grateful recognition of their community leadership and care through their ongoing support of our CUNA program and other partnerships with CHS of NJ which have enabled us to better serve the greater Trenton community’s children. The late Thomas P. Foy, a beloved former CHS of NJ board chair and an active board director at the time of his death last September, was honored posthumously as the recipient of this year’s “Friend of Children Award.” The award was presented to Jamie Foy, Tom’s wife, by the Honorable Jon S. Corzine, a colleague and good friend of Tom. Senator Corzine, himself a Senator Jon S. Corzine, a close friend of the late Tom Foy, Esq., is strong supporter of children’s services, spoke of Tom’s great welcomed by CHS of NJ board members and gala co-chairs love and concern for all children. Both of Tom and Jamie’s Stacey Meisel, Esq., Rosalind Doctor, Ph.D., the Reverend Darrell adopted children, Brian and Allie (who was adopted through Armstrong, a fellow board member and pastor of Shiloh Baptist CHS of NJ), were in attendance for Senator Corzine’s presenta- Church, and Donna Pressma, CHS of NJ President and CEO. tion and for a touching slide show tribute to their father. Continues on Page 2

Highlights: Children First: Join Our Clubs Today!

or well over a century, the Children’s The Leadership Circle. This category 3 WHY DO PEOPLE BECOME FHome Society of New Jersey has been was created to recognize the contributions FOSTER PARENTS? the grateful beneficiary of of individuals making a significant Foster Mom Beth Curtiss the charitable support of commitment to our shares her story many generous individu- children through a als and organizations personal pledge of 4 OUR GALA IN PICTURES who have put children $10,000 or more. A very special recognition Celebration and Success first. In appreciation and reception will be hosted during a very special evening acknowledgement of these important contribu- each year for these members. In addition to 6 “CHILDREN FIRST” CLUBS tions, we have created “Children First,” an array being listed in our ENROLLMENT BEGINS of giving programs designed to recognize newsletter and other publications, mem- Our very first giving clubs those supporting our charitable mission. bers will also receive a CHS of NJ pin listings “Children First” has four components: commemorating their generosity. Continues on Page 6 Gala - continued from page 1 Senator Corzine honored Tom’s CHS of NJ foster parent receives CAP award memory and the cause of children as a top priority by taking time out of his ercer County resident and CHS of NJ hectic gubernatorial schedule to appear Mfoster parent Judy Garrison was recently honored at at the gala. Many guests were able to the New Jersey Child Assault Prevention 2005 Annual talk with the senator and have their Awards Luncheon for her years of service as a foster pictures taken with him. parent and her contribution to the lives of the children she We want to thank the many volun- has cared for. teers, staff and corporate friends who During the 27 years Judy has been a foster parent for assisted with the gala preparations and CHS of NJ, she has cared for almost 100 children, most of CHS Foster Mom Judy Garrison produced this memorable affair. Most them babies with an exposure or an addiction to drugs. especially, we are grateful to Event She has also been an active and tireless member and president of the CHS of NJ Foster Manager Kimberly Dorony and her Parent Club which provides supportive services to our foster care program. staff at the Merrill Lynch Princeton Judy and her husband, Harry, parents of three grown children and grandparents to Corporate Campus for providing a three, live in Yardville, NJ. wonderful meal. We also want to express our gratitude to our auctioneer, Steve BCAIFA Golf Outing tees off for our children Newmark from A.J. Willner Auctions, and to Mitch Forest of Forest Jewelers he sun shone brightly over the for donating several pieces of fine Tbeautiful golf course as golfers jewelry for the auction and the gathered to tee off at the Bucks County diamond raffle. Association of Insurance and Financial Thank you to everyone for opening Advisors (BCAIFA)’s 16th Annual your hearts to our children. Charity Golf Outing held last May at the Northampton Valley Country Club in Richboro, PA. For the second year in a row, The Children’s Home Society of New Jersey was the beneficiary of the event which raised a total of $8,500. Valerie Noble & Colleen Gehring accept a check The golf day concluded with an awards for $8,500 from BCAIFA members Gary reception where delicious hors d’oeuvres Armstrong, Bart Waxman, and Jerry Redington. were served, awards presented, and raffle For a Child’s Sake prizes won. We extend our heartfelt thanks and children. Next year’s golf outing will A newsletter of and appreciation to the BCAIFA Golf be held on May 15, 2006, and will once The Children’s Home Society Committee for their wonderful support of again benefit CHS of NJ and the children of New Jersey our Bucks County and New Jersey infants we serve. Please join us!

Donna C. Pressma President & CEO Foster Parents’ Store f you are looking for some great gifts – photo albums, small blankets, framed poems, Have news or a photo to share? I stuffed animals, and more – and want to help foster children, stop in at our Trenton A letter to the editor? office and see what you can buy. All items are handmade by volunteers of CHS of NJ’s Families are encouraged to Foster Parent Club. Proceeds are used to purchase equipment and items our CHS of NJ send news, updates and photos foster babies need. of their adoptive families.

Newsletter Staff Blankets honor memory of Tom Foy Betty Bohlert, Editor Marjorie Greenberg (far right), “the [email protected] knitting lady” at Robbins Annex@ Bayard School in Trenton, helped students knit Colleen Gehring, Layout and Design [email protected] two blankets for use by our foster children during medical exams. The blankets were To learn more about donated in memory of board member CHS of NJ Thomas P. Foy, Esq. Tom’s wife, Jamie please visit our website at (center), proudly accepted the blankets on www.chsofnj.org. behalf of Tom and the children.

2 Thoughts and Observations of a CHS of NJ Foster Mom

In September of 1997, Beth Curtiss received a telephone call from The Children’s Home Society of New Jersey informing her that their family’s first foster child, a baby girl, was on her way. Since then, Beth and Randy Curtiss have been foster parents to 19 boys and girls. Printed below are excerpts from a speech Beth gave at a foster parent dinner in which she expressed her thoughts and observations on foster parenting. We wanted to share those thoughts with you: “…I think I now understand what a calling from God is all about. Foster parenting was something I happened to be aware of, and after a little research and much discussion with a few incredulous friends, our family decided we would never know if it was for us until we gave it a try. Why choose this over scouts, or the other countless ways of serving? I don’t know. It was a thought that would not go away. “I had read somewhere that foster parenting is like being a bridge – a bridge between uncertainty and a permanent family (birth or adoptive parents). To be part of a baby’s life while his or her future is being planned is a privilege. “Well, that first baby filled a void we never even knew was there. And I didn’t expect all that a baby could give and what a learning experience it would be. I learned, for example, that there are ‘I Love Lucy’ reruns on at 2 o’clock in the morning. “That my teenagers are less selfish and more flexible than I “…the love you feel for a child that you know is yours gave them credit for. only temporarily is unbelievably strong...” “That the love you feel for a child that you know is yours only temporarily is unbelievably strong, and that while you eloquent. I am not a superwoman, an angel, earning my place in have that child they ARE yours. heaven, or a martyr. I am an average, middle-aged woman who “That moms who opt to carry a baby to term and then give loves my home and family and enjoys sharing that with others. it away are taking the hard way out and are truly brave. My heroes are other foster parents whom I have gotten to know “That skin color doesn’t matter. who give continuously, do not want attention or accolades, “That you have to have a strong faith to be able to let go. work around the frustrations of a well-intentioned but bureau- “That the first smiles and coos are something to treasure in cratic system, and provide a place of harmony in their small your heart, for the babies do move on and forget all that you corner of the world for babies who need them. We all share a went through together during their first weeks of life. love of babies and are people of action, wanting our arms to be “That the range of emotions cannot be described, but full and our days busy. I could go on and on. Why do we keep another foster parent knows. foster parenting? Because we still have lots to learn and cannot “That not every child will be raised like we have tried to imagine not doing it!” (Editor’s note: Beth and Randy Curtiss raise our own, but that’s OK. were the recipients of the “Parents’ Pride Award” at this year’s “That it is not so easy to be judgmental when you are Faith Based and Community Resource Fair in Trenton. They emotionally involved and see the lives other people live. recently adopted the three-year-old boy they had been foster “I wish there was some way of expressing the feelings that parenting since he was nine months old. They’ve also wel- come with the world of foster parenting, but I am not that comed their 19th foster child into their home.)

Invest in your community, and we will invest in you! Refer a resource family and earn $1,000*

Can you be a foster parent, or do you know somebody who can? Help us spread the word that foster parents are urgently needed now for adolescents and medically fragile infants. Contact Chris Rednor at (609) 695-6274, ext. 176, for more information. *The family must be successfully licensed by the Office of Licensing and retain an adolescent in their home for a minimum of six months.

3 Thanks to our G

PLATINUM Capital Hea Engelhard C 2 GOLD SPO Bloom 1 Bristol-Mye ET Griffith E 4 Hill Intern Janssen Pharmaceu Merrill Oxford Comm PSE& The Rosalind Hun 3 Wachovia C 6 SILVER SP Becker Me Dow Jones & C Turner Construc 7 GALA PA 5 Building Maintena Burris & Fox Rothsc 9 JH Cohn Harold Loew Roebling Urban Renew Sheehy A The Robert Tew Ventura Wealth

We extend a very to these frien 8 participation a (1) Brian, Allie and Jamie Foy with Senator Jon S. Corzine. A.J. Willner (2) Senator Corzine with Capital Health System Trustees: Miles Truesdell, Michael Summerstein (Chair), Al Maghazehe. Cranbury Sta (3) Board member Bill Godfrey and wife, Christine, with Congressman Rush Holt. Forest Je (4) The Capital Health System table. Gun (5) Gala co-chair and board member Stacey Meisel with husband Marty Borosko. (6) CHS of NJ adoptees Hunter Allen (back, second from left) and Meredith Domzalski (sitting, second from left). Hermitag (7) CHS of NJ Board chair and gala co-chair Rosalind Hunt Doctor. Kramer Pho (8) CHS of NJ Board Dr. Christine Côté, Congressman Rush Holt, Donna Pressma, and James DiEleuterio, former NJ Treasurer. (9) The Rev. Darrell Armstrong (standing, third from left) with local clergy leaders.

Thank you to our Gala Auction Bon Appetit Doral Forrestal Haddonfield Inn La Jolie Salon Donors! Borgata Spa and Resort Dorothea Palsho Howard Berger Larry Cohen ADP Land Design, Inc. Broadway Ballroom Dr. Joseph Delmonico International Filing Company Lawrenceville Inn Alan Jackson Fan Club Bucks County River Country Dutch Wonderland Family Italian Peoples Bakery Love Thy Neighbor Algonquin Hotel Carkhuff’s Garden Center Complex Jack n Jules Men’s Shop Luxottica Retail Ann Suabedissen Carol Burnett Ethan Allen Furniture Jazams Main Street Bistro and Bar Arden Theatre Company Chimney Hill Farm Estate & The Ferry House JHCohn Mar Magazine Barbara Matthews Ol’ Barn Inn Fleer/Skybox International LP John & Guita Martorana Mayor Douglas H. Palmer Barringers Office Furniture CHS of NJ Foster Parents Forman Holt & Eliades LLC Kati Chupa McCullough’s Emerald Golf Links Bederson & Company LLP CHS Trenton Auxiliary George Street Playhouse Kenny Rogers Productions Metro Stars Berman Jewelers Congressman Mike Ferguson GNC Kevin McKenna Midwest Airlines Black Bass Hotel Cranbury Station Gallery Greg Finkelstein Kramer Photography Nassau Inn Princeton 4 Gala sponsors 10 SPONSORS alth System Corporation

ONSORS 11 mberg ers Squibb TS Electric 13 national utica Products, L.P. Lynch munications &G nt Doctor Family 12 Corporation 16 PONSORS eisel LLC Company, Inc. ction Company

ATRONS ance Systems, Inc. & Straus 14 15 child, LLP 1 n, LLP w and Family 18 wal Associates, LLC ssociates weles Family h Management y special thanks nds for their 17 and support: r Auctions (10) (From right, sitting) Cy and Jackie Meisel with M. David Atkin, Susan and Harold Loew (center, standing) & friends. ation Gallery (11) CHS of NJ adoptee Meredith Domzalski and guest. ewelers (12) Stacey Meisel, Senator Corzine, and board member Shelley Punchatz. nd (13) Rosalind Hunt Doctor with family and friends. (14) Former board chair Robert L. Teweles with Karen Dandurand. ge Press (15) Capital Health System CEO Al Maghazehe accepts “Champion of Children Award” from Bill Godfrey & Stacey Meisel. otography (16) Board member Bill Sheehy, Nancy Sheehy and guest dancing. (17) Board member Dorothea Palsho, (second from left), Ed Palsho, with guests. (18) Friends and family of “Friend of Children” Award recipient Thomas P. Foy, Esq.

New York Football Giants Flyers Robert Malinowski Terhune Orchards Villiage Silver Jets Philadelphia KiXX Sally Lunn’s Tea Shop The Academy of Natural Sciences Wachovia Nick Ventura Philadelphia Phantoms Salon 54 The Daily Show with Jon Stewart Wegman’s NJ Devils Philadelphia Wings Schultz Furrier The Little Gym William Rue NJ Nets Pine Creek Miniature Golf Sesame Place The Winged Pig Wine Legends NY Liberty Platypus Spa Therapia Toni Morrison Zoological Society of Philadelphia Office Furniture by Barringer’s Please Touch Museum Spaghetti Warehouse Towne Wine and Liquor Paper Mill - The State Theatre of Porzio Bromberg & Newman P.C. Starr Restaurant Organization Trenton Thunder New Jersey PSE&G Steel Magnolias Pennington Market Quality Dining, Inc. Sunny Gardens Triumph Brewery Petty Enterprises Regina Mercadante Susan Shaddy Vecere Jewelers Philadelphia 76ers Robbins Diamonds T.J. Maxx 5 Continued from Page 1 Can you help our Baby Bottle Program? The Corporate Honor Roll. The Contact Valerie Noble at (609) 695-6274, ext.141, or via e-mail at Children’s Home Society of New [email protected] for more information and how you can help. Jersey counts on the generous support of many good corporate Only one day each week is all we will ask citizens. These extraordinary To lend us your hands for this very special task. organizations are committed to The job is easy and the reward is great — keeping “Children First.” We don’t even mind if you show up late! Corporate Honor Roll member- ship is awarded in recognition of You need not apply – just give us a call. their support. Your help will bring much happiness to all. Preparing our bottle requires tender care. The Annual Giving Club. This Stuffing and labeling will prevent our despair. special club makes it possible for virtually everyone to make a You will be received with such a great smile, difference in the life of a child. We promise to make your time here worthwhile. Annual Giving Club membership And one million thanks is what we will say is open to anyone making a When we see grand results at the end of the day. yearly gift of $100 or more. Valerie Noble Members will be invited to an annual reception and be listed in our publications.

The 1894 Society. Commemorat- ing the year of our founding, Enrollment begins for “Children First” giving clubs membership in the 1894 Society Below are membership donors who supported our spring 2005 membership mailing with a gift of will be bestowed upon those $100 or more and those donors who made a general contribution of $100 or more during the month individuals who have included of June. A full listing of all donors will appear in the fall Annual Report. The Children’s Home Society of New Jersey in their will or estate plan. Anyone making a simple LEADERSHIP CIRCLE Sapphire ($250+) Mr. & Mrs. Daniel Moffit Mr. & Mrs. Douglas T. Monk bequest in a will, a trust, a gift of BeginAgains LLC (Pledges of $10,000+) Mr. & Mrs. Roger Conklin John P. Montemurro life insurance or another deferred Dr. Christine Côté Rotary Club of Hamilton Twp. Alison Nelson giving vehicle is eligible to join. IndyMac Bank Diane Newman Mr. & Mrs. John Notta, Jr. The 1894 Society is guided by a CORPORATE HONOR ROLL Ruby ($100+) Dr. & Mrs. Charles Papier volunteer committee of the area’s Director ($10,000+) Mr. & Mrs. Anthony Petrocelli ARC Foundation leading financial professionals. Dr. & Mrs. John Reeves Mary Owen Borden Foundation The Rev. Darrell L. Armstrong Barbara Reinhard Nancy E. Becker Friend ($2,500+) Nancy Robb Other ways of supporting our Dr. & Mrs. Bruce J. Berger Wachovia Foundation Mr. & Mrs. Michael J. Salvatore Dorothy Blake charitable mission and keeping Mr. & Mrs. Earle S. Seely Harold Bowlby “Children First” include making a Carol May Semento ANNUAL GIVING CLUB Marilyn Carroll Mr. & Mrs. Edward V. Soderland memorial gift, donating a car, Mr. & Mrs. David Casey Diamond ($1,000+) Cordelia Staton contributing new items for our M. Beatrice Class Dr. & Mrs. Cyrus Hoffman Mr. & Mrs. J. Michael Tadlock Bruce Coe various seasonal drives (holiday Mr. & Mrs. Thomas Loser Barbara J. Taylor Albert J. Cook toys, back to school supplies, Rotary Club of Princeton Mr. & Mrs. Robert G. Thomas Mrs. Robert L. Crozer Vivian Shapiro, Ph.D. Trenton Deliverance Church and Easter baskets). To learn Mr. & Mrs. Kenneth Domzalski Mr. Walter Till Mr. & Mrs. William Wermuth more, please call Chris Rollins at Mr. & Mrs. Burton L. Eichler Westfield Welcome Wagon Frank A. Wrobel Bertha L. Gaventa (609) 695-6274, ext. 153. Janet A. Winther Hugo Yepez Dr. & Mrs. James R. Graves Emerald ($500+) Mr. & Mrs. Milton Heinowitz Gail L. Houlihan 1894 SOCIETY Does your company Anonymous Mr. & Mrs. Charles C. Hullfish, Jr. (These individuals have included Dr. Christine Côté match gifts? Kathie L. Hullfish, MD CHS of NJ in their estate plans) Mr. & Mrs. David Egger Please ask your employer for a Mr. & Mrs. Clive B. Klatzkin Mr. & Mrs. Arthur Bone matching gift form, complete it Mr. & Mrs. Charles L. Rue, Jr. Mr. & Mrs. Gus Kuronya Mr. & Mrs. Roy Hudson and mail it to us with your check Russ White Mr. & Mrs. Vincent Lowe Mr. & Mrs. Herbert Kaplan made payable to CHS of NJ. You Dr. & Mrs. Dennis M. Maziarz Edward & Marion Klaisz increase the value of your gift Mr. & Mrs. Gerald Middaugh and help twice as many children. 6 Donations from the heart We wish to thank the following individuals and organizations for donations received between February 1 and May 31, 2005 in honor or in memory of loved ones.

IN HONOR OF IN MEMORY OF

Jesus Christ Eva Lewis Allen William & Isabella Darkes Herbert McWhinney Anonymous Ruth & Harry Bartasawitz Dorris D. Croudy Christine Cote Helen Palinski Beth, Randy and David Lynn Rowlands Connie DeRemijis Margaret Meixell Avery Curtiss Contemporary Club of Trenton & Son, Richard Betsy & Chuck Miller Michael Andrako Earl F. Meixell Janice & Leroy Jobes Louis Driber Len Doherty Beryl Monah Mr. & Mrs. Daniel DeBow Debbie & Jim Slattery Helen Aquila Annette Grubbs Janet & Jerry Ice Anne B. Drusdow Paul Gerard Donato Bill Monke Stanley Drusdow Anna Castellani Curt Armstrong Bob Teweles Bob Teweles Bill Godfrey Robert Evans Bernard Moss Debbie & Jim Slattery Virginia Asch Ruth & Harry Bartasawitz Patricia Braithwaite Mrs. Helga Unkeless & Grandson Marcus Good Health of Tom Foy Chicas Family Victor Blicharz Ken & Chris Domzalski Baki Muchin Mary Chicas Jane Notta Linda Taylor Robert L. Teweles

Stephen J. Graves Garret Bonnema Rita D.M. Franco Marie Naddeo Dr. & Mrs. James Graves Mr. & Mrs. Robert T. Ciaccia Maureen Magee Nancy Temple Edward “Bill” Bowers Meta A. Griffith Brenda Gifford A.L. Patterson Clive & Audrey Klatzkin Mr. & Mrs. James Friel Dorothy S. Spencer Nancy Longenecker Wayne & Catherine Hoagland Patricia Harrop Hart O’Brien & Gere Charlotte E. Graisbery J. Piergross Norma Wagner Tom & Elizabeth Marks Elizabeth G. Shook Joseph R. Piergross III Francis & Patricia McHale Barrett Coles Heine Regina Park Jo Ann Gravener Mollie Pogach The Benigno Family The Vollberg Family Pat Faiola Robert L. Teweles Mr. & Mrs. John Webb Mr. & Mrs. Charles Hullfish, Jr. Yokiko Hanselman Richard Potts Dr. Kathie Hullfish David Bradford Raymond J. Hanselman Burt & Phyllis Fernandez Robert L. Teweles Stacey Meisel Ellen M. Hart Santo Rizzo Bruce D. Gordon Mimi and Al Ramsdell Linda C. Rizzo M.S. Ackerman & Co. John Brambley Dorothy Brambley Henry Joseph Heady Ernest E. Roth Edna Monk Gwen Forte Grace Roth Beebe Douglas & Jean Monk Juan Cespedes Mary Chicas Hudson Johnson Charles W. Schmidt Robert Newman Theresa Johnson Margaret G. Schmidt Diane & Paul Newman Antonio Chua Edward H. Kelly Mel Schulman Marie Chua Dorothea Palsho Mildred Kelly Robert L. Teweles Debbie & Jim Slattery George Class Charles Scott Ludwig Donna Pressma M. Beatrice Class Charles & Nancy Ludwig Nancy H. Robb Joi Piergross Cloran Catherine A.R. Magee Dr. Irving Robinson Mr. & Mrs. Joseph Sibilla Maureen Magee Marge Chavooshian William M. Connell Mary Jane Soldiers & Citizens in Iraq Claire M. Connell George Hagemeister Mr. & Mrs. James Connelly, Jr. Robert L. Crozer Bertha Dorothy Maziarz Anne Louise Taylor Mrs. Robert L. Crozer John & Carol Chebra Thank you for choosing John Taylor CHS of NJ Board of Directors this loving way to help our Donna C. Pressma babies and children. 7 Non Profit Org. US Postage PAID Trenton, NJ Permit No. 165 635 South Clinton Avenue Trenton, New Jersey 08611 609-695-6274 Ocean/Monmouth: 732-905-6363 Northern NJ: 908-735-9458 Southern NJ: 856-854-8545 Pennslyvania: 215-736-8550 www.chsofnj.org Fax: 609-394-5769

Return Service Requested

Senator Corzine Presents Tom Foy Award at Gala - see Page 1

Volunteer Spotlight. Thirteen-year-old volunteer Lindsey Curewitz reads to pre-schoolers attending our “Fun with Books” program at The William S. and Meta A. Griffith Children’s Center, our Trenton headquarters, as her mother Melissa proudly looks on. Literacy is one of CHS of NJ’s major goals for every child. Lindsey and her mother also made and brought gift baskets for the children. Every child appreciates the kindness of others.