In this season of giving, one group recently set a donation record in the fight against breast cancer. The North Hudson Community Action Corporation (NHCAC), a West New York-based non-profit organization that provides health services to low-income clients, presented a check to the American Cancer Society of Metro New Jersey in the amount of $14,174 at a press conference two weeks ago.
In a welcome surprise to the NHCAC staff that organized the fund raising effort, the amount raised more than doubled last year’s donation despite an economic recession. In October, during Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the group had hoped to raise at least $6,000, the approximate amount raised in previous years. They didn’t expect to raise so much more.
A check for $14, 174 was presented to the American Cancer Society.
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Maria Aguilera, assistant director of clinical services for the NHCAC, said that this is the first year that clinics from Bergen and Passaic counties took part in the collection, and that may have been the reason the additional amount was collected. Still, Aguilera added that the West New York clinic alone donated just over $3,000, surpassing their total from last year.
Aguilera said that some staff members are already eager to start next year’s effort, hoping to surpass this year’s amount. However, they’ll have to wait until next October, when Breast Cancer Awareness Month comes back.
Presentation
“Based on what I see every day and the issues that they face everyday with their patients and their patients’ health, it really comes directly from their heart that what they want to do is give to a cause greater than themselves,” said CEO of the NHCAC Chris Irizarry, of why he believed the staff eagerly contributed this year. “I’m extremely grateful to every single staff [member]. I want to give a special thanks to Beatriz Amador as well as Maria Aguilera.”
“We want to make sure to say thank you to everyone who is here. As you can imagine, the American Cancer Society is receiving more calls now than ever before,” said Diane Berry, who represented the society while giving a speech to thank the donors for their fund raising efforts. Berry is senior director of special events at the society.
“The money raised at events like this and through volunteers and community members like this helps us to allow people to get well and stay well,” Berry added. “We’re doing all that we can to combat the disease here in the community.”
Happy to receive it
“The money is dispersed in four ways,” said Roxanne Ruiz-Adams, manager of the patient and family services department at the American Cancer Society servicing Metro New Jersey.
Ruiz explained that the funds go to support those already battling breast cancer, “to ease the burden a little bit,” as Ruiz put it. In addition, some of the funds also go toward education, prevention, and research. “So one day no one ever has to hear ‘You have breast cancer,’ ” said Ruiz.
Melissa Rappaport may be reached at mrappaport@hudsonreporter.com