Dressed in pink t-shirts and pink hard hats, construction workers from Meadowlands Fire Protection Corp (a division of EMCOR/F&G Mechanical) gathered in the Newport Green Park development in Jersey City on Sept. 29, a call to action to help fight breast cancer.
With a cool wind blowing off the Hudson River and the threat of rain, they gathered at the park to celebrate the raising of $100,000 to help in the treatment of breast cancer and to celebrate Newport Association Development’s newest building, “The Ellipse,” currently under construction along the waterfront.
Public officials mingled with breast cancer treatment advocates, construction workers and others for a water front breakfast and then a ribbon raising ceremony.
Donning pink hard hats supplied by EMCOR, workers along with staff from The Hackensack University Medical Center, public officials, and others helped form EMCOR’s signature giant human Pink Hard Hat ribbon on the lawn of the park just off 14th Street and Washington Boulevard.
This is the eighth year that EMCOR has been involved with a campaign “Protect yourself get screened today,” an event that included Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop, former Gov. Jim McGreevey, Freeholder Bill O’Dea, Pat Kelleher, president of Hudson County Trades Association, and others.
Kelleher, who is credited with being involved with a number of humanitarian projects throughout the county, said he was pleased to be involved.
“This is a major issue in an urban area like ours.” – Bill O’Dea
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McGreevey said Kelleher and the trade association have been strong supporters of number of initiatives, some of which provide opportunities for ex-offenders and others to get training and eventually jobs.
“They are very important in Hudson County,” he said. He praised this effort at raising awareness as significant and sincere.
O’Dea said he was particularly impressed with the company’s ability and willingness to raise funds for such a cause.
The ceremony included the presentation of a check for $100,000 from fundraising efforts to the medical center’s “John Theurer Cancer Center Breast Oncology Division.
Rosemarie Souce, first vice chair of the Board of Governors at Hackensack Hospital, and Dr. Denna M Atieh Graham, of the breast cancer center, accepted the check.
New Jersey has one of the highest rates of breast cancer in the country, ranking third highest of all 50 states.
“This is a major issue in an urban area like ours,” O’Dea said. “There is a connection between the environment and breast cancer.”
Sal Fichera, CEO and Butch Giardina, president of EMCOR/F&G Mechanical, presented a Pink Hard Hat Plaque to Mayor Fulop as well as to event partner Jamie LeFrak, both of whom have expressed strong support in the breast cancer fight.
“Over the years people have come forward to say they believe this unique way of raising awareness of the importance of breast cancer screening has had a positive impact on their own lives or that of a loved one,” Fichera said. “Many of our employees wear hard hates on a daily basis for personal protection, and we’re proud of their commitment to wear an EMCOR/F&G Pink Hard Hat in October to raise awareness for breast cancer and remind women and men to get screened.”
Al Sullivan may be reached at asullivan@hudsonreporter.com.