After being a hockey coach for some 25 years, Alex DePalma felt he was ready for a new challenge involving hockey. Recognizing the large number of children and adults with developmental disabilities in our state, he decided it would be exciting a
Our Heroes
It seems very fitting to be able to recognize a hero like Jane Hanson during Women's History Month. She is a prime example of a woman who set out to help other women in desperate situations. Jane left her job as a corporate lawyer and founded Pa
Today was a great event because not only did I get to name our next hero and meet some incredible people, but my daughter Sarah and her friend were able to join me on their day off from school. I had the pleasure of naming Robert Clark, founder o
Meeting our January hero, Malcolm, really struck a chord with me today. Malcolm was diagnosed with Ewings Sarcoma at the age of 10. As he was sitting in his hospital room with his mom, he looked around at all the other kids in the pediatric canc
Today I had the pleasure of naming my 9th NJ Hero of 2011, Rod Hirsch of Operation Shoebox New Jersey. Rod and his volunteers at Operation Shoebox NJ have sent over 50,000 care packages to our troops in the Middle East since their ince
Today I traveled to Burlington, New Jersey with the Governor and 3 of our children to honor my 8th hero of 2011, Aidan McManus. Aidan was 5 years old when he saw a homeless man on the street. It was then and there he decided he would dedicate hi
Our seventh heroes, Mike Ruane and Erika Rech of Breast Friends Forever, were announced this morning. They came to the Governor's Residence, Drumthwacket, for a gathering with their families, board members, doctors they work with, patients they h
I had the pleasure of meeting with our 6th NJ Hero of 2011 today, David McCauley. Talk about an inspiration… David took a tragic situation and turned it into a positive by committing himself to helping others with the same injury as hi
Jerry Walker is not only a star athlete, playing basketball for St. Anthony High School and Seton Hall, he is also a hero to many children growing up in his hometown of Jersey City.
Today I announced my fourth NJ Hero of 2011, Wendie Blanchard.