The Commission gave a special acknowledgment to Governor Jon S. Corzine for his hospitality and continuous support of the program.
 
CICRFC also honored former Governor Donald DiFrancesco (above) with a Stewardship Award. DiFrancesco sponsored the enabling legislation which created the CICRFC, and his continuous efforts assured the creation of the unique program, the first of its kind in the nation. CICRFC now serves as a model for the Massachusetts CICRFC and for the program in Connecticut which is still being constructed.

“It is indeed an honor to have other states emulate New Jersey 's program,” said DiFrancesco. “I am thrilled to receive this award and to be witness to all the incredible good that CICRFC has accomplished in the past twenty years.”

Also acknowledged were Commission Members (below) who serve uncompensated to determine final awards and disbursements to families and vendors.
 
Executive Director Ralph Condo and Chair Jane Lorber hand out awards to Maureen Adams (above left) and Ellen F. DeRosa (above right), and William A.B. Ditto (below left) and Pauline Lisciotto (below right).
 

 
Awarded above left & right are Robert Morgan, MD and Paula Mullaly, Esq., Carl Underland (below left), Jane Lorber & Ralph Condo (below right).
 

 
Also honored were past and present Executive Directors, Maryann Whiteman and Ralph J. Condo, respectively (above left and right).

 

Most importantly, the recipient families who helped publicize the Fund by participating in various public information activities were honored for their dedication and commitment, such as Carrie Foley (above left) and Michael Henry(above right).
 

Keynote speaker, Kelly Rouba (above with Governor Jim Florio and DHS Commissioner Jen Velez prior to the ceremonies; and seated with Ralph Condo), a former Fund recipient, former Ms. Wheelchair NJ, community activist and journalist, spoke of the impact the Catastrophic Illness in Children Relief Fund had on her life 10 years ago, increasing her independence and allowing her to go to college and participate in other activities.

 

Jane Lorber, CICRFC chairperson and public member (above left), noted that since 1988, the Commission has approved grants totaling over $115 million for more than 4,800 families. She explained that the families have their own unique stories to tell, but in many ways are not unlike most New Jersey families. They work hard and pay their bills. “But when faced with the daunting challenge of caring for a sick child and dealing with mounting medical bills, daily life can begin to feel overwhelming,” Lorber said.

  

Department of Human Services Jennifer Velez (above) praised the dedication of the Commission members and noted how the Fund eases these overwhelming struggles of parents who need financial relief. “This Fund is one of the best programs that our state offers,” said Commissioner Velez. “I'm heartened to see that the Fund is available to provide hope for so many New Jersey families with nowhere else to turn. This program also exemplifies the partnership between New Jersey citizens, the business community, and state government.”
 

Also attending the meeting were some of the families who have benefited from the Fund and now serve as volunteers on the Commission's Family Advisory Committee. “I would like to personally thank those families here today who continue to extend themselves despite their own difficult circumstances. Your efforts to assist other families have helped make the program so successful and so rewarding,” said Commission Vice-Chair Janice Prontnicki, MD. (below left). Expressing her gratitude for the Fund's help for granddaughter is Louise Franklin (below right).

 

According to Ralph J. Condo., executive director of the Commission, families of any income may qualify for financial help if a child's unreimbursed medical and related expenses exceed 10 percent of the family's annual income up to $100,000, plus 15 percent of any income over $100,000.

The Fund does not restrict coverage to a specific diagnosis or disease. It covers hospital and physician bills, medications, and disposable medical goods and medical equipment, as well as home care, medically-related transportation, home and vehicle modifications.

Children 21 years or younger are eligible, and families must be state residents. Expenses must have been incurred during a previous 12-month period. Expenses dating back to January 1988 will be considered. The Fund is collected from New Jersey employers via an annual surcharge of $1.50 per employee.
 

“We define ‘catastrophic' in terms of the economic impact a child's illness has on the family,” said Condo. “A family may have health insurance. But coverage can be inadequate when a child has a serious, expensive illness or injury. With the help of the Fund, families can avoid a financial crisis and return to the routine responsibilities of their lives.”

While legislation creating the Fund protects the anonymity of families who have received grant awards, several of the families in attendance were willing to share their experience as a way of encouraging other families in need to apply for assistance. Many of these families also have participated in public information activities, such as agreeing to be interviewed for television, newspaper and magazine articles. Some even had Fund information placed on their employers' website and participated in the making of general service announcements (GSA) which run on NJN Public Television. Below are family profiles.

According to the Commission, Matthew and his family have gone to extraordinary lengths to help promote the Fund, appearing on a local television show sponsored by Senator Anthony Bucco in Morris County . Mrs. Coppola was instrumental in having the Fund's information and her own experience posted to the Intranet of her employer, a major NJ pharmaceutical company. Several hundred employees saw this information on their Intranet home page. She has also personally assisted several families with completing the application and forwarding it on to the CICRF state office.

Rocco (now 6 years old) and his family helped publicize the Fund by filming a segment of Prime Time Saturday (WPVI, Philadelphia ) in their home. Their willingness to forego their anonymity made it possible to reach hundreds of New Jersey families with information on the Fund.

The Hannah family is another “star family” and can be seen on NJN TV in a current GSA, which was also nominated for an Emmy Award.

Christine (now 28 and living in Virginia ) and her family helped the Fund by participating in the filming of a video which is shown to providers and interested groups, as well as parents. They also appear on the Fund's website www.njcatastrophicfund.org. Mrs. Height has also referred several families to the Fund, helping them with their applications and offering encouragement.

This family agreed to forego their anonymity and attended the Annual Christmas event with the Governor. They were subsequently interviewed and featured in a local newspaper article about their positive experience with the Fund.

Now 15, Erin and her family participated in an interview for Families Magazine and were instrumental in getting the word out about the Fund, especially to families who have children with a disability.

As keynote speaker for today's event, Kelly confirmed just how much the van meant to her and her family. Kelly and her family have been instrumental in publicizing the Fund. Last year she wrote an article on Financial Assistance Programs for Abilities Magazine , featuring the Fund.

This family was unable to attend the Christmas press event last year but sent a wonderful letter of appreciation which was read aloud at the event. They also did an interview with School Leader Magazine , a publication of the NJ School Boards Association, circulation 7,500.