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The following first appeared in the Saint Barnabas Medical Center Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) Family Advisory Council Newsletter.
Visit the NICU website for previous issues.
Q: Can you tell us about your role/what you and your department do?
A: I work for the Development Department and in my role, I manage and direct all fundraising events. We run golf outings, dinners, galas and walks, like Miracle Walk, to raise funds for the Medical Center throughout the year. Events support areas like the NICU but also cardiac care, our cancer centers, pediatric epilepsy and The Burn Center.
Q: How long have you been working at SBMC?
A: I have been working here for three years and this October will be my fourth Miracle Walk.
Q: Specifically what is your role in regard to the Miracle Walk?
A: I am the staff person dedicated to making this event happen. I work with the Miracle Walk committee – made up of NICU graduate families - to plan the event and then I manage all the logistics and fundraising. I write the Miracle Monday Newsletters and set up and provide help for www.miraclewalk.com. I also coordinate sponsors, registration, volunteers, etc.
Q: What can people who have never attended Miracle Walk expect that day?
A: Families come out to a great, family friendly, day in Verona Park where they can visit with the nurses and doctors who cared for them during their stay in the NICU. There are activities for the whole family including face painting, balloon artists, a DJ, your child’s favorite characters (this year Elsa and Superman are rumored to be visiting) and more! It’s fun for you AND for your neighbors, co-workers, friends and family!
Q: What have you liked the most about working on the Miracle Walk event?
A: I love meeting and hearing about the teams and their Miracles! I think it is amazing work what our physicians and nurses do every day and they really are miracle workers.
Q: Where does the money raised from Miracle Walk go?
A: The money goes directly to supporting the NICU at Saint Barnabas Medical Center. Due to the success of Miracle Walk, the NICU at Saint Barnabas Medical Center has been able to purchase state-of-the-art equipment such as Giraffe® Omnibeds®, NeoPuff™ infant resuscitators, neoBLUE™ LED phototherapy lights and Draeger Air-Shields® Isolette® infant transporters. In 2017, the NICU expanded to five times its size into the new Cooperman Family Pavilion. The result is more than 37,500 square feet of modern, comfortable, infant care and family space!
Q: Do you have any specific tips for registering, fundraising and/or attending the Miracle Walk?
A: Share, share, share! Our website (www.miraclewalk.com) is super easy to use to register and FUN to customize. Make a team! You can make your own page with your own photos and then keep sharing with family and others. There are sample emails on our website that you can just forward. Remember it usually takes about three to four asks before a person will donate to your team. Also, there is a toolkit on the site for team captains loaded with LOTS of tips! If you would like one mailed contact me at 973-322-4305 or Elizabeth.Bennett@rwjbh.org. As for attending, please try to get there early – there is plenty to do and eat. The parking availability gets farther and farther from the park the later you wait.
Q: Is there anything else you would like people to know about the Miracle Walk?
A: The walk is driven by families whose children were in the NICU. It is so important that we keep that tradition alive. Please feel free to keep telling me what you would like to see at the walk every year. Teams are the heart to our success so please continue to invite family and friends to come out and donate to Miracle Walk.
Q: Anything else you would like to add?
A: We love to share Miracle Stories about your NICU kids. Please reach out to me at Elizabeth.Bennett@rwjbh.org to share yours. Check your inbox for Miracle Monday Newsletters and like us on Facebook. You could be the next highlighted on Team Tuesday or Miracle Monday! The walk is a busy and fun day, but please try to stop me and say hi! I would love to meet you all in person and meet your miracle child or children.
Learn more about the Neonatal intensive Care Unit at Saint Barnabas Medical Center.