Dawn T Dawn's Story

Clara Maass Medical Center has been a part of my family for as long as I can remember.

All six of us were born at Clara so, for me and my siblings, giving back is very important. Our mother has been a nurse there for over 25 years and this hospital has also played a major role in our father's cancer care.

Clara Maass Medical Center is a vital part of our community and a trusted part of our family.

For the past three years, we have given back to Clara Maass Medical Center in a very unique way. Each holiday season, we collect and donate items that fill the Oncology Holiday Gift Cart. This cart allows patients undergoing cancer treatment to “shop” for their loved ones by selecting an item from the cart. We are so proud to play a role in providing this small comfort for patients during a difficult time.

In 2015, we honored our father’s memory by collecting and donating more gifts than ever. Each holiday season, the support of our family, friends and the community is tremendous and we are told that we touched the lives of hundreds of patients. This is such a fitting tribute to our dad, who lost his battle with cancer of the parotid gland last March.

Our father truly believed in giving back. As a family, we see how crucial it is to support the health of our community and we hope you do too.

Dawn Trabucco, Nutley, NJ