A 'Giant' Celebration at MetLife Stadium For Local Children's Hospital

Children’s Specialized Hospital Foundation will celebrate the 25th anniversary of their annual Umbrella Gala at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford on Tuesday, Oct. 16.

Current and former NFL and New York Giants players have been invited to attend the celebration.

The proceeds from this year’s Umbrella Gala will benefit Children’s Specialized Hospital’s new outpatient therapy center in Newark—the 10th for , the largest pediatric rehabilitation system of its kind in the nation—scheduled to open in Newark in 2013. The outpatient center will offer physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech, psychology and physician services and allow hundreds of families to receive access to services closer to home. 

Michael Harrison, ESQ., gala committee chairman and Children’s Specialized Hospital Foundation trustee, says this year’s team focus at the Umbrella Gala is a perfect metaphor for the hospital.

“Children’s Specialized Hospital works like a well-run team. I’m proud to be associated with such a winning organization that tirelessly works to support patients in need of care. The committee has generously donated their time to make this gala a huge win for the kids.”

Help the “home team”—the kids—and join in the fun. Sponsorship opportunities are available. Donors will receive tickets to the event; company name or logo on continuous display on 30 televisions; recognition on all event-related publicity/materials; event gifts; prominent branding at the venue within the event theme; recognition in Children’s Specialized Hospital’s Annual Report, Newsletter and Website; MPV parking at the event; company logo on the stadium Jumbotrons; or exclusive 2-story high electronic LED signage at the entrance with corporate logo.

Gala chairman Michael Harrison is joined by committee members Alan Blake; John Boyle; Annette Catino; Kevin Cummings; John A. Deford, PhD; Leonard Gannet; Karen Hess; Margaret Hollywood; Anne Hoskins; Tom M. Kay; Thomas Koestler, PhD; Joe Lamendola; Morris Lenczicki; Stella Matteace-Esposito; Jeffrey Rosen; Neal Rotenberg; Barbara Rothman; Anita J. Siegel, ESQ.; Debbie Spicehandler; Donald Witmondt; Phil Salerno III; and Nicholas Boccella.

Top sponsors like L’Oreal USA and will join guests for an evening of dancing, ballpark fare, and a silent auction. Donors can also make specific donations to sponsor a child in therapy services, or fund equipment.

To purchase tickets, please visit www.childrens-specialized.org/umbrellagala. For more information contact Toni Bodrato, special events coordinator, at (908) 301-5479 or e-mail tdbodrato@childrens-specialized.org.

Children’s Specialized Hospital is the preeminent provider of rehabilitation services for children with special needs. The hospital serves children affected by brain injury, spinal cord injury, premature birth, autism, developmental delays, and life-changing illnesses. Children’s Specialized Hospital has nine sites in New Jersey and treats 19,000 children each year, making it the largest pediatric rehabilitation system of its kind in the nation. Services include outpatient services, acute rehabilitation, and long-term care through its sites in Bayonne, Clifton, Mountainside, Toms River, Fanwood, Hamilton, New Brunswick and Roselle Park (Little Egg Harbor fall 2012) as well as outreach programs in many communities.  Children’s Specialized Hospital is a proud member of the Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals and was named the 2012 Hospital of the Year by NJBIZ. Children’s Specialized Hospital Foundation supports the programs and services of the hospital. The Foundation is ranked among the top six pediatric hospital foundations in the country. To help, or find more information: visit www.childrens-specialized.org; find us on Facebook, or follow us on Twitter @ChildrensSpecNJ.