‘Tis the season to be giving

As we all know, this is the season to be Jolly. On the last post, I talked about Generosity. So I would like to slightly change the traditional “’Tis the season to be jolly” to “Tis the season to be GIVING.” This year, why not give of your time to those who are in need of someone? This year, why not give food or clothing to those who need to eat or are without clothes? This season, why not give words of encouragement to those who are in need of hearing words that may uplift their spirits? This year, what if we bought less and gave more?  Believe me, it may just revolutionize your holiday experience.

I leave you with these giving quotes which will hopefully help you realize that we’re all in this experience called life together. When you give, you will experience greater joy and passion in your life. This concept has been taught by many wise people and it’s definitely a practice we need in every area of our lives.

“As we struggle with shopping lists and invitations, compounded by December’s bad weather, it is good to be reminded that there are people in our lives who are worth this aggravation, and people to whom we are worth the same.” –Donald E. Westlake

“If you do not have peace in your life, you, like many others, have probably not fully understood its message. You receive exactly what you put out, or, “As you sow, so shall you reap.” – Thomas D. Willhite

“One of the things I keep learning is that the secret of being happy is doing things for other people.” –Dick Gregory

“The joy of brightening other lives, bearing each other’s’ burdens, easing other’s loads and supplanting empty hearts and lives with generous gifts becomes for us the magic of the holiday season. –W. C. Jones



Jay Arisso Jr., BSB, CGRS
Manager of Family Services at NJ Sharing Network
Jay is Senior Pastor of La Iglesia Church in Elizabeth, NJ and oversees NJ Sharing Network’s aftercare program. 

Generosity

“When all else fails, generosity always wins. You can never lose with generosity.” –Jay Arisso Jr.

You’re probably saying to yourself,  “Things have taken a wrong turn when Jay is quoting himself.” I promise I won’t do this a lot, but I had to use this quote because it really impacted me when I heard myself say it. At the core of all we do, is the powerful principle of generosity. We have talked a lot about this throughout the organization in these last few months. From the power that generosity gives our NJSN Foundation to fund amazing programs, trainings, outreach and community education, to the everyday miracle that we are allowed to be a part of when we witness the generosity of families which open their hearts to give to those in need in the midst of their pain. From the power of generosity from our external affairs team which work hard to spread the word of donation to all those who give the needed support to make that happen. We live in the middle of generosity. Yes, it’s our job to do this, but when talking to many throughout our organization, there is one common factor: We don’t look at our job as our job, we look at it as our mission. It’s both amazing and humbling to be able to live a mission that literally changes lives and literally changes the world, one family at a time. What is done here at NJSN has a direct impact on someone’s life. That is such a huge honor and responsibility.

In an odd way, giving actually fills us. Emptying our cup, fills our cup. It feels good to help someone in need. So as you give your all when supporting and approaching a family, managing a donor, talking to a CEO at a hospital or working with a difficult physician that doesn’t really get what we do, remember this: “When all else fails, generosity always wins. You can never lose with generosity.” It’s not perfect all the time. It’s not easy all the time. But at the end, it’s always rewarding.

Be encouraged,

Jay 



Jay Arisso Jr., BSB, CGRS
Manager of Family Services at NJ Sharing Network
Jay is Senior Pastor of La Iglesia Church in Elizabeth, NJ and oversees NJ Sharing Network’s aftercare program. 

Get Pumped with Ms. Pumps for the NJSN 5K Walk/Race!

Hi All, Ms. Pumps here! I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving filled with love, laughter, family and friends. I don’t know about you, but I am still stuffed from all of the wonderful food!

My favorite parts about this time of year is getting together with family and friends and reminiscing about the great times we have had together. This year at my table, Mr. Pumps brought up the 5K and reminded everyone about what a great day it is for getting everyone together to remember and honor family and friends. I knew there was a reason I said YES to his proposal! So that got me thinking… I know the 5K is still a little ways away, but I want to hear what you are doing to get ready for next years walk/race! Feel free to watch the 5K video from last year’s race. It always gets me PUMPED UP! Can you tell I am super excited?


On the subject of being excited – as you know this past Friday was “Black Friday” and although I couldn’t be more thankful for my current shoe collection I had to go check out the sales. I always limit my spending so that I have some money left over for “Giving Tuesday”. The Giving Tuesday campaign is a national day of giving at the start of the annual holiday season. It celebrates and encourages charitable activities that support non-profit organizations. If you haven’t yet, please consider making a donation to NJ Sharing Network on Giving Tuesday! And as you know, there is no greater gift than the gift of life, so be sure to register as an organ and tissue donor online or at your local motor vehicle agency.

Wishing you all a healthy and happy holiday season!

TTFN, ta ta for now!

XOXO Ms. Pumps

Happy Halloween!

Hi everyone!

Long time no see! As always, we’ve been super busy over here at NJ Sharing Network, and I have so much to tell you!

Time for a Photo-Op! Mr. Pumps and I recently had our photo taken outside of NJ Sharing Network. They came out so wonderful, we might use them on our wedding invitations!

First, our Annual Golf and Tennis Classic held at Baltusrol Golf Club was a huge success and, despite the rain, it was a beautiful day! I would like to send a special “Thank You” to all who participated, as well as to our sponsors. We couldn’t do it without you! Be sure to check out photos from the day on our Flicker Album.

Next on the agenda, I am SO excited to share with you some news about the Donate Life Rose Parade Float which will be a part of the 2014 Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, California. If you are unfamiliar with the Tournament of Roses Parade, since 2004, the Donate Life Rose Parade Float has served as a memorial to organ and tissue donors and a platform for donor families, living donors and transplant recipients to inspire the world to save and heal those in need through the gift of life. It really is such a spectacular tribute; I can’t think of a better way to honor all organ and tissue donors! At this year’s Parade, NJ Sharing Network Volunteer and Donor Wife, Pam Drozd, will be seen by millions of television viewers as she honors her husband’s final act of kindness – giving the gift of life. Pam’s husband, Mike, passed away in 2008, and became a tissue donor, helping 57 people. What a legacy!

Finally, Halloween is almost here! Are you dressing up and going trick-or-treating?! Mr. Pumps and I are going to stay in this year to give out healthy treats to our Trick-or-Treaters. As I always say, a healthy heart is a happy one :)

5 Tips for a Healthy Halloween:

1. Fill up on healthy foods before going trick-or-treating – the less hungry you are, the less snacking along the way!
2. Hand out low-sugar treats or toys instead of candy – some children prefer to take a small toy (consider pencils, erasers, stickers, tattoos, glow sticks). After all, the excitement is in collecting the treats, not necessarily in eating them!
3. Exercise while trick-or-treating: Walk from house to house instead of driving – but be careful! Always make sure you are with a parent or guardian before venturing out on your own.
4. Keep only a small bag of your favorite treats, and hide the rest in the freezer so it is out of sight, and out of mind!
5. Purchase Halloween candy the day of trick or treating to avoid temptation. Buy less than what you think you will need to avoid leftovers and purchase candies that are not your favorite.

If you follow these few steps you’ll be sure to have a happy and healthy Halloween! Ready… Set… BOO!
XOXO Until next time,

Ms. Pumps

Thank You!

Hi everybody!

I can’t believe summer is almost over…  how time flies when you’re having fun with the people you love! August was a busy month at NJ Sharing Network, and we have so much to look forward to this month. Let me fill you in!

A very special meeting took place last week, when Mary DiNardo, donor wife, met Don Zolkiwsky, the recipient of her husband’s heart, for the very first time. Check out the photos from this powerful and memorable moment! You can even watch this special meeting which was covered by CBS Evening National News.

Mary DiNardo met Don Zolkwisky,the man who received her husband’s donated heart, for the first time at NJ Sharing Network’s headquarters!

Coming up: National Thank You Day is September 15th, so make sure to say thank you to those people who make even the smallest difference in your life. Following that special day, is National Surgical Technologists Week from September 15th – 21st. NJ Sharing Network will be celebrating our surgical recovery techs who work so hard to save and enhance lives each and every day! Last but not least, towards the end of the month is National Hispanic Heritage Month from September 15th – October 15th, where we celebrate and recognize the many contributions of Hispanic and Latino Americans – including NJ Sharing Network staff, volunteers, community partners, donor families and transplant recipients.

What an exciting month this is going to be! And what is more special than honoring our families, donors, recipients, and our surgical techs who make the miracle of organ and tissue donation possible. So, as a warm-up for National Thank You Day, NJ Sharing Network and I would like to say THANK YOU to each and every one of you for the life-saving work you do each day – you truly are making a difference and we could not do it without you!

Oh, and how could I forget!? Can you believe the 5K is only 9 months away? SAVE THE DATE because we have just confirmed SUNDAY, JUNE 8, 2014 at our HQ in New Providence, NJ for next year’s walk/race. I hope I will see you there next year!

Well, it was so nice catching up with you but as you know wedding planning keeps a girl so busy! This weekend I am going shopping for my bridal shoes – SO EXCITED!

Talk to you soon! XOXO,

Ms. Pumps

P.S. Be sure to Like us on Facebook, and Follow us on Twitter for daily news and updates!

Celebrate National Minority Donor Awareness Week!

Hey everyone! Sorry I’ve been away for a few weeks. I’ve been celebrating my engagement and as always, I am trying to spread organ and tissue donation awareness in my community! Did you know that this week is National Minority Donor Awareness Week? It is a time to honor minority donors and their final act of kindness. It’s also a time to thank our minority donor families, recipients and organ donation advocates who help us raise awareness about the life-saving benefits of organ and tissue donation in all communities. It doesn’t matter what color you are or where you’re from… you can give the greatest gift of all to another person through organ and tissue donation – Life! During National Minority Donor Awareness Week, it is SO important to increase awareness of the need for more organ and tissue donors, especially among minorities. I also try to encourage others to register as donors and to take better care of their health to shorten the list of those waiting for a life-saving or life-enhancing transplant.

Maria Perez and her family participate in NJ Sharing Network’s 5K Walk/Race each year to honor her son. His gift of organ donation saved 5 lives! Maria also goes into the Hispanic community to talk about organ and tissue donation to help raise awareness!

So my friends, here are a few things that you can do to stay healthy and help save lives!

 1. Register to be an organ and tissue donor. National Minority Donor Awareness Week is a great time to register to be an organ and tissue donor!
2. Let your family know your wishes. One person can save up to 8 lives through the gift of donation, and over 50 through the gift of tissue!
3. Take care of your health. Get your blood pressure checked this week! Fast Fact: Minorities are at higher risk for developing high blood pressure and diabetes, both of which increase the chance of organ failure.
4. Exercise. Go for a walk, a swim, or a hike, or take the stairs instead of the elevator! Reducing your risk of obesity, hypertension and diabetes can decrease your chances of needing an organ transplant.
5. Choose healthier food options. More green vegetables and less red meat are keys to a healthier diet! Try to eat more veggies and cut out the sugary snacks.
6. Get the facts and spread awareness. Tell your friends why organ and tissue donation is so important!

Until next time!

XOXO

Ms. Pumps

So far have raised over $720,000… Together we can reach our goal of $750,000!

Hey Everybody!

Happy 4th of July! I hope you had a great day yesterday – the weather couldn’t have been more perfect! Mr. Pumps and I had all of our friends and family over for a BBQ. It was so much fun! We’ve been working on the wedding planning and as soon as we have a date set I will be sure to let you know!

I can’t believe how close we are to reaching our goal of $750,000! And who do we have to thank for that??? YOU! You all have been so amazing and you continue to inspire me each and every day. If you are still fundraising and collecting contributions from your friends and family and team members, you still have time! Contributions will be accepted by mail, on-line and by phone until JULY 15 so keep up the great work! Together I know that we can reach our goal.

My favorite picture of the day. Look at all of our Team Captains!

Tips for a Healthy Heart!

Summertime means grilling time – time with family and friends and time to enjoy delicious foods. If you’re grilling burgers, be sure to buy lean or extra lean beef, drain off the excess fat after cooking and avoid making huge patties.  *Remember that a serving of meat is about the size of a deck of cards (3 oz).  You can even add finely chopped green pepper to your beef to get in some veggies! If you’re grilling fish, the healthiest types include salmon, trout and herring, which are high in heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids.  Rub a fillet with lemon juice and parsley or rosemary for enhanced flavor.

Yours Truly,

Ms. Pumps, XOXO

What a beautiful day!

Hi all! WOW what a day yesterday at the 3rd Annual NJ Sharing Network 5K Walk and USATF Certified Race!
   

Mr. Pumps and members of Rob’s Team, in memory of Roberto Perez

I don’t think we could have wished for a better day!

There were NEARLY 6,000 beautiful people in attendace: donor families, recipients and their families, living donors, people waiting for the gift of life, and the families of those who could no longer wait. We had over 150 volunteers throughout the day, and our wonderful commmunity members, hospital partners and sponsors were also in attendance, as they continue to support our life-saving work and our mission to save and enhance lives. Thanks to you, we have raised almost $650,000 so far and we’re still counting!

Mr. Pumps and I warming up on stage before the big walk!

Remember: Contributions are still being accepted online, by-mail, and over-the-phone until July 15th! So keep it coming – I know we will reach our goal of $750,000!

What was your favorite part of the day? (I might have a hard time choosing just one!)

The 5K is Only Five Days Away!

Happy 5 Days until the big 5K! What a busy and exciting week this is going to be! I hope you have all been training and spreading the word about the 5K Walk and USATF Certified Race – I know I have! Actually, as of this afternoon we have over 3,800 team members and individuals participating – that is SO awesome! We are way ahead of where we were last year, so keep up the great work. If you haven’t registered yet, take a few minutes and join my team, NJ Sharing Network.   Together we can save and enhance lives through organ and tissue donation!

I am SO excited about the 5K this weekend, but I also have a very special annoucement to make! I just can’t hold it in any longer… I am getting MARRIED!  Mr. Pumps, both a classy and stylish guy, stole my heart and popped the big question. Of course I said YES! We will be tying the knot this February 14th (which you all know is Valentine’s Day, my birthday, and National Donor Day). How perfect is that!? I know, I know, you can’t wait to meet him – but don’t worry, he will be at the 5K this weekend supporting me and all of you. :)

More wedding details to come, but first let’s keep our eyes on the prize… literally! Did you know NJ Sharing Network will be giving out prizes to our biggest 5K Fundraisers? So get out there and keep FUN-draising! I know you can do it!

Can’t wait to see you all this weekend!

XOXO,
 Future MRS. Pumps (Has a nice ring to it, don’t you think?)

My handsome man sporting his blue and green. Thumbs up for organ and tissue donation!

Thank you for your participation!

So…how was everyone’s Donate Life Month? I know a lot of you were busy out there spreading our message and wearing your blue and green in support of organ and tissue donation! We received lots of great pictures and comments on our Facebook page. I hope all of you had a chance to read them. If you did not, make sure you check out our page. We are always posting interesting things that our friends are doing in the community. I am so excited to see such great participation from all of you, not to mention all the great support that we have been receiving for our upcoming 5K! We already have more than 230 teams signed up and we still have 5 weeks to go! This is an event that you simply cannot miss! I just got word that Greg T from Z100 has created a team and he’ll be running in the event this year…how cool is that?! If you have not signed up yet, you must join the Greg T Z100 Team! Or if you can’t be here on June 9th, you can support Greg T’s team by making a contribution.
Okay, I have to go for a run before the rain starts…I need to try to keep up with Greg T on June 9th!


TTYL!

XOXO,

Pumps

We’re thrilled to welcome back our friend Greg T to our 5K this year!

 
Heart-healthy tip of the day: Add heart-healthy foods to your diet, such as salmon, which is high in Omega 3 fatty acids, flaxseed, oatmeal, black and kidney beans and certain nuts such as almonds and walnuts. All these foods make me happy and strong, so you should eat them too. Your heart will thank you. :)

April is National Donate Life Month

Happy National Donate Life Month! During April, organizations, hospitals and community partners across the nation concentrate their efforts to promote awareness about the importance of organ and tissue donation and celebrate the heroes who saved and enhanced lives through the gift of donation. NJ Sharing Network’s calendar is full of awareness events and activities across the state and I’m very excited because I’ve been invited to participate in some of them!

 

One of the dates that we are most looking forward to is April 19th, which has been designated as National Donate Life Blue and Green Day! This is a day which we encourage legislators, corporations, hospital employees, schools, and community residents to wear blue and green to show their support of organ and tissue donation and National Donate Life Month. This is a fun and creative way to not only create awareness, but many 5K team captains are planning team-building and fundraising events on this day. How fun is that? I can’t wait to see everyone’s blue and green day pictures on Facebook and Twitter! You can also visit NJ Sharing Network’s website to find great ways to promote Donate Life Month in your local community.

Heart-healthy tip of the day: Monitor your alcohol. I enjoy a nice glass of red wine from time to time, but too much alcohol can damage the heart muscle, increase blood pressure and also lead to weight gain. Binge drinking will increase your risk of having a heart attack, so you should aim to limit your intake to one to two units a day…and by unit I mean one glass – not one bottle! :-)

Happy National Donate Life Month!

Only 12 Weeks Away!

OMG!  I can’t believe we’re less than 12 weeks away from the biggest, most exciting event of the year!!  (No, it is not the return of Lord  & Taylor’s Shoe Event, although like every respectable fashionista, I do love a nice pair of pumps :-) ) Our 5K Walk and USATF Certified Race is rapidly approaching and I am well on my way to being on tip-top shape!  I’ve been training hard, eating right and spreading the word to all my friends and family.  I’ve been doing such a great job that we have close to 120 teams already registered for the 5K!!  I actually had the pleasure of meeting some of our amazing team captains at our Team Captains Kickoff event, which was held at Forest Lodge on March 16^th.  Over 100 people joined me to hear some of the top team captains from prior years share their fundraising and team building tips.  We rallied, we shared stories and most importantly, we honored those who gave, paid tribute to those who received, offered hope to those who continue to wait and remembered the lives lost while waiting for the gift of life.  It was an unforgettable day and it was just a preview of what’s to come on June 9^th!


Click on the picture below to view all the pictures from our Team Captains Kickoff!

XOXO, Ms. Pumps

Ooops…did I just photo bomb our Team Captain Kickoff guests? LOL

 

Heart-healthy tip of the day: Spring is here and with it comes…spring cleaning! As much as you may hate cleaning, think of housework as an extra chance to exercise. Vacuuming briskly can be a real workout!

Calling all 2013 5K Team Captains!!

Save the Date – on Saturday, March 16th, NJ Sharing Network is hosting their 2nd Annual 5K Team Captains Kickoff! This is an event that you cannot miss, especially if you are a new team captain this year. All team captains will receive important information about the 5K Walk/Race, a packet containing resources for your team-building and fundraising and most importantly, you will be able to meet the wonderful NJ Sharing Network staff and share tips and ideas with other team captains!

 

Oh, and as an added bonus…you’ll get to meet me! :-)

This is an invitation-only event, so if you want to come and join the fun, make sure you create and
register your team at 5K.NJSharingNetwork.org by March 16th! Hope to see you all there!

Here I am welcoming my friends Lisa and Steve Meyers at last year’s Team Captains Kickoff!

Heart-healthy tip of the day: If you work behind a desk most of the day, get up and walk around for at least 5 minutes every hour. Sitting for an extended period of time can ultimately bring about health concerns such as diabetes, obesity and heart disease. I love to visit my friends and co-workers in different departments. Gives me a chance to catch up and I get to take a break from the computer!

Happy Valentine’s Day!

This Valentine’s Day is three times as special for me because today happens to be National Donor Day and today is also my birthday! I am so excited to celebrate with my friends and family later today. This year, they’ve surprised me by making contributions to my 5K team in lieu of birthday gifts! BTW…my team name is NJ Sharing Network, in case you’d like to join our team or contribute to my personal fundraising page! :-) I can’t think of a better birthday gift or way to celebrate National Donor Day! I also think this is a wonderful idea for those of you who are looking for fun and creative ways to raise money for your teams. For more fun ideas, make sure you check back often! If you haven’t registered, what are you waiting for?? Go to 5K.NJSharing Network.org today!

Heart-healthy tip of the day: I LOVE birthday cake, but cake is not good for my heart (or my hips) so do as I did and “bypass” that sugary snack and grab some fresh fruit instead! But if you simply can’t resist that yummy dessert, cut the piece into thirds and share it with your friends!

Wishing all of you a wonderful Valentine’s Day!

Let’s Get Physical!!

Love my color-coordinated workout gear! :-)

I can’t believe that January is over already!  Time flies when you’re having fun and I am having a blast!  I’ve started off this year running…literally!!  As you know, I’ve decided to be healthier this year so I’ve been walking and jogging to get myself ready for this year’s 5K Walk/Race on June 9^th!  It hasn’t been easy…I think I overindulged a bit too much over the holidays, but the 5K is about 20-weeks away so I am confident I will be in shape by then.  By the way, I hope you’ve started your 5K teams and registered already!  The registration website is up and running and it is super easy to use!  Simply go to 5K.NJSharingNetwork.org and start your FUN-draising! J

Heart-healthy tip of the day: Park your car at the far end of the parking lot. The short walk to and from the building helps your heart. And if you’re at the mall, it may save you money as well.  Who wants to carry all those bags anyway? J

Are you wearing Red today?

Today is National Wear Red Day for Women’s Heart Health and I am super giddy with excitement!  Not only is red my favorite color, as you all know, but having a healthy heart is very important to me. I don’t like to feel sick, so I wouldn’t want any of my girlfriends to be ill either.  Did you know that currently an estimated 43 million women in the United States are affected by heart disease?  That’s 43 million too many in my book!  That’s why I’ve decided that this year I am going to focus on having a healthier lifestyle and I hope you will join me!  We can start off small and work our way up and the best part is that we have our 5K Walk/Race on June 9^th to look forward to and we can make it our goal to be in the best shape we can by then.  I can’t think of a better goal, can you?  So let’s start our healthy lifestyle with my first heart-healthy tip: Take the stairs instead of an elevator or escalator at work, school or the mall. Just start with one flight. Soon, you’ll be ready for two!

Ms. Pumps XOXO

Me and my friends at NJ Sharing Network sporting our red today! We’re also gearing up for our biggest heart-healthy event – our 5K Walk/Race on June 9th!

Guess who’s back?

It’s me, your favorite NJ Sharing Network mascot, and I’m back to start training for this year’s 5K Walk/Race. Did you save the date yet? If not, mark your calendars: Sunday, June 9th! Keep checking my 2013 blog to follow my training regimen and hear about fun ways to encourage your family, friends and co-workers to join your 5K team. See you on the treadmill!

XOXO!

Pumps