The Record did a nice article on the impact Forget Me Not has had over the past 5 years. It was a nice tribute to Emma on her 5th birthday.
Spring 2014 Newsletter
Greetings from the Forget Me Not Foundation! We have been busy since we last saw many of you at the fundraiser and wanted to keep you up to date on all our recent activities. This year’s fundraiser was again an incredible success thanks to all of our generous supporters. We were able to raise over fifteen thousand dollars which will be put to good use this year in support of our mission.
In February we purchased and delivered a digital camera, memory cards, and a photo printer for the HUMC NICU. These items along with a supply of memory boxes will now standardize the care of families suffering a loss at HUMC. We are planning a bereavement training program with the Labor & Delivery and NICU units at HUMC this October.
We recently created informational pamphlets that we are using to branch out to area hospitals in order to provide them with our memory boxes and supportive materials. In February, we delivered memory boxes to Mountainside Hospital in Glen Ridge, NJ. We are also providing bereavement materials to Pascack Valley and Chilton hospitals and are continuing to foster more connections using our beautiful new pamphlets.
We are proud to announce we have updated the website! Many thanks to Casey Masterson and Blue 262 for the website redesign. Please take a look at fmnfoundation.com and let us know what you think!
The 5th Annual “An Evening to Remember” will be held on October 23rd at The Venetian in Garfield. Many of our kind supporters have asked about donating gift baskets for the raffle. We are now accepting donations and we are always grateful for your help! This year we are also accepting bottles of wine valued at $20 or more for our bottle pull at the event. For information on how to donate or volunteer, email us at info@fmnfoundation.com.
We look forward to celebrating 5 years with you in October!
After a group of our Nurses and Child Life Specialist attended the RTS conference last spring, we decided to form a Bereavement Committee in the NICU. Our committee started by assembling a Bereavement Cart to store all of our bereavement supplies, paperwork, a bereavement resource binder for the bedside nurse, and our new camera/printer/SD cards. We've also implemented placing the tear drop/leaf card on our break-room and locker room doors to ensure sensitivity from staff. All of these supplies (generously given to us by the Forget-Me-Not Foundation) have helped us to create special memories for our families. These families are so touched by each and every keepsake in our memory boxes. Our committee has been able to bring awareness to our staff, and as a result, many of our staff members have an increased level of comfort when caring for our bereaved families, thereby providing consistent support. We have collaborated with the bereavement team from L&D to make sure that we are both providing the same memory-making opportunities to our bereaved families. We will also be teaching an RTS training class together to more of our staff this fall. Thank you for all of your support. Your dedication and generosity truly makes an impact, and touches so many hearts.
-Jessica RN, NICU HUMC
Founder’s Note:
Dear Friends,
As we have grown as an organization we have met so many amazing and exceptional people along the way. We would not have gotten this far without the help we have received from our families, friends, and new friends we have made through FMN. Special thanks to Cathy Dutches whose extraordinary efforts over the years earned her a special place in our hearts and the FMN Angel Award of 2013. We also have recently welcomed a new board member in Mary McCarthy. Mary brings a wealth of experience in PR and has added an exciting new voice to our team! Thank you all for your continued support and we look forward to seeing you in October for our best event yet.
-Melissa & Dave Barry
Thank you again to our generous donors from 2013:
Diamond
Blue 262 Creative
Cathy Dutches
Classic Auto Spa
Masterson Pools
Secor Farm
The Nakasone Family
Platinum
A Lawns & Stone
Andrew & Brooke Reger
Anheuser-Busch
Dan & Rosmary Bright
Greg & Sons Auto Service Inc.
HackensackUMC NICU Staff
Inserra ShopRite
Joan Masterson
Kelly Masterson
Kim & Bill Cerretta
Ray & Donna Barry
Tom & Caryn Steiner
Walt Disney World
Gold
Beers Flower Shop
Bob Garrett & Hackensack University Medical Center
Brooklyn Brewery
Capture Technologies
Chelsea Piers
Claudia Bright
Denise Crosta
Dineen DiBari
Dr. Barry Love
Eat Smart
Equinox
Former Troopers Association
Herb & Tiamecua Roberts
Janet Peluso
Jason Taylor & Kate Finnefrock
John & Jenny Barry
Karen Praschil
Maureen Casey
Maureen VanSlyck
Mickey Wilder
Ryan & Mary McCarthy
Tara Masterson
The Havens Family
Tom & Kelly Nakasone
Wayne PBA Local 136
Silver
A Mano
A & P Supermarket
Adventure Aquarium
Anthony’s Coal Fired Pizza
Araya Rebirth
Arthur Murray Dance Studios
Aubrey Cannatella
Barbara Kelly
Best Western Plus FEI
Binboa Vodka
Build a Bear
Cabot Cheese
Canvas on Demand
Carolyn Amoresano
Casey Callan
Chelsea Handler
Corrado’s Market
Cucina Calandra
Daniel Lynch
DeMarcus Ware
Doherty Enterprises
Dr. Ben & Anita Dispenzarie
Fair Haven
Fric N Frac
Gary’s Wine & Marketplace
Green Mountain Coffee
Hasbrouck Heights Hilton
Hesperides Organica
It’s Greek to Me
Jim & Jeanette O’Connor
Joe & Donna Cannatella
John Travolta
Joseph Amoresano
JT Wines and Spirits
Katie Burns
Kelly Wilson
La Lanterna
Lenfam Management
Liberty Science Center
Linda Dudas
Lisa Thomas Salon
Lisa Vreeland
Lou & Annamarie Cerretta
Maggiano’s Little Italy
Marge Jingo
Maria Garcia
Moxie Salon
Mt. View Auto Body
Namaste Organic Spa
Panera Bread
Panico
Paula Deen
Pete & Jean Barry
Red Box
Red Mango
Robert Munsch
Rossi Company of Ridgewood Paint & Wallpaper
Sanzari’s New Bridge Inn
Sarah & Fred Herrmann
Six Flags Great Adventure
Skinplicity
The Daily Treat
The Fountain Spa
The Melting Pot
The NY Giants
The NY Jets
The NY Mets
The Rude Family
The Sak
The Shannon Rose
Tito’s Burritos
Toys R Us
Trader Joe’s
Val & John Delloiacono
V Capelli
And Our Fantastic Restaurants:
The Melting Pot
Natalies
354 Steakhouse
DiBari’s Catering
Tito’s Burritos
Village Green Restaurant
Lepore’s Italian Market
Assembly Steakhouse
Blue Moon Mexican Café
Spuntino Wine Bar & Italian Tapas
The Shannon Rose Irish Pub
The Chart House
Just Souper
The Office Beer Bar & Grill
The Venetian
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Spring 2013 Newsletter
Happy spring from the Forget Me Not Foundation! The winter months have kept us busy this year and we are excited to bring you all of our latest news. The date for the fundraiser has been set and this year we are changing venues. The fourth annual Evening to Remember will take place on October 24th 2013 at The Terrace at Biagio’s in Paramus, NJ.
In early April the Forget Me Not Foundation sponsored the Resolve Through Sharing (RTS) Bereavement Training program at Hackensack University Medical Center. The training was a huge success by all accounts as over 50 nurses and medical personnel attended from all over the North East.
Resolve Through Sharing (RTS) Bereavement Training program at Hackensack University Medical Center
Resolve Through Sharing is nationally recognized as the gold standard in bereavement training. The 3 day training covered all aspects of caring for a family who has lost a baby. Many of the participants went out of their way to thank us and say what an incredible educational experience it was for them.
We have supplied our memory boxes and educational materials to more hospitals in the area including Englewood Hospital and Palisades General Hospital. We have also recently restocked HackensackUMC and Valley Hospital. The beautiful boxes and materials are mementos the family takes home to remember their baby who has died too soon.
The 4th Annual “An Evening to Remember” will be held on October 24th at The Terrace at Biagio’s in Paramus. Many of our kind supporters have asked about donating gift baskets for the raffle. We are now accepting donations and signing up restaurants for the tasting. For information on how to donate or volunteer, email us at info@fmnfoundation.com.
We look forward to seeing you in October!
“I just wanted to take a moment to thank all of you for the hard work it took to put on the RTS training event at Hackensack. I came away with so much information to help me better serve the patients at Overlook Medical Center and I am inspired to try to help train our staff so that there is consistent compassionate care offered throughout the hospital. May God bless you in the wonderful work you are doing!”
“Forget Me Not Foundation, on November 30 my grandson passed at 36+4 weeks. A sudden newborn death. His autopsy was all negative. His heart just stopped. I wanted to thank the foundation for their education of the nurses at Hackensack labor and delivery. I myself am a NICU nurse and have been on the other side of the grief and caring but to experience this tragedy is unbelievable. I also wanted to thank you for the forget me not gifts – the hand print, pictures, rings, seeds (to be planted in the spring) the box is beautiful. Enclosed is a small donation to help with your continuing efforts to help families at a time that will never be healed.”
Founder's Note
Dear Friends,
Now well into our fourth year our organization is growing and is better positioned to help more families in our community. We have begun taking some of the larger steps we had in mind when we started on this journey. Hosting the RTS Training was a major accomplishment and what the health care professionals take away from the sessions will make a major difference for the families in their care. We are delivering memory boxes to five area hospitals and plan on reaching double that amount before the year is out.
We thank you all for your continued support, and we count on it again this year as we take some more strides to help more and more grieving families.
-Melissa & Dave Barry
Thank you again to our
generous donors from 2012:
Platinum
A Lawns & Stone
Andrew & Brooke Reger Anheuser Busch
Blue262 Creative
Capture Technologies
Cathy Dutches
Christina Havens
Classic Auto Spa
Greg & Sons Auto Service Inc. High Focus Centers – Dr. David Nyman
Inserra Shoprite
Kelly Masterson
Kim & Bill Cerretta
Masterson Pools
Ray & Donna Barry
Rich & Kim Masterson
Secor Farm
The Nakasone Family
Tom & Caryn Steiner
Walt Disney World
Gold
Afghan Wireless
Beers Flower Shop
Bob Garrett & Hackensack University Medical Center Caesars Entertainment Chelsea Piers
Coco Curtain Studio
Denise Crosta
Former Troopers Association Hahrts Images
Hakeem Nicks
Herb & Tiamecua Roberts Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum
James Keogh
Janet Peluso
Jessica Karaway
Joan Masterson
Karen Praschil
Kelly Nakasone
Kim Jacobs
Lawrence Tynes
Lenfam Management Local One, IATSE Maureen Casey
Mickey Wilder
Pediatric Center for Heart Disease
Pete & Jean Barry
Shawn & Andrea Burnside Skinplicity
Toys R Us
Wayne PBA Local 136
Silver
A Mano
A&P (Pompton Lakes) Adventure Aquarium
Araya Rebirth
Arthur Murray Dance Studio Aurorae Yoga
Ben & Jerry’s
Bibi’z
Binboa Vodka
Bonefish Grill
Cabot Cheese
Canvas on Demand
Carolyn Amoresano
Cathy Carney
Chelsea Handler
Corrado’s Market
Cucina Calandra
Dr. Barry Love
Dr. Ben & Anita Dispenzarie Eat Smart
Ed Karaway
Eileen Casey Walters Foodtown
Gary’s Wine & Marketplace Green Mountain Coffee Hilton (Hasbrouck Heights) Home Depot (Lodi)
Italian Riviera Jacquelyn Brady
Jamie Carney
Jillian Collins
Joe & Donna Cannatella John Travolta
JT Wines and Spirits Kaci Taylor
Kelli Crosta
Kim Shadek
Kitten & the Bear
La Lanterna
Legal Sea Foods Liberty Science Center
Maggiano’s Little Italy Maureen VanSlyck Moxie Salon
Namaste Organic Spa
Panera Bread
Panico
Paula Deen
Ridgewood European Day Spa Ridgewood Running Company Robert Flaherty
Rossi Company of Ridgewood Paint & Wallpaper
So Stefanie Jewelry SportsBrella
Susan Sheehan
The Anzivino Family The Brownstone
The Daily Treat
The Fireplace
The Cannatella Family The Cerretta Family The Fountain Spa
The Havens Family The Melting Pot
The NJ Devils
The NY Giants
The NY Jets
The NY Rangers
The Rude Family
The Sak
V Capelli
Woof Gang Bakery
And Our Fantastic Restaurants:
The Melting Pot
Natalies
Maggiano’s Little Italy
The Village Green
And Our Fantastic Restaurants:
Lepore's Italian Market
The Shannon Rose
Decibel
Davey’s Irish Pub & Restaurant
Sweet Indulgences
The Best of Everything
Hors D’oeuvrery
Blue Moon Mexican Café
Spuntino Wine Bar & Italian Tapas
DiBari's Catering
Tito's Burritos
Brooklyn Brewery