Cristine Meredith Miele Foundation to Join with Visiting Nurse Association of Central Jersey Foundation to Support Community Breast Health Initiatives

The Cristine Meredith Miele Foundation (CMMF) has announced it will transition to become a restricted fund of the VNA of Central Jersey Foundation to continue its mission to promote the early detection, prevention and awareness of breast cancer. Founded in 2010, CMMF has raised over $200,000 to help breast cancer patients in our community receive screening, testing (including genetic) and diagnostic work needed for early detection and prevention regardless of their insurance or financial means.

The Cristine Meredith Miele Fund, as it will be known moving forward, will provide supplemental funding for the VNA of Central Jersey’s Cancer Education and Early Detection (CEED) program which offers free and low cost cancer screenings to low income individuals in Monmouth County. Rockin’ by the River, CMMF’s major annual fundraising event, will continue to take place and is scheduled for Saturday, April 4 at Rumson Country Club’s Riverhouse featuring cocktails, buffet dinner, live music donated by The River Road Band and a silent auction.

“On behalf of the dedicated Board of Trustees of CMMF, I want to express our gratitude to all the donors and volunteers who have generously supported our mission since inception. Our partnership with VNA of Central Jersey Foundation will enable us to continue to honor the memory of our dear friend, Crissy Meredith Miele, a loving mother, wife, friend and valiant warrior in the fight against breast cancer. Crissy’s legacy will live on and our mission will continue with this exciting new partnership,” said Eileen O’Hern Luby, founding CMMF Trustee.

“This coming together of likeminded individuals to support such an important initiative is exciting. The VNA of Central Jersey Foundation is dedicated to raising funds to provide health care programs and services to vulnerable, at-risk populations. We are honored to work with CMMF to continue to help detect breast cancer early, before it metastasizes, resulting in significantly higher chances for survival and help those at risk live longer, more peaceful lives,” said Lynn Spector, Chairman of VNA of Central Jersey Foundation Board of Trustees.

“We are so grateful to have CMMF join with VNA of Central Jersey to expand and enhance CEED by providing additional breast cancer screening mammograms to those who previously might not qualify for our program due to income restrictions, but also for the first time ever, provide genetic counseling and testing which was not covered,” said Colleen Nelson, RN, MSN, Vice President of Clinical Operations, VNA of Central Jersey Children and Family Health Institute.

About Visiting Nurse Association Health Group and VNA of Central Jersey

Founded over 105 years ago with a mission to care for the community,  Visiting Nurse Association Health Group (VNAHG)  helps individuals and families achieve their best level of health and well-being by offering high quality, compassionate home health, hospice, visiting physicians, palliative and community-based care,  private-pay personal care services as well as primary care for medically underserved patients. Today, VNAHG is a leading nonprofit provider of home and community based health services in New Jersey, Mid-Central Ohio and Southeast Florida. VNAHG’s unique partnership model with health systems leverages clinical and technical resources to operate VNA of Central Jersey Home Care and Hospice, Robert Wood Johnson Visiting Nurses, VNA of Englewood, Barnabas Health Home Care and Hospice, Visiting Physician Services, Visiting Nurse Association of Ohio and Cleveland Clinic Florida Visiting Nurses.

VNA of Central Jersey (VNACJ)’s Children and Family Health Institute operates nearly two dozen publicly funded safety –net health programs caring for more than 50,000 at risk individuals and families annually through as many as 325,000 patient encounters throughout the year. Their patient population includes children with developmental delays, behavioral disorders and disabilities, first-time mothers in need of a support system, students at risk of absenteeism, persons who are at high risk for HIV transmission or acquisition, the homeless and more with a special focus on vulnerable populations such as children, older adults and those with serious and disabling chronic illness. In collaboration with VNACJ’s Community Health Center in Asbury Park, VNACJ’s Prevention Resource Network operates the Jersey Shore’s first LGBTQ+ Health Center to provide an array of comprehensive care and wellness programs in a safe, culturally competent environment.

VNACJ’s Community Health Center is a federally qualified health center with four locations in Monmouth County providing a full range of primary, prenatal, and preventative care for over 10,000 low-income, medically underserved residents annually as well as preventative, diagnostic and restorative dental services at its Asbury Park and Keyport locations.

About VNA of Central Jersey Foundation

Since its inception, VNA Health Group has relied on charitable support from the community to ensure the continuation of its vital programs and services for every patient in need as well as enhanced programs for hospice patients and their families. While reimbursement from state and federal funding sources are crucial to providing programs for vulnerable populations, it is often not enough. The VNACJ Foundation works with individuals, corporations, foundations and volunteers to raise needed funds through a variety of programs including thrift shops, special events, planned gifts, capital campaigns, memorial gifts, grants and major gifts. Contributions to the VNACJ Foundation can be made by cash, check (made payable to VNACJ Foundation), pledge, credit card, appreciated property/securities, corporate matching gifts, planned gifts, or online at www.vnahg.org.

For more information about VNA Health Group, VNA of Central Jersey and VNACJ Foundation, please call 732-224-6780 or visit www.vnahg.org. Follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/VNAHealthGroup or @VNAHealthGroup.

MEDIA CONTACT:
Carmela Tedesco, Director of Special Events

VNACJ Foundation

Carmela.tedesco@vnahg.org

732-224-6970

02.28.2020

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