Leadership Spotlight: Carmela Tedesco

When Carmela “Cammy” Tedesco walked through the doors of the Visiting Nurse Association for her first interview in 1993—answering a job listing she spotted in the Asbury Park Press—she had no idea she was stepping into the professional home that would define her life.

At the time, she was early in her career and working in sales and marketing, selling presentation equipment. It wasn’t fulfilling her. “I wasn’t enjoying my actual position,” she recalls. “I’m a very engaging, creative person, and a very caring person—someone who puts others first. I needed something that felt more like me.”

When she arrived at MCOSS, the predecessor of VNA of Central Jersey, she felt it immediately: the warmth, the mission, and the sense of belonging. “I walked in the door and felt so welcomed,” she says. “I met with the Director of Development, Nancy Montserrat, and heard about the amazing things the VNA did. I wasn’t aware of it before that moment. It was the perfect job for me. I loved it.”

That first role, Special Events Coordinator, launched a relationship with VNA Health Group that has now spanned more than three decades.

A Career Built on Connection and Community

Cammy served as Special Events Coordinator from 1993 until 1999, when she stepped away to raise her family. Even during those years away, VNA Health Group never drifted far. She continued consulting for nonprofits, working on marketing and mortgage projects, and the organization would periodically call her to help with an event. “I had always hoped to come back,” she says. “I’d even drive past the building. It always felt like home.”

One day, she ran into a member of VNA of Central Jersey’s HR team while out shopping. The conversation struck a spark. “She said, ‘You’d be great for this position,’” Cammy recalls. Soon after, she returned—officially rejoining the organization in June 2008 as Special Events Manager, a role she held for nearly nine years while leading community engagement and many of the organization’s most beloved fundraising traditions.

In 2017, she became Director of Special Events for VNA Health Group, expanding her work to oversee philanthropy-driven event strategy across the entire organization. Four years later, she transitioned into the role of Director of Annual Giving, deepening year-round donor engagement and overseeing initiatives that strengthened the donor pipeline. And in 2022, she stepped into her current role as Director of Development, bringing her full circle into the mission-driven work that first captured her heart more than three decades ago.

Across these roles, she has shaped many of the organization’s most beloved fundraising traditions, from the car raffle and children’s Halloween fest to the Beach Ball and Holiday Bash.

But for Cammy, the events themselves are not the story. The people are.

“My favorite part has always been working with our incredible volunteers and board members—people who are so passionate about caring for others and engaging the community,” she says. “It feels like a privilege to work with people who are so inspiring and who make a true impact on those who need help.”

Why People Give

With more than 30 years in philanthropy, Cammy speaks about donor motivation with a natural ease rooted in experience.

“People have so many choices today,” she explains. “But VNA Health Group aligns with so many personal values—helping people who need care, extending a hand, making someone’s life better. Whether it’s making sure a family has a holiday or that someone gets the healthcare they need, our community wants to make a difference. And through the VNA, they can fulfill that desire.”

What she sees every day is the power of shared purpose. “It’s really about working together and being together,” she says. “That’s what makes this community so special.”

What People Don’t Realize About the VNA

When asked what surprises people most about VNA Health Group, Cammy doesn’t hesitate: the breadth of care.

“It’s across every demographic and every disparity,” she says. “From infants all the way to elders, it’s the complete circle of life. Someone may come to us with a newborn, and we’ll still be caring for that family decades later in a totally different role.”

She also highlights the strength of VNA Health Group’s partnerships. “We have so many relationships with community organizations. We bring people together to solve problems and make sure those who need care get it.”

And, she notes, this is all deeply connected to the agency’s roots. “Our community health centers are so impactful—they’re what VNA Health Group was founded on by Geraldine Thompson. That commitment to community care is such an important part of our mission.”

A Small but Mighty Team

Cammy leads a lean philanthropy department, but one she describes with unmistakable pride.

“We have Cara Zimmerman, our Special Events Coordinator, who engages in all aspects of supporting event initiatives from start to finish, as well as broader philanthropy work,” Cammy says. Then we have our grant managers, Colleen Mangold and Amy Rosen, who secure vital funding to help close the fundraising gap.”

“The team is incredibly committed, hardworking, and visionary. They’re very passionate about their work and about caring for patients. Through their jobs, they’re improving the lives of others.”

Deep Roots, Strong Values

Cammy has lived much of her life in the local community, giving her a unique perspective on the VNA’s evolution—from its MCOSS days to the expanded organization it is today. She’s seen committees grow, boards expand, and supporters stay with VNA Health Group for decades.

“The longtime commitment from our supporters is inspiring,” she says. “They truly believe in our mission, and I’m so thankful for everyone’s support across the board.”

Her leadership at VNA Health Group is shaped not only by her professional experiences but also by her personal life. She serves on the board of a pediatric cancer foundation, another source of inspiration, and speaks openly about how her own family grounds her work.

She and her husband have been married for 30 years and have two children, a son and a daughter. Outside of work, she describes herself as “fun-loving and active.”

Looking Ahead

Three decades after that first interview, Cammy still lights up when talking about VNA Health Group. What keeps her here is the same thing that drew her in back in 1993: the mission, the people, and the sense of community that runs through every part of the organization.

“I just feel so grateful,” she says. “Being in the community for so long and having relationships here has really opened my eyes to the needs out there. And working at the VNA, knowing we’re helping people at every stage of life, is truly inspiring.”

For Cammy, the work has always been a calling, and a place she knew she would one day come back to.

And now, more than 30 years after she first stepped through its doors, she continues to help shape what makes VNA Health Group special: the heart, the community, and the belief that together, people can make a difference.

Support the Mission That Inspires Cammy’s Work

The belief that caring for others can change lives is at the heart of Cammy’s work and the core of VNA Health Group’s mission. Every day, that commitment is fulfilled through compassionate, high-quality home health, hospice, and community-based services to thousands of vulnerable and underserved people each year.

By donating to VNA Health Group, you help ensure that seniors, families, and children in our communities receive the care and support they need at every stage of life.

Make a gift today: https://vnahg.org/giving/ 

For more information about supporting VNA Health Group or to make a gift by phone, please contact the Philanthropy Office at 732-224-6780 or email donate@vnahg.org.