The Star-Ledger published the following article on June 26, 2014. To read the full article, click here.
600 NJ families with seriously ill, disabled children share $8 million in grants supported by employers
By Susan K. Livio/The Star-Ledger
on June 26, 2014 at 6:30 AM, updated June 26, 2014 at 1:33 PMTRENTON — One family from Mount Laurel bought a minivan. A single mom from Waldwick used the money to build a handicapped accessible bathroom for her daughter and pay off doctor bills. The parents of 18-month-old premature twin boys in Jackson hired a home health aide and bought medical equipment.
The state’s Catastrophic Illness in Children Relief Fund Commission has paid out $8 million this year and shared it among 613 families who are struggling to pay off medical bills or can’t afford to make their homes accessible and safe for their sick children.
The commission hosted a luncheon for families in Trenton Wednesday.
“This is government at its best, doing good things for people,” said Howard Korsen, who attended the luncheon with his wife Ann and 18-year-old daughter, Mara, who is diagnosed with mitrochondrial myopathy, a neuromuscular disease.
The Korsens used their grant to buy a $27,000 handicapped accessible minivan so they wouldn’t have to lift Mara, and then pack up her 75-pound wheelchair every time they wanted to go out, Howard Korsen said in an interview after the event. “It takes a lot of stress off my neck and back and my wife’s neck and back . . .We are grateful for the help.”
New Jersey businesses pay a $1.50 per employee surcharge annually to support the fund, which is in its 26th year, according to the announcement. A total of 7,275 families have shared $157 million in grants, said Janice Prontnicki, a physician and the commission chairperson.