12 Apr ESSEX COUNTY EXECUTIVE DIVINCENZO ANNOUNCES PARTNERSHIP WITH LOCAL CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS County Helping to Raise Awareness for the American Cancer Society, American Heart Association, the Arc of Essex County, The Valerie Fund, Arthritis Foundation, NJ Children’s Alliance, Stop for Nikhil, Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center’s NICU, RWJBarnabas Health and the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Event Participants are Offered Reduced Admission to Essex County South Mountain Recreation Complex Attractions
Published on April 12, 2022
Essex County, NJ – Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr. announced on Thursday, April 7th that Essex County was participating in 10 special partnerships to increase awareness about and help raise funds for the American Cancer Society, American Heart Association, the Arc of Essex County, the New Jersey Children’s Alliance, Stop for Nikhil, The Valerie Fund, the Arthritis Foundation, the Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center’s NICU, RWJBarnabas Health and the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. DiVincenzo is inviting the public to come out and support the worthy causes of each organization. In addition, the Executive announced that participants from each event will receive reduced admission to the Essex County South Mountain Recreation Complex on the day of their respective fund-raising events.
“Each of these well-respected organizations does a great deal to make a positive difference in and improve the quality of life for our residents. I invite the public to run, walk or donate to help out these really great causes,” DiVincenzo said. “To say thank you to these organizations and the thousands of people who support them, we are offering reduced admission to Turtle Back Zoo, Codey Arena and the miniGOLF Safari for the people who participate in these events,” he added.
A description of the organizations and a schedule of their events are as follows:
The Arc of Essex County’s Annual Building Tomorrows 5K Run and Family Walk is an in-person event on Saturday, April 9th at the Clipper Pavilion in the Essex County South Mountain Recreation Complex. The Arc of Essex County provides supportive services for people with developmental or intellectual disabilities. For information and registration, visit www.arcessex.org. This event was held on Saturday, April 9th.
Great Strides is the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation’s largest national fundraising event and will be held in person on Saturday, May 14th in Essex County Verona Park. The mission of the foundation is to cure cystic fibrosis and raise awareness about this rare, genetic, life-shortening disease that makes it difficult to breathe and shortens lives. Proceeds from the event help accelerate innovative research and drug development, as well as advance care and advocacy. Registration is free, but walkers are encouraged to raise funds. For more information, visit www.fightcf.cff.org. It will be held as follows:
Date: Saturday, May 14, 2022
Time: 10 a.m. Registration
11 a.m. 3-Mile Walk
Place: Essex County Verona Park
Bloomfield Avenue and Lakeside Avenue
Verona, NJ
The Arthritis Foundation’s Walk to Cure Arthritis is an in-person event on Sunday, June 5th at the Essex County South Mountain Recreation Complex. The Arthritis Foundation helps conquer everyday battles through life-changing information and resources, access to optimal care, advancements in science and community connections. For more information, visit www.arthritis.org. It will be held as follows:
Date: Sunday, June 5, 2022
Time: 8 a.m. Registration
9:30 a.m. Walk
Place: Essex County South Mountain Recreation Complex
Cherry Lane
West Orange, NJ
The Valerie Fund Walk and JAG Physical Therapy Walk and 5K Run is an in-person event on Saturday, September 17th in Essex County Verona Park. Proceeds will be used to support the comprehensive care of children with cancer and blood disorders. For more information on the Walk or 5K Run, visit TheValerieFund.org/Walk2022/. It will be held as follows:
Date: Saturday, September 17, 2022
Time: 7 a.m. Registration
8:30 a.m. 5k Race
10 a.m. Walk
Place: Essex County Verona Park
Bloomfield Avenue
Verona, NJ
The Nikhil Badlani Foundation will present the Stop for Nikhil 5K Run/3K Walk/5K Bike Ride as an in-person and virtual event on Sunday, September 18th at West Orange High School. The foundation is named for 11-year-old Nikhil Badlani, who was killed in a car accident in 2011 when the driver failed to stop at a stop sign. Its mission is to enhance the lives of children through music lessons, scholarships for graduating high school seniors and traffic safety awareness and education. For more information, visit www.nikhilbadlanifoundation.org. It will be held as follows:
Date: Sunday, September 18, 2022
Time: 7:30 a.m. Registration
8:15 a.m. 5K Bike Ride
9:30 a.m. 5K Run
9:45 a.m. 3K Walk
Place: West Orange High School
51 Conforti Avenue
West Orange, NJ
The 22nd Annual Miracle Walk to benefit the Saint Barnabas Medical Center’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit is an in-person event on Sunday, October 9th in Essex County Verona Park. Miracle Walk was created by a family in gratitude for their daughter’s care during a three-month stay in the Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. The funds have supported the purchase of advanced medical technology for the NICU, such as Giraffe Omnibeds, NeoPuff infant resuscitators, neoBLUE LED phototherapy lights and cutting-edge Isolette infant transporters. The walk also supports the Cooperman Barnabas staff that treats 1,100 infants in the NICU annually. For more information, visit rwjbh.donordrive.com. It will be held as follows:
Date: Sunday, October 9, 2022
Time: 9 a.m.
Place: Essex County Verona Park
Bloomfield Avenue
Verona, NJ
The American Cancer Society will present its Making Strides Against Breast Cancer as an in-person event on Sunday, October 16th at the Prudential Center in Newark. The walk helps raise awareness and funds to save lives from breast cancer. The event brings people together to make a difference for everyone who has been touched by breast cancer. The events raise money to fund innovative research, provide free information and support, and to help people reduce their breast cancer risk or find it early when it’s most treatable. For information, contact liz.rodoussakis@cancer.org. It will be held as follows:
Date: Sunday, October 16, 2022
Time: 10 a.m.
Place: Mulberry Commons Park
160-172 Mulberry Street
Newark, NJ
The Annual Greater Northern NJ Heart Walk is scheduled for the fall 2022. This event attracts businesses and residents from Essex, Morris, Somerset, Union and Warren Counties. Proceeds will be used to raise awareness and support prevention of cardiovascular disease and stroke. It will be held as follows:
Date: Sunday, October 16, 2022
Time: TBA
Place: Essex County South Mountain Recreation Complex
Cherry Lane
West Orange, NJ
The New Jersey Children’s Alliance will present the Heroes for Children 5K Run, Walk or Ride as an in-person event on Saturday, October 22nd at the Clipper Pavilion in the Essex County South Mountain Recreation Complex; a virtual event will be held October 15-22. The 5K run is a USATF certified run. The event will promote public awareness about child abuse issues and increase knowledge about the services of local Children’s Advocacy Centers and Multidisciplinary Teams and the difference these services make in a child’s life. For more information, visit www.njcainc.org. It will be held as follows:
Date: Saturday, October 22, 2022
Time: 7:30 a.m. Registration
9 a.m. 5K Run and Walk
Place: Essex County South Mountain Recreation Complex
Clipper Pavilion
Cherry Lane
West Orange, NJ
RWJBarnabas Health and the New Jersey Devils have teamed up to honor RWJBarnabas Health’s 40,000 healthcare workers across New Jersey who provide essential care residents throughout New Jersey. RWJBarnabas Health’s Running with the Devils 5K Run & Walk will take place on the morning of Sunday, October 30th at the Essex County South Mountain Recreation Complex, with options to join the 5K run around the reservoir, spend the day strolling around the Essex County Turtle Back Zoo or running virtually from October 1-30. All proceeds from the event will be used to support healthcare heroes in their efforts to protect and build healthier communities. It will be held as follows:
Date: Saturday, October 30, 2022
Time: TBA
Place: Essex County South Mountain Recreation Complex
and Essex County Turtle Back Zoo
560 Northfield Avenue
West Orange, NJ
Participants in these events can receive $5 admission to Turtle Back Zoo, Codey Arena and the miniGOLF Safari in West Orange. The reduced admission is available on event days and participants must bring their race bib or proof of registration to receive the discount.