Originally printed in Hoboken Progress, November 20, 2009. Back to main events page.
Organizations collaborate for good cause
BY ANDREW TAVANI
Correspondent
HOBOKEN -- On Tuesday, Nov. 10, the Hoboken Jubilee Center hosted an event organized by the New Jersey Chapter of the Arthritis Foundation to help raise awareness about the plight of children afflicted with arthritis. The event also drew the participation of local author Jane Lovascio, a few firefighters from the Hoboken Fire Department and a cake donated by Buddy Valastro, AKA the "Cake Boss" of the namesake hit television show on TLC.
The Arthritis Foundation is trying to create a presence in Hudson County and the event was the first in what the non-profit organization has dubbed "Holiday on the Hudson" in which the foundation is using the holiday season to spreads its message in the area. According to the Arthritis Foundation, there are over 1.7 million people in New Jersey who suffer with arthritis. Approximately 9,000 of them of them are children and the foundation is hoping to spread the message throughout Hudson County that the painful disease does not discriminate.
"Kids get arthritis too," Poonam Balani, a spokesperson for the Arthritis Foundation said, noting that the foundation's goal is to educate people that children who are sometimes perceived as lazy or unmotivated might, unbeknownst to them and their parents, be exhibiting symptoms of arthritis. Just like adults, afflicted kids need to seek treatment for arthritis.
The atmosphere at the event was light. About 80 or so attendees of the Jubilee Center's after-school program jumped around as a show of solidarity with kids who might not be able to enjoy such a simple pleasure due to arthritis.
"The Jubilee Center continuously looks for ways to educate the children with information that might be helpful to them and to their families," said Larry Henriques, chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Jubilee Center. "By partnering with the Arthritis Foundation for this event, the children will be made aware of a disease that may affect them or their friends. By increasing the awareness of the disease, the hope is that, perhaps, some child might seek treatment because they understand the symptoms."
In addition to the enthusiastic jumping, the kids at the event were treated to a reading by local children's author Jane Lovascio. Lovascio has written a series of illustrated books about her dogs, Casey and Bella. Lovascio brought the protagonists of her stories -- Casey, a Jack Russell Terrier and Bella, a Yorkie -- to meet the kids. Then, she read her newest book, "Casey and Bella Go to New York City," while the kids noshed on some delicious cake donated by Buddy Valastro of Carlo's Bakery. Valastro baked a red velvet cake that was, as all his cakes are, decorated with exquisite artistry. The cake featured spot-on depictions of the Jubilee Center logo and Lovascio's dogs Casey and Bella.
"Casey and Bella are all about children and charity," said Lovascio. "I started the Casey and Bella book series to raise awareness for special charities that have touched my heart in some way. The Jubilee Center and The Arthritis Foundation are two organizations dear to my heart."
Lovascio added that some proceeds from the sale of her books are donated to the Jubilee Center.
The children also got the chance to tour a real fire engine. Several firefighters from the Hoboken Fire Department brought one of their enormous red trucks to the center and the kids talked with and had pictures taken with firefighters and got to check out all the ins and outs of the vehicle. The firefighters passed out plastic replica firefighting helmets, which the kids all appeared to enjoy wearing.
For free information about arthritis or juvenile arthritis programs, including simple strategies to improve health and limit the impact of arthritis, contact the Arthritis Foundation at 732-283- 4300 or online at arthritis.org.