Suzann Goldstein
Ensuring access to pediatric cancer care close to home
Suzann lost her 9-year-old daughter Valerie to bone cancer in 1976. With a mission to ensure New Jersey children have access to comprehensive treatment for cancer and blood disorders and supportive services in state, she and her husband Ed founded The Valerie Fund at Overlook Medical Center in Summit. Its network now serves eight pediatric hospitals in NJ, NY and PA, runs Camp Happy Times in the summer, and sponsors a scholarship program for children who’ve been treated at its centers. Over 30,500 children have had pediatric oncology/hematology care at a Valerie Fund cancer center to date.
Julia Quinlan
Pioneering access to hospice care
After their 21-year-old daughter Karen fell into an irreversible coma, Julia and Joseph Quinlan faced a landmark legal battle to have her taken off life support. Their court victory led to societal changes including living wills, advanced directives and practitioner orders for life-sustaining treatment forms; these empower an individual to to detail personal goals and medical preferences when faced with a serious or life-limiting illness. In 1980, they created the Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice, the first of its kind in North Jersey and the first Medicare certified home-based hospice in the state.In 1990, Julia opened the Joseph T. Quinlan Bereavement Center, offering grief counseling regardless of the ability to pay.
Faye Zealand
Faye and her late husband Terrence founded the AIDS Resource Foundation for Children in 1987 to provide HIV-positive children with a nurturing and supportive environment while awaiting return to their own relatives or placement in foster homes. They established the first transitional home for children with AIDS in the country and have extended their services to abused and neglected medically fragile children and a broad array of social services. Their mission is carried forward by their son, Kevin Zealand, who serves as Executive Director.
Dr. Eugene Cheslock
Nurturing the uninsured with free health care
After Dr. Cheslock retired from his oncology/hematology practice, he established the Parker Family Health Center in 1999. From its humble start in a trailer, the free community clinic has 200 doctors, dentists, nurses and other medical professionals, plus translators and administrators, who donate their time and talent to serve about 10,000 patient visits each year. The volunteer-based clinic in Red Bank—named after two revered local physicians—provides primary health care for uninsured Monmouth County residents and refers patients to its network of volunteer specialists in 20 disciplines.
Joyce Jenkins
Improving health for Freehold’s underserved population
Joyce is the founder and director of the Paul M. McGuire Family Health Center in Freehold, which provides free or low-cost medical care to the uninsured and working poor. Seeing the need within the community, Joyce got a trailer donated, recruited a medical director and medical professionals, and secured funding and private donations to open the center in 2005, which is now in a larger facility. Most practitioners and staff there are volunteers who provide desperately needed physical and primary care services, immunizations, pediatric, ophthalmological, gynecological, and dermatological services, and diabetes classes.
Dr. Robert Zufall
Reducing barriers to culturally responsive, holistic care
In 1990, Dr. Zufall and his wife, Kathryn opened a small storefront community clinic in Dover to provide free medical and dental care to poor, mostly immigrant families. Zufall Health is now a multifaceted, nonprofit health care system serving low-income families in seven NJ counties, in clinics and two mobile units. Its services now include behavioral health, pharmacy, nutrition, and more, provided and administered by 500 employees who serve more than 48,000 patients each year. Mrs. Zufall passed away in 2014 and Dr. Zufall in March 2024.
More Honorees Making an Impact on Health & Wellness
1998
After losing her four-year-old daughter to a brain tumor, Victoria and her husband Paul created the Colleen Giblin Foundation in 1985. They raised millions of dollars to help find a cure for pediatric neurological diseases. Foundation proceeds now support research efforts at The Colleen Giblin Foundation Laboratory at Columbia Presbyterian Hospital. Victoria died in 2020.
1998
The former wife of the Nobel Prize mathematical genius, John Forbes Nash, Alicia is responsible for saving the lives of her son and husband, who were both diagnosed with schizophrenia. She was known to many as a mental health care advocate. She and John died in an auto accident in 2015.
2002
Anna, a physician, founded Our Lady of Providence Free Medical Clinic in Neptune to serve the working poor without medical insurance. The clinic continues to serve the community.
1998
Roxanne’s battle with lupus as a teen motivated her to create a network to bring together those who face health crises to discuss common problems, recent issues, and new developments. That became Friends’ Health Connection, an internationally recognized organization that connects people with similar illnesses or conditions.
2010
At just 15 years old, these cousins co-founded Breast Intentions after learning that three family members had been diagnosed with the disease. Breast Intentions provides emotional and financial support, crisis intervention, and other resources to patients and their families while they were battling breast cancer.
2004
While in college, Shimmy initiated a 300-mile cycling event to help children living with HIV/AIDS in Newark. After graduating, Shimmy established Angelwish.org, a “digital philanthropy” nonprofit to help busy people grant wishes to children with chronic illnesses
2003
Allen started the Bellevue/New York University Program for Survivors of Torture after serving as a medical volunteer in a refugee camp along the Thai-Cambodian border, where he witnessed human rights abuses. Since its inception, the Program has provided services to help rebuild the lives of nearly 6,500 men, women, and children from more than 112 countries.
2017
Valentine House’s mission is to open and implement sober living group homes for those recovering from substance use disorder. The residences provide a safe environment and support at four sober living homes in northern NJ. Charles passed away in February 2025.
2015
After battling breast cancer, Doria established Curémonos, which focuses on helping underserved and uninsured Latinas affected by the disease. It provides education, advocacy, patient navigation services and interpretation services.
2021
Financial support for families affected by ALS
After watching her father courageously fight ALS until he lost his battle, Donna established HARK ALS in 2010 in his memory. She is dedicated to helping alleviate the financial burden endured by families affected by ALS. Families from throughout NJ benefit from HARK ALS grants to cover equipment, travel, household and home modification expenses; donors who participate in Adopt a Child of an ALS Family for the Holidays; and family adventures of their choosing through a special program.
