Ralph Stowe
Live music promotes prostate cancer screenings
After his brother, jazz trombonist Jimmy Stowe died of prostate cancer, and following his own screening, diagnosis and treatment for the same disease, Ralph founded Jazz for Prostate Cancer Awareness (Jazz4PCA) in his honor in 2011. The organization hosts events to raise awareness about the importance of getting screened and treated for prostate cancer. With his urologist’s encouragement, Ralph became an advocate for education about and early detection of prostate cancer. Jazz4PCA provides accurate information about the disease and access to free or low-cost screenings, utilizing live jazz music to draw individuals to this vital mission.
Jodi O’Donnell Ames
Support and camaraderie for children and teens of ALS families
Jodi lost her 30-year-old husband to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in 2001. She later married a man whose wife had died from ALS, leaving two young children. She started Hope Loves Company in 2012 to provide educational and emotional support to children and teens who had or have loved ones battling ALS. Hope Loves Company is the only nonprofit in New Jersey and the U.S. dedicated to helping children of ALS patients. The organization hosts free weekend retreats that provide crucial down time, recreational activities, counseling, team building and coping skills, and opportunities for kids to bond with others who understand what they are going through. Hope Loves Company also provides Hugs of Hope care packages, educational resources, and a helpline for children and families in need of support.
Linda Gillick
A mother’s fierce determination to find answers
When Linda’s son was diagnosed with neuroblastoma, a cancer of the nervous system, when he was 3 months old, she was determined to find answers. This led to years of research and litigation on behalf of families living in the Toms River “cancer cluster” whose children were affected by the water supply that contained cancer causing chemicals. She founded Ocean of Love to help the children of Ocean County who have cancer and their families. It provides a safe space that allows the children to experience a more “normal” childhood, plus financial assistance for travel expenses for treatments, household bills and food, gifts, funeral expenses, and much more.
Faith Rice
Founded the nation’s first center of excellence for Tourette Syndrome
Faith Rice created The New Jersey Center for Tourette Syndrome in 2004 after her struggle to get an accurate diagnosis for her son years before. The unique collaborative program was the first Center of Excellence for Tourette Syndrome in the US, offering referrals and support for families, public awareness programs, education for professionals, and support for genetic research. Faith passed away in 2021, leaving a profound legacy of hope for people living with Tourette Syndrome and the associated disorders.
Saranne Rothberg
Photo Credit: https://www.saranne.com/
Demonstrating that laughter is the best medicine
Saranne is a performer who founded the Comedy Cures Foundation after her breast cancer diagnosis in 1999 and credits her comic perspective with helping her beat stage 4 cancer. Her nonprofit provides laugh therapy and humor to help others with their health challenges, at support groups, camps, hospitals and senior centers, and through its 24-hour laugh line, 888-Hahahaha. Saranne creates innovative global wellness-related programming in all media formats, collaborating with healthcare professionals, thought leaders, researchers, and entertainers to start conversations, share ideas, stimulate research, and find solutions across healthcare and many industries. Her award-winning podcast is called “Beating Cancer Daily.”
Franklin Smith
Photo Credit: https://www.njbuddies.org/
Allies and advocates for people affected by HIV/AIDS
Franklin founded New Jersey’s first HIV/AIDS support group, Buddies of NJ, in 1985 during the early days of the AIDS epidemic. The organization has helped thousands of people get social services and personal support through a structure to cope and seek treatment through allies—people who would become “buddies.” The community-based resource center offers support, education and services for people living with and affected by HIV/AIDS in Bergen and Passaic counties. Its wraparound services include licensed substance abuse counseling and treatment services, free rapid HIV testing and counseling, PrEP counseling and linkage, community health workers, case management, housing assistance, dental services, peer support groups, transportation, and a food bank. Frank passed away in 2016 but his vision lives on.
Thelma Thiel
Turning personal loss into a global push for liver research
Thelma lost her infant son Dean to biliary atresia, a rare liver disease, in 1970. She created the Dean Thiel Foundation to raise funds for liver research and was the first patient advocate to inform Congress about the dire for this funding. Thelma became a crusader against liver disease and a strong advocate about liver health over five decades. Having served on several national and global health organizations and commissions, she organized the American Liver Foundation to promote liver health and wellness information, producing several award-winning videos for use in schools and clinics, and created programs for students and sports teams to educate them about hepatitis. She co-founded The Liver Health Initiative in 2016 in collaboration with several universities.
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.
