(above, l-r) Hearts for Emma Partner Fund’s 2020-2021 scholarship winners Elexa Rogolsky, Tiffany Rolon-Lucas, Sydney Shea
Hearts for Emma Partner Fund Awards Scholarships
Submitted by Gary Mignone
The NJ Sharing Network Foundation recently awarded scholarships to high school graduates for their passion and dedication to raising awareness of organ and tissue donation. These scholarships are made possible thanks to several of the Foundation’s family and partner funds.
The Hearts for Emma Partner Fund, which was created to celebrate the successful heart transplant of Emma Rothman of Cranford, awarded three scholarships to recognize graduating high school seniors whose lives have been touched by organ and tissue donation and transplantation. Each student was individually presented with their scholarship award at NJ Sharing Network’s headquarters in New Providence during a private ceremony in the Landscape of Life Meditation Garden. Hearts for Emma Partner Fund’s 2020-2021 scholarship winners are:
Elexa Rogolsky of Morganville (2020 graduate of Marlboro High School) has been continually organizing activities to promote donation since her father’s life was saved by a heart transplant when she was 8-years-old. Elexa served as the President of MHS’s Donate Life club for four years, served as MHS’s Team Captain for the 5K Celebration of Life and raised more than $20,000 by leading dozens of fundraising events, including bubble releases, and basket and scarf-making activities. Elexa plans to attend the University of Florida in the Fall.
Tiffany Rolon-Lucas of Woodbridge (2020 graduate of Colonia High School) was met with the biggest hurdle of her young life during her sophomore year when she was diagnosed with degenerative kidney disease. She fought for her life while on dialysis and returned to school with a catheter in her chest and a tube in her stomach. Thanks to a successful kidney transplant, Tiffany is living a healthy and active life, including competing in high school sports. Tiffany plans to attend Seton Hall University in the Fall.
Sydney Shea of Skillman (2020 graduate of Montgomery High School) is a transplant recipient who received life-changing ligament reconstruction surgery on both of her knees. She is forever grateful for her donor and has led peer group discussions and a school-wide presentation to promote organ and tissue donation. Sydney plans to attend Bucknell University in the Fall.
If you met Emma Rothman of Cranford today, you would never suspect that at the age of 12 she received an emergency heart transplant to save her life. Today, she is a college student at Syracuse University and is thankfully able to enjoy life to its fullest – enjoying days at the beach, volleyball and surfing, and spending time with family and friends. Emma is actively involved in supporting many important causes, especially raising awareness of the need for organ, tissue and blood donation. In January 2019, Emma was honored as a float rider on the Donate Life Float at the Rose Parade in Pasadena.
Hearts for Emma, a 501(c)(3) non-profit, was founded by the Rothman family of Cranford and provides assistance to families of children with heart disease and supports educational initiatives relating to heart transplantation and organ and tissue donation. The Hearts for Emma Partner Fund, a program of the NJ Sharing Network Foundation, supports the production and distribution of education materials and programs to help promote the importance of organ and tissue donation. The Fund has raised more than $50,000 since its inception and has helped educate more than 100,000 students about donation and transplant through NJ Sharing Network’s formal high school outreach program.
“Hearts for Emma is focused on educating present and future generations to ensure everyone understands the importance of organ and tissue donation and transplantation,” said Nancie Rothman, Emma’s mother. “This year’s scholarship winners, Elexa, Tiffany and Sydney, serve as perfect examples of what it means to take an active role in supporting these important outreach efforts.”
The Foundation’s scholarship program applicants were measured on academic achievement, community and volunteer efforts, extracurricular activities and advocacy for organ and tissue donation. The application process was completed in June, and applications were reviewed by a committee of the NJ Sharing Network Foundation Board members and volunteers.
“We are grateful for the generous support of Hearts for Emma and their ongoing commitment to rewarding students who share a commitment to our life-saving mission,” said Elisse E. Glennon, Executive Director of the NJ Sharing Network Foundation. “We know that all of our scholarship recipients will continue to be strong leaders in educating others about donation and transplantation as they move forward to begin college.”
For more information about NJ Sharing Network’s scholarship programs, please contact scholarship@njsharingnetwork.org.
About NJ Sharing Network
Dedicated to saving lives through organ and tissue donation, NJ Sharing Network is the non-profit organization responsible for the recovery and placement of donated organs and tissue for the nearly 4,000 New Jersey residents waiting for a life-saving transplant. With headquarters in New Providence, NJ, the organization, selected by NJBiz as one of the state’s “Best Places to Work” for the third consecutive year, is also part of the national recovery system, serving the nearly 115,000 people on the national waiting list. To learn more, get involved and register as an organ and tissue donor, visit NJSharingNetwork.org.
About the NJ Sharing Network Foundation
The NJ Sharing Network Foundation is committed to increasing the number of lives saved through innovative transplant research, family support, public awareness and education about the life-saving benefits of organ and tissue donation and transplantation. By making a contribution, you empower our efforts, bringing us a step closer to providing the greatest gift of all… the Gift of Life.
