I just had the unique opportunity to speak at the Westfield Foundation’s annual breakfast this morning.  The Westfield Foundation awarded One  Year for Cancer a $3,000 grant towards the funding of our new website that will allow all the matching we do to happen on its own, and for individuals to track their time towards their ONE YEAR.  The experience was as exciting as it was humbling for me, and I wanted to express my gratitude yet again.

Arriving for breakfast in the sun-filled room at Echo Lake Country Club in Westfield was like walking into one of those dream situations, “If you could have breakfast with 50 of the most influential people of your childhood, who would you eat with?”  My answer would result in a room full of people much like those I got to share eggs benedict and coffee with this morning.  Rabbi Charles Kroloff, Head of Human Resources (and former teacher of Mike’s!) at Westfield Board of Ed, Barbara Ball, Trustee at the Overlook Hospital Foundation, Gerald Glasser, Co-Founder of the Westfield Athletic Hall of Fame, Lee Hale, numerous parents of childhood friends… this felt like a veritable “Who’s Who” of the Westfield community.  To say that I was honored to be a part of it, if only for a morning, would be an understatement.

I was given the opportunity as one of two new charities to receive a grant (40 total were given), to speak about my organization and to talk about how the money will be used.  I tried to keep my comments brief, but as you can guess it is difficult to curtail a speech about something you are so passionate about.  I can only hope that I got the point across about what we do, and that the Westfield Foundation knows how thankful we are for their contribution.  From the amount of people who came to me afterwards to congratulate Greg and I on our accomplishments and to express their excitement and support for what we’re doing, I’d say that – for the most part – I succeeded.

I am so thankful for the devoted Westfield residents who make up the board of the Westfield Foundation for believing in Greg and I and what we have started, and for giving us this opportunity to further our mission.  They have donated their time, money and expertise to help their community improve, and I hope someday that I, too, can give back to this community that has given me so much.

This morning represented one of those moments when you just KNOW you’re doing something good, and it’s not one I’ll soon forget!

Aaahhhh….feels great!