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NTAF Community Heroes: Genesee County Youth Bureau
10/02/2009
News
NTAF Community Heroes: The Genesee County Youth Bureau
Five members of the Genesee County Youth Bureau, of Batavia, NY, were nominated by Deborah Rosenbeck, wife of Jim Rosenbeck of the NTAF New York Kidney Transplant Fund.
Deborah is the executive director of the Youth Bureau, which assists with the development and funding of programs that encourage positive youth development and educates the community about youth issues, needs and problems.
Deborah nominated five staff members: Jen Waldron, Tracy Ranney, Jocelyn Sikorksi, Kathy Frank and Shannon Wright, for their fundraising efforts that helped she and her husband through the financial barriers of transplantation.
Deborah’s submission
Edited and adapted by Shannon McMonagle, NTAF E-News Editor
I have an amazing staff that always puts others first, both at work and in their personal lives. One day Jen (Waldron) came to me and said that she and the staff felt helpless and wondered what they could do to help. – She was referring to my husband’s illness (polycystic kidney disease) and his impending kidney transplant. Everyone who heard the story about Jim and his living donor were inspired to do something.
The staff rallied around Jen and planned a wonderful benefit— a chicken barbecue, a huge basket raffle and a card tournament all in one night— to help us raise money for the uninsured medical expenses related to Jim’s transplant. … We could not believe the number of individuals that came forward to donate, assist and subsequently attend the event. It was the most uplifting experience to see the outpouring of support and love. It helped so much to strengthen Jim’s resolve, and allowed him to swallow his fears so he could do well with the surgery.
We saw people that we had not seen in years. It was like a friends-and-family reunion, but at a very critical and emotional time. … The funds raised were most certainly secondary to the emotional support that this event provided; however, the financial outcome far exceeded anyone’s expectations.
Not only my staff, but their families also participated in the planning and the grunt work— before, during and after the event. I will be forever humbled by the kindness and generosity shown during that time, especially from my staff.
My staff makes an impact on the children in our community each and every day. They are kind, dedicated and compassionate in everything that they do— always going the extra mile. I work with a wonderful team of individuals who not only know how to work hard together, but how to laugh and have fun. It was key to their success in this event, and their ongoing success in the work that we do every day.
I would be so pleased if they could receive some small form of recognition through the community heroes program. They are my heroes, and I’m fortunate to have them surround me every day.
-Deborah Rosenbeck
