Supporter Extends Love to Kids in Need
Nick Paola volunteers at Children's Specialized Hospital and is extending his impact by planning a future gift to help children with special needs.
In 1991, a few months before retirement, a newspaper article about Children's Specialized Hospital's need for volunteers caught Nick Paola's attention. A corporate tax director and Fanwood resident, he always enjoyed working with kids. Nick knew that, after retiring, he would be involved with children in some way, but never imagined it would be at a children's hospital. Thus began a 25-year relationship with Children's Specialized Hospital at Mountainside as a reliable volunteer and donor.
Nick began volunteering three mornings a week transporting the children to and from scheduled therapies. In addition to transportation, Nick also worked with speech therapists mostly involved with children with autism and cerebral palsy. On his transportation days, Nick began visiting the Pediatric Long Term Care Center, which is home to many medically fragile children who are unable to be cared for at home-some of whom are nonverbal due to their complex medical conditions.
One morning when Nick was visiting with the Long Term Care children, a mother of a patient told him that she was sure her daughter was aware of his visits. "This solidified my desire to make the Long Term Care Center a permanent part of my volunteering," Nick says.
Nick's volunteering also included special events such as the Halloween and Christmas parades around the decorated halls, the Friday Night Fever Program, the petting zoo, the Special Olympics at Rutgers University, the balloon festival in Readington, New Jersey, and more than 16 years with Camp Chatterbox.
Nick, now 89, spends his time in the classroom for Long Term Care children at Mountainside. In the classroom, the teachers use sounds and a wide array of therapy and sensory activities to stimulate the senses of the children. For example, Nick says there are two kids who heartily smile when they hear a squeaking noise in the classroom.
Nick is a member of the Heritage Society and strongly urges donations to support Children's Specialized Hospital Foundation. Another satisfying way to help the children is to make provisions in your will for Children's Specialized Hospital Foundation.
When asked why he was always so interested in children, Nick replies, "I've wondered why at times myself and, besides their innocence, I always come up with the same answer: just a simple four letter word: love. Being a volunteer at Children's Specialized Hospital is one of the best and luckiest things that ever happened to me."
Give the Gift of Hope
To learn how you can join Nick in supporting the future of Children's Specialized Hospital, contact Elena Herskowitz at 1-201-618-3133 or 1-888-CHILDREN ext. 55462 or eherskowitz@childrens-specialized.org today.