After having to briefly close last week due to a lack of money, Gilda’s Club, a support group for families affected by cancer, announced on Sunday that it re-opened and will in operation for at least the next four to five months. Gilda’s was taken off life support thanks to a $200,000 donation from Leonard Stern, a billionaire real estate developer.
The Hackensack-based club, the local branch of the national Gilda’s Club was temporarily shut down on June 6 and 7, before Stern made his donation. Providing support groups, children’s activities, and social events to all touched by cancer for free, the club could not meet its $811,000 annual budget, mostly due to the slow-moving economy and people’s inability to shell out as much cash as they did in the past.
Stern, chairman of Hartz Mountain Industries in Secaucus, learned about the Gilda’s Club suspending its operations after watching coverage of its financial situation on News 4 New York’s evening news.
A Manhattan resident, Stern, 70, ranks 79th on the Forbes 2007 list of the 400 wealthiest Americans. According to Forbes, Stern has $4.1 billion in assets.
Mary Connolly, chief executive officer of Gilda’s Club Northern New Jersey, is extremely thankful for Stern and his generous donation; however, she said that in order to remain open in future years, she will need four times the amount he donated.
"Gilda Club of Northern New Jersey is so greatly thankful for all of the generous support we have received from Stern and many others who have helped in a variety of ways. We have seen through the reactions of our members just how extremely valuable this club is to those affected by cancer," said Connolly.
"It is critically important now that we arrange for a longer range plan so that we can remain here in the future."
After Stern’s donation became public, many members of the club and local residents called Connolly to pledge donations. One couple even donated $10,000 in an effort to help keep the club open.
Connolly was unable to provide further comment before press deadline.
The Hackensack club has 800 active members and has served approximately 2,500 people since opening in 2000.
Two meetings were scheduled for June 9 and 11 for members and volunteers to discuss future steps to keep the club open. These meetings occurred after Hackensack Chronicle’s deadline.
