BRK, RAD, and REA March for Babies

Three Berks County BAYADA offices, Berks County, PA Visits (BRK), Reading, PA Adult (RAD), and Reading, PA (REA), joined efforts to support the March of Dimes, March for Babies.

The local March was held on Sunday, May 6, at the Penn State, Berks campus. REA sponsored the Puppy Rest Station. Client Services Manager Karen Davis and Clinical Manager Eileen Pucci handed out biscuits and provided water for the four-legged friends, and also participated in the walk.

Our team of walkers included office and field staff from all three offices, as well as family and friends. The team raised more than $1,000 to help support the March of Dimes mission to walk together for stronger, healthier babies.

Janelle Adams, Recruiter (REA)

WTP team participates in local March of Dimes event

Sunday, April 29, was beautiful, sunny, and a perfect day for the BAYADA Pediatrics Washington Township (WTP) office team to walk five miles and raise funds for the March of Dimes, March for Babies. The walk supports research to help understand and prevent premature birth and other serious problems that threaten babies and foster programs in the community to help moms have full term pregnancies and babies begin healthy lives.

The event was very well attended with well over 500 walkers. The five-mile course wound through the campus of Rowan University in Glassboro, NJ and the surrounding town. There were many local vendors giving away food, prizes, and playing music to benefit a great cause!

John Barbaccia, Director (WTP)

NYC participates in Walk to Defeat ALS annual event

On Saturday, May 5, members from the New York City, NY (NYC) office staffed participated in the annual NYC Walk to Defeat ALS at Pier 96 in Manhattan.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), often referred to as "Lou Gehrig's disease," is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and the spinal cord. Walks all across the United States are held to raise funds for patient services and research.


Each year, BAYADA Home Health Care sponsors the button booth where walkers of all ages can make buttons to commemorate their participation in the ALS Walk. This year, as a special treat, we were joined by the BAYADA Bear! A great time was had by all.

Carol Bishop, RN, CRRN, Clinical Support Specialist (NYC)

Willow Grove, PA offices blow bubbles to raise awareness for autism

As a way to give back to their community, the Willow Grove, PA Pediatric (WGP) office supports a different charity each month. Once the organization has been selected, the office procures support bracelets that can be purchased by office and field staff. The proceeds from the sale of the bracelets are then donated to the charity at the end of the month.

Since April is Autism Awareness Month, it seemed fitting to support FACES 4 Autism—a non-profit organization which assists children and their families dealing with autism. In addition to selling bracelets to office and field staff this month, office staff also took the Bubbles for Autism challenge. Bubbles bring people together and are a symbol of joy, hope, and laughter. The FACES 4 Autism challenge was a way to help create a new awareness of families facing autism.

FACES 4 Autism challenged businesses and schools throughout the tri-state area to help set the Guinness World Record for blowing bubbles! Each participating organization needed a minimum of 25 people blowing bubbles simultaneously at 1:15 pm on Thursday, April 26. Members from the WGP, Willow Grove, PA (WG), and Willow Grove, PA Staffing (WGS) offices, and a neighboring attorney office, all stepped outside on this beautiful spring day to spread autism awareness in the form of glycerin bubbles across the sky as messages of hope to families dealing with autism.

Monies donated to this non-profit organization assist in helping children and families with autism attend special trainings, play at special events just for them, and educate teachers. What a fun and unique way to support a good cause, and to reflect on our many blessings!

For more information about this event and organization, please visit FACES 4 Autism.

Kimberly Biggins, Division Recruitment Manager

HUD and HCV team members attend annual Autism event to raise awareness

On Saturday, April 7, Big Daddy Entertainment held the third annual Jersey City Autism Event at Michael Anthony’s—a waterfront restaurant located in Jersey City, NJ.

Hudson, NJ (HUD) office Client Services Manager Daisy Peralta and Hudson County, NJ Visits (HCV) office Client Services Manager Theresa Harris attended the event. They enjoyed live performances by queen of freestyle and pop Lisa Lisa and the incredible Lime.

An estimated $10,000 was raised for The Regional Day School of Jersey City, NJ. Danny Ocasio from Big Daddy Entertainment has a son diagnosed with Autism and stated, “This is only the beginning.” Danny’s son and the children attending Regional Day School will benefit from awareness and funds raised during the event.

Please visit the Autism Speaks to learn more about Autism and you can help.

Daisy I. Peralta, Client Service Manager-Hudson County (HUD)

DP team spends an evening at the local Ronald McDonald House

On Sunday, April 22, the Delaware Pediatric (DP) office volunteered to cook a dinner and spend an evening with families staying at the Ronald McDonald House of Delaware. The BAYADA team, DP Director Patty Watson and her son Anthony, Clinical Liaison Sheri Conrad, Personnel Coordinator Tara Callaway, OT Janice Buckwalter and her husband Jeff, Downingtown, PA (DOW) office Director Joan Coleman, Delaware Pediatrics (DPV) office Administrative Coordinator Marlowe Bogino and her husband Steve, Registered Nurse Helen Wolf, Client Services Manager Melanie Butler, and her son Zachary, and Client Services Manager Shea Boland, made a lovely Mexican dinner. The menu included beef and chicken tacos with salsa, sour cream, lettuce, shredded cheese; and a side dish of Spanish rice.

In honor of Earth Day, the BAYADA team had a special dessert on the menu – make your own dirt dessert. The children and their parents made their own dessert which consisted of chocolate pudding, crushed Oreo cookies, whipped cream, chocolates in the shape of stones, and gummy worms. To add the evening’s festivities, the team also made Earth Day pins with some of the children.

A great time was had by all!

Tara Callaway, Personnel Coordinator (DP)

RAA raises awareness during Brain Injury Awareness Month



From L to R: Associate Director Nicole Combs, Clinical Manager Laura Zurawski, Laura’s son Zander; Client Services Manager Stephani Olnhausen, Clinical Manager Sabrina Ragland, and Stephani’s Cairn Terrier, Maestro



On Saturday March 31, the Raleigh, NC Adults (RAA) office team ventured out into the rain to help support the Brain Injury Association of North Carolina (BIANC) by participating in the Walk and Roll-athon held during Brain Injury Awareness Month.



Walk and Roll-athons—community fundraising events held at local parks to give survivors, families, and friends an opportunity to be honored, and to raise awareness about the challenges of living with brain injury—are held across the state of North Carolina during the month of March. The year, the Raleigh, NC event was held at the beautiful Lake Crabtree.



The weather did not stop the Walk & Roll-athon from being a hit. Participants enjoyed breakfast, vendor displays, music, raffle prizes, face painting, clowns, cotton candy, and even a bouncy castle!

The RAA team enjoyed supporting their local community and raising awareness for brain injuries.

Stephani Olnhausen, Client Services Manager (RAA)