The New Jersey Sharing Network Foundation’s annual Golf Classic and Tennis Tournament raised $150,000 from generous sponsors and contributors to support clinical advancement, family support, public awareness and education, on how to save and enhance lives through organ and tissue donation and transplantation.
The event, held Oct. 10 at the Mountain Ridge Country Club in West Caldwell, was presented by ShopRite and the Sumas Family Foundation. Eastwick College sponsored the Tennis Tournament.
“We are extremely grateful to all of the individuals and organizations that helped make this year’s Golf Classic and Tennis Tournament a success,” Amanda Tibok, executive director, NJ Sharing Network Foundation, said. “Their generosity is the driving force behind our mission to support our organ and tissue donor families and give our transplant recipients more holidays, birthdays and special moments to share with their loved ones.”
Jane Buckiewicz of Point Pleasant serves as chair of the Golf Classic and Tennis Tournament to honor the memory of her son, Dan, who passed away in 2009 and saved the lives of three people through organ donation and enhanced the lives of 75 more through tissue donation. Buckiewicz spoke about her commitment to NJ Sharing Network’s lifesaving mission when she addressed event attendees.
“Dan gave the gift of life to others, and it really did change something that was so tragic into something very precious,” Buckiewicz said. “I still get to feel proud of my son each day. He was an incredible son, brother, friend and overall human being. His unique presence was able to light up a room — where his positive energy was both natural and contagious. With his donation, Dan became a hero.”
Buckiewicz has been a member of the NJ Sharing Network Foundation board since 2018. Buckiewicz and her family also honor Dan with a team at NJ Sharing Network’s 5K Celebration of Life. Team Buck has participated in every 5K since the inception of the event in 2011.
According to United Network for Organ Sharing, there are over 100,000 Americans — nearly 4,000 of whom live in New Jersey — waiting for a life-saving transplant. One organ and tissue donor can save eight lives and enhance the lives of over 75 others.
