L'Oreal USA Raises $625,000 for Children's Specialized Hospital Foundation

Annual Charity Event "Fore the Children" Supports Children with Special Needs

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Sep 12, 2014, 10:01 ET

MOUNTAINSIDE, N.J., Sept. 12, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- More than 850 people participated in L'Oreal USA's seventh annual "Fore the Children" charity event to benefit Children's Specialized Hospital Foundation. As part of L'Oreal USA's ongoing efforts to give back to its communities and consumers, this year's event raised $625,000, bringing the total amount raised by L'Oreal USA since 2008 to $3.2 million.

The funds raised at this year's golf outing will support the expansion of the PSE&G Children's Specialized Hospital in New Brunswick, new outpatient services in Warren Township and the expansion of existing outpatient services in Egg Harbor Township. Additionally, L'Oreal USA has been instrumental in providing funds for the creation of a robust and sustainable Research Center at Children's Specialized Hospital.

The 60-bed pediatric inpatient rehabilitation hospital in New Brunswick serves children affected by brain injury, spinal cord injury, premature birth and life-changing illnesses. The expansion, which began in fall of 2013, allowed for 8 new beds where patients can receive intensive physical, occupational, speech and psychological therapies. With L'Oreal USA's support, the hospital hopes to serve even more children in need of in and outpatient rehabilitative care.

"It has been an extreme honor to call L'Oreal USA one of our premiere corporate sponsors," said Philip Salerno, III, president and chief development officer, Children's Specialized Hospital Foundation. "The children treated at Children's Specialized Hospital have not only benefited from L'Oreal's tremendous success in fundraising, but also the countless hours of volunteer service at our locations and hospital fundraising events."

The event was co-chaired by Morris Lenczicki, treasurer for the Foundation's board of trustees and Vice President of Operations Americas at L'Oreal USA, and Brian Wassall, Assistant Vice President of Purchasing, Operations Americas at L'Oreal USA, with support from 8 additional committee members, all L'Oreal USA Operations Americas employees.

"Contributing to the welfare of local communities is at the heart of L'Oreal's culture and values," said Lenczicki, who was recently appointed to the New Jersey Governor's Advocatory Council on Volunteerism and Community Service. "We hope these contributions inspire employees and New Jersey residents alike to create more tangible impact in neighborhoods where they live and work."

The event's special guest was hospital trustee Michael Harrison, his wife Amanda and their two children Reid and Kendyl. Over 850 attendees at this year's Fore the Children Golf Outing had the chance to hear Michael express his sincere gratitude to all who have supported the work being done at Children's Specialized Hospital. Michael's youngest child, Reid, was delayed in his development and after serving on the hospital's foundation's board of trustees for nearly 30 years, he knew exactly where to turn to ensure his son can meet all of his milestones and reach his fullest potential. After several weeks of physical therapy, Reid is now catching up with his peers and continues with speech therapy to develop his language skills.

"As a parent you want the best for your child. I knew the best place to go to was not Philadelphia or New York, but right here in New Jersey," said Michael Harrison. "His improvement was dramatic over this year. Reid finally reached age appropriate targets and was discharged except for speech therapy which he continues to receive. What this meant to us was that Reid would get to the starting line in life along with all the other children - you can't ask for anything more. We are grateful to the therapists and doctors at Children's Specialized for their dedication to our child."

Many suppliers, donors, and event sponsors supported the event. The top sponsor list includes: Walker International, Unette Corporation and Topline.

L'OREAL USA
L'Oreal USA is the largest subsidiary of the L'Oreal Group, the worldwide leader in beauty. L'Oreal USA manages a portfolio of 28 iconic global beauty brands, including Clarisonic, Essie Cosmetics, Garnier, Giorgio Armani Beauty, Kerastase, Kiehl's, Lancome, L'Oreal Paris, Maybelline New York, Redken, Soft-Sheen Carson, Urban Decay and Yves Saint Laurent Beaute. In addition to corporate headquarters in New York City, L'Oreal USA has Research & Innovation and Manufacturing & Distribution facilities across seven other states including Arkansas, Illinois, Kentucky, New Jersey, Ohio, Texas and Washington with a workforce of more than 10,000 employees. For more information, visit www.LorealUSA.com or follow on Twitter @LOrealUSA.

CHILDREN'S SPECIALIZED HOSPITAL
Children's Specialized Hospital, the largest pediatric rehabilitation hospital in the country, treats children affected by brain injury, spinal cord injury, premature birth, autism, developmental delays, and life-changing illnesses at twelve sites throughout New Jersey. Services include outpatient therapies, physician specialty services, acute rehabilitation, medical day care and long-term care through its sites in Bayonne, Clifton, Egg Harbor Township, Mountainside, Toms River, Fanwood, Hamilton, New Brunswick, Newark and Roselle Park as well as outreach programs in many communities. Children's Specialized Hospital is an affiliate member of the Robert Wood Johnson Health System and a proud member of the Children's Miracle Network Hospitals. Children's Specialized Hospital Foundation supports the programs and services of the hospital. The Foundation is ranked among the top six pediatric hospital foundations in the country. To help, or find more information: call 888-CHILDRENS; visit www.childrens-specialized.org; Facebook: www.facebook.com/childrensspecialized; Twitter: www.twitter.com/childrensspecnj; YouTube: www.youtube.com/cshnj; LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/children's-specialized-hospital.