High School Senior Raises $8,500 for Inspira Vineland Pediatrics

On hand to thank Paul Infranco for his generous donation were members of the Inspira Vineland Pediatrics team and nursing leadership. (Front row, L-R) Carol Cassisi, volunteer; Patti Jo Jaiyeola, M.D., pediatrician; Peggy White, perinatal clinical director; and Dawn Goffredo, administrative director of Maternal Child Health; (Back row, L-R) Toni Weaver, unit coordinator; Linda Ansbro, unit coordinator; Paul Infranco, Chet Pasquarello, assistant nurse manager of Pediatrics; and Janet Davies, vice president of Patient Care Services.

For most high school seniors, the thought of raising $8,500 for a hospital’s pediatric unit would be daunting. But high school senior Paul Infranco of Vineland rose to the occasion, asking his friends’ parents and local businesses for donations. For him, the hardest part was assembling a toy kitchen – one of dozens of items he purchased with the funds he raised. It took three and one-half hours during one of his many visits to the Pediatrics Department at Inspira Medical Center Vineland. His total fundraising effort spanned three months.

As a senior at St. Augustine Preparatory School, Infranco had to choose a Caritas Project that would benefit members of his community. As he tells it, it was a trip to visit a young cousin in a Philadelphia hospital that gave him the idea of raising money to buy items and furniture for the pediatric unit of his hometown hospital, Inspira Vineland.

“I felt it was a good place to put back into the community,” said Infranco. I wanted to be involved with the kids down here, to give back to the town that I grew up in and that taught me so much.”

In addition to the toy kitchen, Infranco donated game systems, a drawing table, a battery-powered ride-in SUV, games, toys for young children, and art supplies.

“You can give your time, talent and treasures,” said Nick Sena, director, Inspira Foundation. “We are grateful that Paul chose to give to our Pediatric Department here in Vineland. His donation will touch the lives of countless children in our community.”