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People On The Move - Peggy Karaban
06/29/2009 AT THE END OF THE RAINBOW
For 25 years, the Rainbow Foundation, Inc. has been helping provide for children with medical necessities – everything from bills to equipment – with the goal of responding to their needs in a 48-hour time frame with minimal red tape. And Peggy Karaban has been dedicated to helping the Middletown based charity from day one.
Peggy serves as the president of the organization, which was created by her late husband Thomas, a Wall Street broker who retired from the financial world in 1984 after falling ill. The foundation’s name came about after much discussion; however, the idea of the rainbow always seemed to be at the forefront and was ultimately inspired by the Book of Genesis passage, telling of God’s promise to Noah after the flood. In the past quarter of a century the Rainbow Foundation has been able to help thousands of children, working with New Jersey’s Special Child Health Services, by assisting in a timely fashion with the little things not covered by insurance or that are necessary to help a child, such as wheelchairs, prosthetic devices, and air conditioners (a necessity for those with Cystic Fibrosis [CF]). During the holiday season, the foundation collects toys for children. The non-denominational charity also receives case referrals from other agencies, such as the Valerie Fund, American Cancer Society, and Ronald McDonald House. Since all the background work on each child has already been completed, the Rainbow Foundation is able to act quickly and efficiently. There is no need to have a staff of social workers; thus administration costs are kept low. The foundation would much rather use its donations to assist children – its focus – rather than pay for a large staff.
No matter the obstacles that may cross her path, Peggy, who lives in Toms River, maintains an optimistic outlook on assisting those in need. “When a child gets a serious illness the parents’ focus has to be on that child, and everything else sort of becomes secondary. Being able to step in at a point when people are at their lowest, and saying ‘don’t worry about that medical bill or that electric bill,’ is a good feeling.”
Throughout the years, Peggy has experienced her share of ups and downs…from seeing a boy whose father was killed on 9/11 and had Hodgkin’s Lymphoma grow up to graduate college and get married, to being present when a boy with CF passed away. “It’s very satisfying when you see kids you have helped coming along and you have had a hand in it, no matter how minor it may be,” she says. “It’s sad sometimes because we have had more than a few kids who haven’t made it. Sometimes it can be very draining and upsetting.”
Along with her daily duties, which she shares with her case manager Terri Dunn, Peggy must also handle the daily battle of raising money in tough economic times. “People just don’t have the disposable income, but you just have to work a little harder. We send out letters to different organizations and companies to generate more donations. I have faith we will be all right.” The foundation has found support from Kiwanis Clubs in Holmdel and Keyport, the Veterans of Foreign Wars and Ladies Auxiliary, Builders General Supply Company, and Circle A Construction, among others. Peggy also helps organize several annual fundraising events, including an April fashion show, a September golf tournament, and a fall dinner/dance/casino night.
When not working, Peggy, who was born in Jersey City (and has a twin sister Ellen), spends time with her five grandchildren. They range in age from 10 years to just a few months old. “This keeps me busy and makes me feel good,” says Peggy, whose three children all get involved assisting with fundraisers for the foundation. “It can be disconcerting sometimes trying to raise money, but God has kept us going and I can’t lose faith now. Besides, I don’t want to retire. I have no idea what I would do every day.” And the Rainbow Foundation has no idea what it would do without her.
STATS
FAVORITE RESTAURANT
A Touch of Italy, Toms River
FAVORITE MUSIC
easy listening, Rod Stewart
FAVORITE MOVIES
Yankee Doodle Dandy and Overboard
PET PEEVE
drivers on the Garden State Parkway
THREE PEOPLE YOU’D LIKE TO HAVE DINNER WITH
Elvis Presley, Pope Benedict XVI, and Barack Obama
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