Eileen Gantert
We are so happy to welcome Eileen Gantert to our Board of Trustees. When we were lining up qualities and skills most needed on the Board, we could not avoid the fact that approximately 35 to 40 percent of our income is the result of event fundraising.

With that in mind, having an experienced event professional on the Board seemed like a very natural fit. Enter Eileen, who along with her husband, Gerad, own and operate Gerad’s Florist and Decorators on Main Street in Pleasantville. They have been in business since 1986.

A graduate of Holy Spirit High School and the Art Institute in Philadelphia, Eileen has spent the past 24 years “creating exciting atmospheres for corporate, non-profit and private clients.” When we heard that, we knew that we had met our woman.

Her career highlights include creating the atmosphere at the AtlantiCare Century Gala from 2002 to 2010, the Atlantic City Restaurant Gala for many years, and (hold your baseball cap on) the World Series at Yankee Stadium in 2009. The stories she could tell: mayhem management!

Eileen is also the co-founder of Project Prom, which in conjunction with Beth Judah Synagogue, gets prom dresses out of closets where they will never again see the light of day or of the moon and into the hands of a girls who would love to wear a beautiful gown to that all American rite of high school passage.

Eileen appears to be calm. Perhaps that is a pre-requisite of having more than 1500 private clients and pulling off family affairs—like weddings—where nothing short of perfect is going fly and where tensions can be sky high. Come to think of it, a Gilda’s Club South Jersey event may just turn out to be a piece of cake for this pro.

Jump in she did. Eileen is serving on the Individual Giving Development Committee and along with Gerad and co-chairs Nancy and Ben Zeltner will be heading up the committee for our annual early summer cocktail party “Cocktails by the Beach” on Thursday, June 9. Watch for details.

Whoosh, it is a relief to have such a pro on the team.

Registration is required for all programming. Please call to register.
Linwood Clubhouse: 609-926-2699
The Living Room at AtlantiCare Cancer Care Institute: 609-407-4788

New Member Meetings
Attend a New Member Meeting to learn all about the Gilda’s Club program & tour the clubhouse.
Attendance is required before participating in any group or workshop.

Linwood clubhouse: The Living Room:

      Saturday, March 12 – 11am               Tuesday, March 8 – 12pm
Thursday, March 24 – 3pm               Tuesday, March 15 – 11am
Wednesday, March 30 – 6pm             Tuesday, March 29 – 11am

For families touched by cancer in any way!

Tuesday Noogie Night - 6:30pm
Thursday Night Grief Busters - 6pm
while parents/caregivers attend clubhouse groups & activities

Noogieland Swim Party - Saturday, March 26 at 4:30pm

Join us for a swimmingly good time! As always, some good food, too. Sponsored by the Ocean City Aquatic & Fitness Center. Registration Required 24 hours in advance. A parent or guardian must be present in the clubhouse for children to participate.

Tween Group - Tuesday, March 10 at 4:30pm

Support for children ages 12 to 14 who are touched by cancer in any way.

Dietary Fiber

Wednesday, March 9 at 6:30pm

Justin Bean, Acupuncturist, will lead this discussion on Dietary Fiber, the non-nutrient, and its place in human nutrition. We hear a lot about the importance of fiber in our diet but, what is it exactly, how does it impact our health and how do we add it to our diet? Justin Bean will shed light on this important subject. This event is being held at the Linwood Clubhouse and it is free and open to the community.

National Nutrition Month

Thursday, March 10 at 11am

Eating right can be made easier when we add variety to our diet using color as our guide. Join Jill Carlin, AtlantiCare’s Registered Dietician as she discusses “Eat Right with Color”. This event is being held at the "GCSJ Living Room" at the AtlantiCare Cancer Care Institute and it is free and open to the community.

“Building a Healthier Body with Nutrition”

Monday, March 14 at 6:30pm

Sometimes we are so focused on our doctors and medications helping us find our way to a healthier body, we forget there is a way we can be part of that team using nutrition to help build that healthier body. Join Dr. Patrick Arnold as he discusses the different aspects of good nutrition and how it can help us be part of the team! This event is being held at the Linwood Clubhouse and it is free and open to the community.

Everything You Wanted to Know About Colorectal Cancer

Wednesday, March 16 at 6pm

Dr. Gordon E. Callender, General, Laparoscopic, Bariatric, Colon & Rectal Surgeon, will share his knowledge on colorectal cancer. Dr. Callender will discuss the pre and post surgical aspects of a Colorectal Cancer diagnosis. This event is being held at the "GCSJ Living Room" at the AtlantiCare Cancer Care Institute and it is free and open to the community.

The Annual Teen Writing Contest is Back!

GCSJ is happy to announce our 4th Annual Teen Writing Contest: "It’s Always Something." We are looking for personal essays or poetry from students in the 9th through 12th grades. Writings must be honest and speak to how cancer has impacted the teen writer’s life. The contest deadline is Thursday, March 31, 2011.

Both 1st place essay and poetry winners will receive Apple iPads. Prizes will also be awarded to the 2nd and 3rd place winners in each category. Click here for more details and to submit your entry!

Stockton Zumba-Thon! To Benefit GCSJ

    Wednesday, March 9

    6:30pm Registration; 6:45pm Warm-up; 7:00pm Start
    Stockton College - Entrance of I-Wing Gym
    Donation/Fee - $5 for students; $10 without student I.D.

Questions? Please call 609-652-4649