Drone: NJ Sharing Network Unveils Meditation Garden In New Providence

NEW PROVIDENCE, NJ — The NJ Sharing Network unveiled a meditation garden behind its Headquarters in New Providence and also honored a retiring employee from Westfield.

Meditation Garden

The 8,200-square-foot garden was built by Landscape Techniques, Inc. of Nutley and work began in December 2015.

Seven months later the garden was unveiled as a landscaped area that will serve as a quiet place and sanctuary for both families of organ and tissue donors and the organization’s employees.

In addition to serving as a peaceful place for thought and remembrance, the meditation garden will also recognize the people who have made monetary contributions to the NJ Sharing Network.

For example, some of the funds used to create the garden were from the NJ Sharing Network’s Employee Giving Campaign. The staff raises philanthropic dollars for this annual campaign to support the NJ Sharing Network Foundation’s mission to provide education, research, public awareness and donor family support.

Video of garden:

Drone video of garden:

Westfield Employee

Working at the NJ Sharing Network for nearly 30 years, Westfield resident Mary Ellen McGlynn is one of the original employees.

"Her career has shaped the way the organization supports the families of organ and tissue donors and she essentially created the Family Services department that exists today," the Sharing Network stated.

As a registered nurse, she started her career with NJSN as a transplant coordinator. She started support programs and made connections with families that have lasted for more than 20 years.

As an example, she met the mother of an organ donor from 1995 this year at the Paramus 5K Celebration of Life event. Although it had been about two decades since they had last spoken, the mother continued to express her gratitude for everything Mary Ellen did to help them during a very difficult time.

"In 2017, NJ Sharing Network will celebrate 30 years of saving lives through organ and tissue donation and the organization has Mary Ellen to thank for a lot of that success," NJSN stated.

- By Terese Kelly Greer

(Photos provided: Ribbon Cutting from left: Judge F. Michael Giles (West Orange) – Foundation Board member and Chair of Awards and Recognition Committee; Elisse Glennon (Caldwell) – CAO and VP, NJ Sharing Network; Joseph Roth (Morris Plains) – CEO and President, NJ Sharing Network; Bruce Goldstein (Florham Park) – Chair of the NJ Sharing Network Governing Board and heart transplant recipient of 12 years; and Peter Rooney (Mendham) – Chair of the NJ Sharing Network Foundation Board of Trustees)

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