TD Bank Aims To 'Bring Change' To Toms River Teen's Life

TOMS RIVER, NJ -- Are you one of those folks who walks around with a pocket full of coins? A Toms River bank is inviting you -- and the Toms River community -- to “Bring Change” to a Toms River family.

As part of the company’s “Bring Change” campaign, the Penny Arcade at the TD Bank on Hooper Avenue in Toms River will be collecting coins on Friday as a fundraiser for Matthew DeRiggi, the 18-year-old Toms River North student who has been battling Duchenne muscular dystrophy for much of his life.

Matt’s parents, Tom and Barbara, have been working to build an addition onto their home to better accommodate Matt, who uses a wheelchair to get around the house after he broke his hip shortly before his birthday in August 2010. His bedroom had been on the second floor, but as he has grown up he has gotten too big for his parents to carry him up and down the stairs of their home.

Duchenne muscular distrophy is caused by a genetic mutation and results in a progressive loss of muscle strength. The muscle weakness leads to serious medical problems, particularly issues relating to the heart and lungs.

A GoFundme account set up last March, after Matt came home after a hospital stay, has raised $20,000 of the $35,000 needed for the addition, which is in the midst of construction.

Matt, a military aeronautics buff and avid supporter of first responders who has received support from soldiers and airmen stationed in Kuwait, was named an honorary member of the 514th Air Mobility Wing, based at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst and feted as its “Hero for the Day” on July 17. Matt and his parents spent the day with the 732d Airlift Squadron and the 514th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron learning about their mission.

TD Bank, through its “Bring Change” program, is hoping to ease some of the impact of Matt’s medical bills. The TD Bank “Bring Change” events raised more than $500,000 for 200 causes -- individuals and organizations -- from Maine to Florida last year, the company says on the TDBringchange.com website. The program hopes to raise more than $1 million this year.

The coin counting event runs from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the TD Bank, 1101 Hooper Ave. TD will match up to $2,000 in coins donated to help Matt and his family, who will receive a check for the donation in a ceremony at 4:30 p.m.

(Matt DeRiggi and his parents, Tom and Barbara, last March at their Toms River home; credit Karen Wall. Matt and his parents during a tour at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst last summer. Credits: Air Force/514th Air Mobility Wing Facebook page)