Rochester Women Support Grieving Families of NICU Babies with Latest Donation

100 Women Who Care of Greater Rochester Donates $27,400 to The Roman James Foundation

The loss of a child and the financial burden that follows is one no parent should have to plan for, and this January, Greater Rochester’s 100 Women Who Care humbly presented a total of $27,400 to a local organization that serves these grieving families: The Roman James Foundation (RJF).

The Roman James Foundation serves Metro Detroit families who have lost a child in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) by assisting with the direct costs for funeral services. Grants can be used for funeral or cremation services as well as headstones, urns or memorial articles such as jewelry. Applicants are served in the order in which requests are received, regardless of the length of the time a child spent in the NICU or financial capability.

“Each child in our NICU is special and when one of our little babies passes away despite our best efforts, we all gather around the family as they mourn their loss,” said Robbi Berger Goltz, MSN, NNP-BC, Neonatul Nurse Practitioner at Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak. “This amazing foundation generously offers to cover funeral expenses for all of our NICU families who suffer the loss of a child regardless of financial standing.”

Since March of 2017, twenty families received grants from our generous community of donors and, most importantly, these families know that there are hundreds of donors supporting them during this heartbreaking time.

“The Roman James Foundation is honored to receive the donation from 100+ Women Who Care. Every life is important regardless of how many hours he or she has lived and with this generous donation, the Roman James Foundation can continue to support grieving Metro Detroit NICU families and honor the importance of every life,” says Maria Udicki of RJF.

Udicki adds, “Additionally, these funds provided a catalyst to extend our program to other area NICU’s.  We are currently working with another area hospital to set up staff training so the Roman James Foundation can reach out to more families.”

100 Women seeks to support local charities with very direct and basic needs. The group takes pride in its no-frills approach to direct giving. They hold a one-hour meeting and listen to “pitches.” After a quick vote, with a majority-rules philosophy, each woman agrees to write a $100 check directly to the winning charity.

During their January 2018 meeting, the 274 members of 100 Women Who Care – Greater Rochester, individually wrote their checks for $100 to The Roman James Foundation in support of local families during their hour of need. The total amount of $27,400 was then presented to Maria Udicki of RJF.

For more information on the 100 Women Who Care group or to sign a commitment form to join, visit the website at: www.100womenwhocare-greaterrochester.org or contact Amy Whipple at amynwhipple@gmail.com or 586-254-1560.