Holmdel, NJ … Sylvia’s Children, a 501(c)3 organization, presented the Grandmother of the Year award to Fair Haven resident Elizabeth “Beth” Ruberg at their annual fundraising brunch on Sunday, March 2 at the Lakeside Manor in Hazlet. Mrs. Ruberg was among ten grandmothers that were honored as finalists this year by Sylvia’s Children: Patricia Ann Farrell, Old Bridge; Margaret Karaban, Toms River; Elizabeth “Betty” Martin, Aberdeen; Eleanor Mitchell, Oceanport; Camille Nardone, Bloomfield; Jeannine Philpot, Neptune; Joann Teeple, Neptune; Maria Van Gilson, Lincroft; Katie Zipf, Belmar.
Each honoree was presented with a bouquet of flowers and a certificate. In addition, Mrs. Ruberg received a lovely crystal trophy engraved with her name. The award was presented to her by Sylvia’s Children founder Sylvia Allen and the previous years’ winner, Mrs. Irene Sessa of Holmdel.
Mrs. Ruberg was nominated by her husband on behalf of her two grandchildren, Mark (age 4) and Grace (age 2). As four year old Mark recently said to his mommy “I love Nanny, she’s the bestest.” Described as a caring, loving person her whole life, “Nana” Beth has demonstrated the depth of that caring in recent years with her loving and dedicated assistance to her two special needs grandchildren Grace and Mark. At the age of four months, Grace had a heart transplant at Children’s Hospital of Pennsylvania. Additionally, Mark suffers from multiple extreme (and life threatening) food allergies.
On days when Grace has to go to Philadelphia for 8 AM appointments (sometimes twice a week or more) or for different procedures with the doctors and specialists for cardiac and CP conditions, Beth has left home at 5 AM, traveling the Garden State Parkway, Rt. 287 and Rt. 22 to arrive in time to babysit for Mark starting at 6 AM, when the children’s father has to leave for work. Nana Beth has been the sole caregiver, besides the parents, as she understands the needed vigilance and medications the children require.
As a result Of being with her grandchildren so often, Beth has become their close buddy, friend, playmate and caregiver. Beth fits these visits into her already busy schedule - running her own business of 25 years designing, cutting and painting stencil designs in homes throughout New Jersey and beyond. Additionally, she is a Worship Assistant, Deacon, choir member and study leader at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Red Bank. Beth frequently assists at Sunday worship services, baptisms, and funerals and makes visitations to the sick and the elderly who are housebound or in nursing homes.
In years prior to Grace’s birth, Beth was a Hospice volunteer through Riverview Hospital. She has participated in numerous walk-a-thons for charitable/environmental causes; most notably lately Big Hearts to Little Hearts and Clean Ocean Action.
The Sunday brunch event was attended by more than 150 people and featured live musical entertainment by The NERDS, a silent auction and children’s entertainment. It was co-hosted by the Home Away From Home Academy, Aberdeen, the sister school to the Mbiriizi Primary School.
Sylvia’s Children was founded in 2003 after Sylvia Allen returned from a humanitarian trip to Uganda, Africa. The children at the Mbiriizi Primary School “adopted” her as their honorary grandmother. Allen saw the ravages the AIDS pandemic had on the community and was compelled to help her newly acquired grandchildren. She founded Sylvia’s Children to feed, clothe and house orphans in Masaka and provide education for as many children as possible. For more information please visit www.sylviaschildren.org.
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