by Chris Pierson
Karen Law, a Senior Analyst for Prudential Financial, Inc., in Iselin, NJ, won a $1,000 Prudential CARES Volunteers Grants Award for United Spinal Association in recognition of her volunteer work for the organization beginning in the Fall of 2003. United Spinal received the grant on June 30.
Law was on her company’s Committee on Diversity’s veterans sub-committee when she and her colleagues selected former United Spinal President Peter F. Addesso to speak at Prudential’s annual Veterans Day Luncheon in November 2003. Part of her duties included being Addesso’s liaison and guide. Addesso spoke about his experiences at the Battle of Hue City during the Vietnam war, experiences that, while rendering him paraplegic, earned him a Silver Star in 1998.
“I found his speech inspiring,” Law says. “I have a soft spot for veterans.” A family member of hers happened to be having medical issues with the spinal cord at that time, so Law found working with Addesso on behalf of spinal cord injured veterans “therapeutic,” she says. “I wanted to develop a relationship between Prudential and United Spinal, and do what I could for people with spinal cord injuries at the same time.”
As her office was undergoing reorganization and a technology upgrade, Law arranged to have five of the old computers salvaged for use in United Spinal’s computer labs in VA Medical Centers in New Jersey and New York.
Addesso helped Law find other opportunities through volunteering. After meeting Director of Sports Marketing Victor Calise, she learned about the annual Tri-State Games for children and adult wheelchair athletes in Edison, New Jersey. She coordinated Prudential’s volunteer effort in support of the games and served as a volunteer in swimming and track and field events herself. “Volunteering with the kids really put things in perspective for me,” Law says. “Here I am, perfectly able, and I sometimes need a push to get up off the couch. Then it’s so heartwarming to see these little kids out there trying everything.”
Each year, Prudential Financial gives thousands of dollars to charities and nonprofits recommended by Prudential employees who volunteer for them. “We are honored to be chosen as a recipient of this grant on behalf of Karen’s volunteer work for us,” says Calise. “This is a wonderful and unexpected way to augment her generous contribution of time and energy to our programs.”
Chris Pierson is managing editor of Orbit.
