In their own way, the people profiled in this issue are all givers.
Late last year, New Jersey Blood Services opened a new donor center in Freehold. Already, two remarkable local “superdonors” have made it part of their routine. Since 2013, David Dombrowski, a Freehold resident, has donated whole blood and platelets an astonishing 113 times. Susan Beurskens, a Howell resident, has given platelets more than 150 times — a lifesaving gift for cancer patients and others in critical need.
Considering that eligible donors can give whole blood only about six times a year and platelets up to 24 times annually, their commitment is extraordinary. And at a time when New Jersey’s blood supply remains below the ideal five-to-seven-day reserve level, their generosity couldn’t be more meaningful.
Like them, Vincent Minervino and Magdalena O’Connell of Boro Records are both civic-minded, investing their time and energy in strengthening downtown Freehold. Minervino serves on the Freehold Board of Directors and O’Connell serves on the town library’s Board of Trustees. They want more foot traffic, more storefronts lit up at night, and more reasons to “pay the meter” and spend an afternoon downtown.
Nellisa Khan, who owns the Freehold Service Center with her husband, Ricardo Beria, takes satisfaction in providing the best possible customer service and genuinely enjoys her exchanges with customers. Of her husband, a mechanic, she says, “I knew that he was very talented and passionate about his work, so the dream of opening our own business one day was always there.” Through years of sacrifice — while each juggled two jobs — they eventually became business owners. Today, their gift is the pride they take in their work and the relationships they build with every customer who walks through the door.
And then there is Dr. Angello Villarreal, who once balanced multiple jobs while raising a young family in pursuit of his calling as an educator. Now a Spanish and English as a Second Language teacher at Freehold Township High School and RAISE Academy, he has been named one of the Top 50 Educators Around the World. He has also been selected to be a Fulbright Teacher for their prestigious Global Classrooms Program and will teach in Uruguay this summer. But perhaps his greatest recognition came from a former student who credited his classroom as a safe haven — and even honored him with a tattoo of his room number.
May we all take inspiration from the eclectic and inspired givers in this issue!
