The Foundation for Delaware County recently announced an $18,000 grant for Today is a Good Day.

Today is a Good Day helps families through their Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) journey by providing them with personal and financial support.

“Today is a Good Day is incredibly grateful for the generous grant from The Foundation for Delaware County,” said Martha Sharkey, founder and CEO of Today is a Good Day.

“This funding allows us to provide services and direct financial support for families in the NICU at both Crozer-Chester Medical Center and Delaware County Memorial Hospital.

“Our program makes sure that families who are navigating the NICU, know that they are not alone, and gives them the opportunity to connect with other families who have also experienced the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.”

Since its inception, the organization has partnered with several hospital systems in the Greater Philadelphia area and beyond.

The grant was made possible by the Crozer-Chester Medical Center Medical Staff Fund and the Delaware County Memorial Hospital Medical Staff Fund of The Foundation for Delaware County.

The partnership with Today is a Good Day offers families in the NICU a monthly support group, transportation, including SEPTA passes or reimbursement for Uber rides, car seats, breastfeeding support, holiday meals, care packages that include baby supplies and books for children, and much more.

“We are thrilled to continue our support and partnership with Today is a Good Day,” Dr. Cynthia Dembofsky, Neonatology Division Chief, Prospect CHMG. “Over the past five years, the medical staff has seen first-hand how critical this additional support system is for our NICU families in what is an already intense time of their life.

“We know that the stronger the family and the more resources they have, the better the outcomes for the baby. “

More About Today is a Good Day

Inspired by their intense journey in Abington Hospital’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), Martha and Paul Sharkey founded Today is a Good Day in 2014 in honor of their daughter, Claire Josephine, and in memory of her identical twin sister, Mary Gladys.

Claire and Mary were born at just 23 weeks and 5 days. After only two weeks, Mary passed away. Miraculously, Claire beat the odds and came home after 103 days in the NICU.

Following their extended stay, the Sharkey family discovered there was a significant gap in support provided for parents in the NICU.

It can often be a turbulent and lonely experience for parents, filled with extremely difficult and life-changing decisions being made on behalf of their child.

Today is a Good Day helps families in their NICU journey by providing them with personal and financial support.

Since its inception, the organization has partnered with several hospital systems in the Greater Philadelphia area and beyond.

Current hospital partners include: Abington Jefferson Health, Crozer-Chester Medical Center, Delaware County Memorial Hospital, Einstein Medical Center Montgomery, Einstein Medical Center Philadelphia, Holy Redeemer, Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children, Virtua Hospital, and Children’s Wisconsin.

About The Foundation for Delaware County

A public charity founded in 2016, The Foundation for Delaware County is the largest philanthropy serving Delaware County.

The foundation encourages philanthropy by providing efficient giving vehicles like donor advised funds, gift annuities and estate planning advice to generous individuals who want to have an impact in Delaware County and beyond, and serves as a convener across sectors to address challenging community issues such as the need for a county health department.

The foundation operates the new Center for Nonprofit Excellence and makes grants to strengthen Delaware County’s nonprofit community.

In 2020, the foundation distributed over $2M in grants including $750,000 from its Delaware County COVID-19 Response Fund. The foundation continues to raise funds for the Response Fund with a $1 million goal that it has almost reached.

Learn more here.

With headquarters in Media and service sites in Eddystone, Upper Darby and Springfield, The Foundation for Delaware County also operates the evidence-based programs: Healthy Start, the WIC nutrition program and Nurse-Family Partnership.

Other programs include: Drug Free Communities, El Centro (a Hispanic resource center) and a health resource center for students in the Chester Upland School District, which serves one of the region’s poorest communities.

To learn more, visit the foundation on the web at www.delcofoundation.org and follow them on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter at @DelcoFdn.