Ramsey Resident Honored in County's Annual Salute to Champions

Bergen County's 15th Annual Salute to Champions will take place on Friday, Oct. 25 at 10 a.m. at Bergen Community College's Moses Family Meeting & Training Center. Ramsey's Sawyer Rosenstein is being honored at this event. 

The Huffington Post reported that in 2006, Rosenstein was a 12-year old middle schooler who was paralyzed by a punch to the stomach as a result of a bullying incident. The blow had caused a clot in a major artery that supplies blood to his spine, leaving him paralyzed from the waist down from what his attorney described as an "incredibly rare" injury.

Having to surrender his dreams of becoming an actor, Rosenstein attended a space camp, later establishing a space-oriented podcast. It was because of his podcast that Rosenstein was given a media pass to attend the final space shuttle launch, inspiring him to study communications.

“This event recognizes unique accomplishments of individuals with disabilities and those persons in the community who perform selfless acts of assistance and advocacy on behalf of persons with disabilities” County Executive Kathleen Donovan said.

“We are extremely fortunate to have so many individuals from this area who demonstrate a commitment to the importance of inclusion and changing attitudes,” said Jim Thebery, Director of the Bergen County Division on Disability Services. 

“We are extremely proud of all of our champions. I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate all of the 2013 award recipients who make a tremendous difference in the lives of so many individuals,” Therbery said. 

The 2013 Salute to Champions recipients are: 

Sawyer Rosenstein, Ramsey; Natan Vidra, Tenafly; Jodi DiPiazza, Rochelle Park; Special Angels Deborah Wertalik ( a group of 25 children); Seth Abrams, Fort Lee; Johnny Damato, Fort Lee; Jaime Banegas, Fairview; Jose Pena, Fairview; and Robert L. Mulligan, Emerson. 

In 1978, Bergen County recognized the need for, and approved the creation of, an office on Disabilities Services. It was the first county office in the State of New Jersey devoted entirely to serving the needs of residents with disabilities. Now in its 35th year, the Bergen County Office on Disability Services promotes community-based independent living options and assists individuals with disabilities in reaching their full potential and realizing full involvement and/or inclusion in all aspects of everyday living.

The Bergen County Division on Disability Services provides such services as Meals-on-Wheels, Personal Assistance Services, Respite Care, Information and Referral, Caregiver Education, Post Stroke and Disabled Adult Support Groups.

To attend this free event, or to request special accommodations, contact Cathie Smithward by Oct. 15 at (201) 336-6511 or 711 (Deaf/Hard of Hearing).

For more information, please call the Bergen County Division on Disability Services at (201) 336-6500 or TTY (201) 336-6505.