Butler-Based Nonprofit Seeking Scholarship Recipients

A Butler-based nonprofit organization that works to raise awareness of congenital heart defects (CHD) is seeking applicants for two $1,000 scholarships.

"In 2012, two $500 scholarships were awarded to Lauren Wright and Troy Rubenstein," the Congenital Heart Defect Coalition (CHDC) said in a press release. "In 2013 we were able to double the amount of each scholarship to $1,000 each. We hope to be able to continue to raise the amount that we can award to these courageous young adults."

The CHDC was formed in 2011 by a local family. Daniel Shadek, a student at Stonybrook School in Kinnelon, was born with a very complex congenital heart defect called Hypo-Plastic Left Heart Syndrome (HLHS). Since Daniel’s second open-heart surgery at the age of just five months, Daniel's mother, Kim Shadek and her husband, Kenneth, have been advocates and fundraisers for CHD. The CHDC has grown to become a collaborative effort of CHD survivors, nurses, cardiologists and children born with CHD.

Money raised though the CHDC helps support research of congenital heart defects.

The CHDC is accepting applications through May 5 for this year's scholarships. Applications can be obtained for qualifying participants on the CHDC website. To qualify, an applicant must be a high school senior and survivor a congenital heart defect or acquired heart defect. Applicants must live in New Jersey, New York or Connecticut and do not need to be attending college to apply, but must be attending any trade or educational school program.

For additional information please contact the Coalition at 973-291-4676.