Who We Are

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Neighbors Helping Neighbors
The Medical Needs Foundation (MNF) provides financial assistance to individuals and families facing overwhelming expenses due to chronic or catastrophic illness. Our beneficiaries live in and around our community - Northern New Jersey. We came together in 1998 to respond to a neighbor suddenly afflicted with a debilitating disease. Her medical insurance did not cover her treatment, child-care, and other ordinary expenses. Today, she is well, and her family is thriving. Since then, we have assisted nearly three dozen individuals and families.

We are a group of volunteers committed to providing support to families as they face financial uncertainty. Simply, we are neighbors helping neighbors.

The Spirit 5K:  A Community Call to Action
MNF's signature fund-raising event is the annual Spirit 5K Race/Walk. Hundreds of members of the community and surrounding area - from the youngest to the oldest - turn out to support people in need. In seven years, the event has generated almost $850,000, benefiting nearly three dozen recipients.

Held in the fall each year in Mountain Lakes, the race is a tribute both to the courageous recipients who are battling serious illness and to the community that supports them. The Spirit 5K raises money through corporate sponsorships and individual donations. Race volunteers, participants and sponsors give generously of their time, talent and financial support to make the race an annual success.

Corporate Sponsorship
Corporations are a mainstay of MNF support. As Spirit 5K sponsors, their generosity underpins the success of this local community event. Corporations can become sponsors by donating $2,500, $5,000, $10,000 or more, for which their logo appears on the MNF banner and race t-shirts awarded to each participant. Corporate sponsors also enter race teams without paying entry fees.

More than 90% of all funds raised by the MNF is distributed to beneficiaries to finance health-related expenses.

Grant Guidelines

• Grants are given only to individuals or families meeting MNF-defined criteria.
  
• Grants are to be used for expenses related to or resulting from a serious medical condition. Such expenses may include, but are not limited to, medical bills, medication, insurance premiums, child-care, home health care, medical equipment and supplies. Expenses are submitted to and approved by the MNF Board.
  
• Preference is given to those applicants demonstrating the greatest need, as determined by the MNF, and those who have not previously received funding from the MNF.
  
• All applicants considered for assistance must submit an application and will be interviewed by two MNF Board members before grant approval.