School Rallies Community For Cranford Teen's Cancer Battle

WESTFIELD, NJ - Stacy Schwartz is known by the Jefferson School community as a hard worker whose love of students and positive energy radiates throughout the school. It is no wonder that when her son Raymond's fight with a rare form of brain cancer caused her to take a leave of absence that her Jefferson School family launched the Ray Of Hope fundraiser to help the family cope.

Raymond Schwartz, who recently celebrated his 15th birthday, is a freshman at Cranford High School and an honorary officer with the Cranford Police Department. According to Jefferson School Principal Susie Hung, Stacy Schwartz's co-workers immediately came to her aid.
"Stacy Schwartz has been a hard-working member of our Jefferson School family for over 13 years. She loves interacting with the students and staff. Her positive energy radiates throughout our school. When we learned about her son Raymond’s diagnosis of brain cancer in November 2017, the staff rallied together," Hung said. "Our efforts included providing meals and collecting funds for the family. Over the past 15 months, Raymond has maintained a special place in all our hearts."
According to Hung, the efforts were stepped up recently when Stacy Schwartz took a leave of absence when Raymond's doctors informed the family that his treatments, thus far, had been ineffective.
"Unfortunately, the recent news has been devastating and it became necessary for Stacy to take a leave of absence," Hung said. "Once again, our staff united to further help Stacy and her family. In anticipation of future financial burdens and hardships, The Jefferson Sunshine Committee shared ideas which included a GoFundMe page. Our staff is hopeful that enough funds can be raised to help Stacy and her family during this very difficult time."
The Ray of Hope for Raymond GoFundMe page was assembled by Anna Carissimo and Jill Niemczyk and in the short time it has been live the money and the support has been pouring in.
Madonna and Wayne Bruseo, neighbors of the Schwartz family offered their blessings with their donation.
"May you find comfort knowing you are in our daily prayers," they said.
Erin Anderson also offered prayers for the family.
"We don’t know you personally but you are apart of our great Cranford community and that’s what it’s all about," Anderson said.
Colleague Jamie DeNicola shared support for her "friend and sidekick in 3D."
"We love you so much, she said. "Prayers for Raymond and your family."
Many, like Alberta Stewart, commented on Stacy Schwartz dedication to the children at her school.
"Mrs. Schwartz loves all our kids as her own," Stewart said. "I cannot imagine her pain at this time. Her family will remain in our thoughts and prayers."
Prayers, hope, and love were the common themes of all the comments on the fundraiser page, whether people personally knew the Schwartz family or not.
"At a time like this, our community needs to pull together and support one another," Mary Ellen Bly said. "My prayers are with you."
GoFundMe is a Patch promotional partner.
(Photo courtesy of the Cranford Police Department)
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