Little Silver Student Wins NJ Sharing Network Scholarship

LITTLE SILVER, NJ —A borough student has been awarded a NJ Sharing Network Foundation scholarship for her effort in raising awareness for organ tissue donation.

Reilly Williams, of Little Silver, was recently awarded the NJ Sharing Network Foundation’s Missy’s Miracle Scholarship in the nonprofit's Landscape of Life Meditation Garden in New Providence.

Williams, who graduated this year from the Academy of Allied Health and Science in Neptune and is heading to the University of Virginia in the fall, was awarded the scholarship for her efforts in organizing “Team Maeve the Brave” for the nonprofit's 5K Celebration of Life event.

“We are grateful for the generous support of Missy’s Miracle Scholarship Fund and their ongoing commitment to rewarding students who share a commitment to our life-saving mission,” said Elisse E. Glennon, Executive Director of the NJ Sharing Network Foundation. “We know that Reilly and all of our scholarship recipients will continue to be strong leaders in educating others about donation and transplantation as they move forward to begin college.”

The team was named in honor of Maeve Annette Behan, a local 3-year-old girl that Williams babysat who tragically died in 2017. Maeve's organ donations, however, were able to save the lives of four people, including a one-year-old boy and a one-year-old girl. Williams would later babysit another little girl whose life was saved with a heart transplant.

Those stories of both organ donation and transplantation inspired Williams to form the 5K team and help raise awareness. Established in 2015, the Missy’s Miracle Scholarship Fund was created to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Melissa “Missy” Rodriguez of Short Hills’ life-saving liver transplant.

Rodriguez was the first 10-year-old to ever receive a successful liver transplant to save her life. She now continues to lead an active and fulfilling life. It was raised more than $90,000 toward scholarships for high school students.

“Reilly serves as perfect example of what it means to take an active role in supporting these important outreach efforts," Rodriguez said.