Matt’s Promise Creates Leadership Award for Outstanding Volunteer Efforts
Morgan with Randy Reiff, President of Matt’s Promise
and Jennifer Weiderkehr, widow of Matt and
Vice President of Matt’s Promise
Morgan Procida with her parents
April 2008 - In many ways, Morgan Procida is like other healthy, active and happy 17 year olds. A junior at Old Tappan High School, New Jersey, she participates in three varsity sports, is a member of the Italian Club and Volunteen – a group that encourages children to volunteer. Her expansive smile and twinkling blue eyes are the outward reflection of a deeply caring individual who is loved by her peers.
In other ways, Morgan is anything but typical. This past spring, Matt’s Promise created an award to recognize her amazing volunteer efforts and leadership skills in launching the inaugural Memory Run. Morgan was so moved by the mission, vision and goals of Matt’s Promise that she decided to do her part by organizing the run in honor of her family friend, Mike LaViola, who passed away from cancer in February 2008.
It is an understatement to say that the Memory Run was a success. From organizing the details around township approvals, to obtaining sponsorship and identifying a venue for the run, Morgan showed incredible maturity and skill. Her ability to ignite passion and enthusiasm in everyone around her helped to draw more than 300 people to the run on Sunday, April 13, 2008, and we raised more than $40,000.
Congratulations to Morgan Procida on being the first recipient of the Matthew Wiederkehr Leadership Award.
