The Charles Lafitte Foundation (CLF), a private charitable organization, is donating $10,000 to the Children’s Specialized Hospital, the largest pediatric rehabilitation hospital in the country.
“The Charles Lafitte Foundation is committed to improving the quality of life for children and improving medical care, and we are honored to support the Children’s Specialized Hospital,” said Jeffrey Citron, co-founder and board member, Charles Lafitte Foundation. “We hope that our gift will help bring joy to the children.”
Children’s Specialized Hospital, located in Mountainside, New Jersey, offers a wide range of superior health services to children and adolescents with special needs. Originally called Children’s Country Home, the hospital was founded as a summer haven for disadvantaged children from urban areas. The facility began admitting sick children in 1895, and by 1962, the Country Home was renamed. Today, the hospital provides patient rehabilitation, ambulatory services, and long-term care form children with disabilities. The Hospital treats a variety of conditions, including spinal dysfunction, burns, traumatic brain injuries, autism and cerebral palsy. Children’s Specialized Hospital also runs summer camps, parent support groups, preschool and childcare.
About The Charles Lafitte Foundation:
The Charles Lafitte Foundation is a private philanthropic organization founded by Suzanne and Jeffrey Citron. A multifaceted, multi-purposed organization comprised of four distinct project areas, CLF strives to affect innovative change in the areas of education, children’s advocacy, medical research and the arts. Contributions range from single donations to on-going project funding and volunteer work. Grant proposals may be submitted via the organization’s web site, www.charleslafitte.org. Preference is given to proposals and programs that foster significant change for many individuals.
About Jeffrey Citron:
Jeffrey Citron is a technology pioneer and visionary who transformed the financial services industry. As Chairman and CEO of Vonage, Mr. Citron aims to redefine yet another industry — telecommunications.
Some of the more revolutionary financial services developments over the past decade were spearheaded by Mr. Citron. In 1995, Mr. Citron founded The Island ECN, a computerized trading system designed to eliminate the problems associated with order execution. The Island ECN recently was acquired by Instinet Group for 503 million dollars. Today the newly merged company is one of the largest global financial exchanges, and is responsible for more than one in four NASDAQ trades.
Following on the success of The Island ECN, Mr. Citron founded and became the Chairman and CEO of Datek Online Holdings Corp. as Datek transitioned into the online brokerage industry. Under his leadership, Datek had grown to become the fourth largest online brokerage in the US, and was recently acquired by Ameritrade Holdings for 1.3 billion dollars. The newly merged company with nearly 3 million customers is now the second largest online financial services firm behind the Charles Schwab Company. Mr. Citron departed Datek in 1999 and, recognizing a similar opportunity, founded Vonage.
Apart from his entrepreneurial activities, Mr. Citron is continually pursuing philanthropic initiatives. He currently serves on the board of the Montclair Art Museum and through his family foundation routinely funds medical research, supports the Arts and dedicates his time and resources to children’s charities.
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For more information, contact:
Ruder Finn
212.715.1694
woodsa@ruderfinn.com
Jennifer Vertetis
Charles Lafitte Foundation
Contact Jennifer here