Holiday Gift Giving Campaign
December 10, 2025
Dear Friends and Family,
Please join us as we celebrate the Gambino Medical & Science Foundation’s 30th Annual Holiday Gift Giving Campaign which has thrived on the immense generosity of donors and supporters like you. Together, we’ve been able to brighten the lives of countless children undergoing treatment at Cohen Children’s Medical Center (CCMC). Bringing joy to the children and their families. 100% of your gift will provide the following:
- Child Life Specialists, Emily Altstadter and Hailey DeStasio salaries in the Pediatric
Intensive Care Unit (PICU). This vital service is contingent solely on GMSF’s funding. The
Child Life Specialists in the PICU earned CCMC a worldwide reputation for excellence and compassionate care. Please read about Emily & Hailey’s work in the enclosed document. - Tech items which are invaluable for Child Life Specialists to utilize for: Distract & Manage
Pain, Educate & Prepare, Facilitate Therapeutic Play, Connect & Normalize, Offer
Portability & Versatility. - Toys, interactive games, arts & crafts supplies which provide playtime and cheer.
Please help the children’s wishes come true by donating to GMSF’s Holiday Gift Giving Campaign.
A remittance envelope is enclosed for your convenience.
Or donate online by visiting gmsf.org
We wish you a healthy and happy holiday season.
Warmest regards,
The Gambino Family
GMSF
2501 71st Street
N. Bergen, NJ 07047
(973) 344-6300 x 304
gmsf.org
The Gambino Medical & Science Foundation is a 501(c)(3) Non-Profit Tax-Exempt Organization (Federal Tax-Exempt No. 13-3586460)
Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) Child Life Specialists, Emily Altstadter and Hailey DeStasio
As Child Life Specialists in the PICU, Emily and Hailey perform in the following ways:
- Implement developmentally appropriate play experiences as a primary tool, assessing and meeting a child’s psychosocial needs.
- Allow patients and families to make appropriate choices and decisions to maximize feelings of control.
- Provide education and teaching materials to assist patients in better understanding their medical environment and experiences.
- Develop planned coping techniques for upcoming procedures with patients and families.
- Create legacy opportunities and planning with patients and families for end-of-life situations.
Additionally, Emily is the primary handler for our facility dog, Dutton. Dutton is our first facility dog in our Tails of Support Program. The therapeutic value of Emily’s work with Dutton includes:
- Offering emotional support, reducing anxiety, stress, and loneliness for patients and the entire family unit.
- Distracting children during painful procedures and motivating compliance with medical tasks or therapy.
- Aids in education and preparation by demonstrating procedures (e.g., medical play).
- Normalizes the hospital environment and promotes play and a sense of home.
About Emily: Emily earned her Master of Science degree in Applied Developmental Psychology from the University of Pittsburgh. She further honed her expertise through a three-month practicum at the UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, followed by 600 hours of specialized training in child life services Cohen Children’s Medical Center. In January 2020, Emily began her professional career as a Child Life Specialist in a Per-Diem role, eventually transitioning to a full-time position in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) in January 2021.
About Hailey: Hailey earned her Master of Science degree in Child Life from Texas Woman’s University. She started her career at Cohen Children’s Medical Center as a Child Life Assistant in November 2021. Pursuing her Career in Child Life, Hailey completed 600 hours of specialized training in child life services at Cohen Children’s Medical Center. In June 2025, Hailey officially joined our clinical team as a Child Life Specialist in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU).