Collaborative Partnerships for the Tourette Syndrome Community
Dr. Joseph Haddad has know the Kowalski family, which is helping the NJ Center for Tourette Syndrome plan the April 6 event at Mercer County Park, for nearly 20 years
FRANKLIN (Somerset), N.J. – The NJ Center for Tourette Syndrome & Associated Disorders (NJCTS) is proud to announce Dr. Joseph Haddad and Advanced Dental Arts of Somerset as its Bronze Sponsor for the 1st NJ Walks For TS at Princeton on Sunday, April 6, a day dedicated toward awareness, acceptance, action and advocacy on behalf of the children and families affected by Tourette Syndrome and other neurological disorders.
Advanced Dental Arts – which provides general dentistry, cosmetic dentistry, teeth whitening, porcelain veneers and many other services to people in Central Jersey – has earned the Bronze Sponsor designation after donating $1,000 to NJ Walks for TS at Princeton, which exists to support the NJCTS Children’s Scholarship Program.
Over the past 10 years, the NJCTS Children’s Scholarship Program has awarded more than 200 scholarships to graduating New Jersey high school seniors affected by Tourette Syndrome – an inherited, misunderstood, misdiagnosed neurological disorder that affects 1 in 100 children. Each scholarship recipient is selected for his or her academic achievement, community service and accomplishments as an individual with TS.
NJ Walks for TS at Princeton holds a special place in the heart of Dr. Haddad, who has known Tim and Leslie Kowalski – the lead individuals helping NJCTS plan, organize and carry out the event – for nearly 20 years.
Photo by NJCTS
Dr. Joseph Haddad, left, of Advanced Dental Arts presents a $1,000 Bronze Sponsorship check to NJCTS Communications Coordinator Jeff Weber.
The Kowalski’s daughter, 14-year-old Tess, has been a patient of Dr. Haddad’s her entire life. It’s a natural match, and Dr. Haddad could not be more proud of the effort Tess and the Kowalski family is putting forth to make NJ Walks for TS at Princeton a huge success.
“The Kowalskis are special people, and I feel for them,” Dr. Haddad says. “It (having two daughters with Tourette Syndrome) is a difficult situation for them, but Tess is a bright, lovely, sweet young lady and she’s doing great. She has such fortitude of mind to be able to do this. I couldn’t devote the time and energy to make an effort like this happen, and at even at her age, she’s doing it. She’s amazing.”
To his knowledge, Tess and her younger sister Paige are his only patients with Tourette Syndrome, but he’s had plenty of exposure to multiple types of neurological disorders and to the tics that must be present for at least 1 year for someone to obtain an official diagnosis of TS. Many of New Jersey’s students have that diagnosis and have worked hard throughout their academic careers to be successful. Dr. Haddad fully endorses NJCTS’ efforts to support those students through the NJCTS Children’s Scholarship Program.
“I think it’s a really important cause because these children need to be able to get into a good college, and helping them with some scholarship money is a great thing to do,” he says. “They face challenges throughout their whole life. They have to fight harder than other kids because they have to overcome Tourette Syndrome. To me, our children are our future, and I think that anything we do to help our children and try to get them in a better position is a good thing.”
Advanced Dental Arts is located at 738 Easton Avenue in the Somerset section of Franklin Township. Dr. Haddad is accepting new patients, and more information is available by calling 732-545-8111 or by visiting www.drjosephhaddad.com.
“The support of Dr. Joseph Haddad and Advanced Dental Arts for New Jersey’s many Tourette Syndrome students and the Kowalski family is greatly appreciated,” NJCTS Executive Director Faith W. Rice says. “We are honored to have him as the Bronze Sponsor for NJ Walks for TS at Princeton, and his donation will go a long way toward achieving the goals of supporting the NJCTS Children’s Scholarship Program.”
NJ Walks for TS at Princeton will take place April 6 at Mercer County Park’s West Picnic Area. Registration and check-in will begin at 1 p.m., with the walk kicking off at 2 p.m. The registration fee is $22.50 through February 28 and $25 after that. Please visit the NJ Walks for TS at Princeton registration site or the NJ Walks for TS fundraising site for more information. To join Dr. Haddad and Advanced Dental Arts as an event sponsor, please call 908- 575-7350.
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NJ Center for Tourette Syndrome and Associated Disorders, Inc. Collaborative partnerships for the TS community.