Jim Borelli, left, Affinity member experience officer, and Lauretta A. Farrell, assistant vice president, executive director of the AFCU Foundation, present a symbolic check to Gary E. Eddey, MD, Matheny vice president and chief medical officer, second from right, and Steve Proctor, Matheny president.

A new donation will help assure the finest possible dental care for patients at the Matheny Center of Medicine and Dentistry dental clinic.

Panoramic X-ray equipment is essential for detecting undeveloped, crowded or impacted teeth. Because these conditions and jaw deformities are more prevalent among individuals with significant disabilities, panoramic imaging is especially important in Matheny’s dental clinic. The clinic’s current Kodak Panorex machine was manufactured in 1997 and donated to Matheny more than 10 years ago.

The Affinity Federal Credit Union Foundation has donated $5,000 to Matheny to supplement a generous grant from the Delta Dental of New Jersey Foundation so that a new Vatech Pax-I digital panoramic X-ray machine can be purchased for the Matheny Center of Medicine and Dentistry. “We are delighted to be able to support such a worthy project,” says Lauretta A. Farrell, assistant vice president, executive director of the AFCU Foundation.

Dental services at the Center of Medicine and Dentistry include X rays, cleanings, cavity treatments, extractions, restorative dentistry, oral surgery, root canals, behavior management, cancer screening and biopsies. The services are provided in partnership with the Rutgers School of Dental Medicine. The AFCU Foundation was created in 2005 to enhance Affinity’s efforts to give back to its communities.

Several Affinity executives recently visited Matheny. From left: Matheny president Steve Proctor, Affinity Foundation development specialist Ann Geller, Affinity relationship manager Jennifer Oakley, external affairs & financial education specialist Grant Gallagher, member experience officer Salvatore Galati, Foundation executive director Beth Degnan and Eileen Murray, director of Matheny’s Arts Access Program.

Activities at Miles include the Lu Huggins Wheelchair Walk, a USATF-NJ-sanctioned 5K Road Race, five different Cycling routes, a Kids Fun Run and The Friends of Matheny’s “Breakfast of Champions” along with luncheon refreshments in the park. All money raised at Miles will benefit the Matheny Center of Medicine and Dentistry, which provides medical, dental and therapy care to Matheny inpatients and to people with disabilities in communities throughout New Jersey.

Affinity, New Jersey’s largest credit union, is a member-owned, not-for-profit, full-service financial institution with 15 branches throughout the state and more than 135,000 members from more than 2,000 businesses and organizations.

Other major sponsors are: Poses Family Foundation, title sponsor; Partlow Insurance Agency; Peapack-Gladstone Bank; Porzio Bromberg & Newman; and WCBS-TV and WCBS Newsradio 880.

To find out how you can become part of this fun and uplifting event, log onto www.milesformatheny.org or call (908) 234-0011, ext. 260.

Affinity Foundation executive director Beth Degnan, left, and Foundation development specialist Ann Geller visit with adult patient and Arts Access artist Luis Rodriguez.