Dr. Kenneth Tomkovich knows how to talk a good deal – at least when it comes to helping children.
Tomkovich, a Manalapan resident and radiologist at CentraStateMedical Center, Freehold Township, recently managed to convince the Phoenix Productions community theater group to add a seventh show to the six-show run of “Disney High School Musical on Stage” that is being performed at the Count Basie Theatre, Red Bank, this month.
The extra show will raise funds for pediatric services at CentraState Medical Center.
Tomkovich, who is associated with the Freehold Radiology Group, Freehold and Marlboro, is not new to the skillful art of fundraising. He has been doing it ever since he came to the medical center nine years ago.
At that time he was asked to co-chair CentraState’s annual Band-Aid Open golf outing, so meeting with Louise Edwards, the president of Phoenix Productions, was something he knew he could do.
Initially, Tomkovich said, he contacted Edwards in the hope of acquiring play tickets to use as prizes for the Band-Aid Open, which will take place on June 10 at the Forsgate County Club in Monroe Township.
Tomkovich said that over the last six years the Band-Aid Open has raised more than $1 million for the CentraState Healthcare Foundation which funds various charitable projects.
“I asked Louise if she ever donated tickets,” Tomkovich said. “She said no and said they have their own charitable organizations they donate to.”
Tomkovich then asked Edwards if Phoenix Productions had ever performed one show for a charity. He suggested putting on a show for the benefit of the foundation.
Whatever the doctor said, he said it right, because Edwards agreed to add a seventh performance of “Disney High School Musical on Stage,” which will take place at 2 p.m. June 21 at the Count Basie Theatre in Red Bank.
Tickets are $40 and the proceeds will go to CentraState Medical Center’s pediatric department and to the Student Awareness Center. According to a press release from CentraState Medical Center, $25 of the ticket price is tax-deductible. To purchase tickets call Jamie Weiskopf at 732-294- 7099 or e-mail [email protected].
“It’s all about the kids and about giving back to the community. Whenever I’ve helped to raise money I always ask that it go to pediatrics,” Tomkovich said.
He said money raised from the golf outing last year and the funds that will be raised in 2008 have been earmarked for a new pediatric emergency room which will be part of a new pediatric in-patient unit. The money has also helped to fund heart monitors and ultrasound machines in the hospital’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.
When asked why he chooses to help raise funds for children, Tomkovich said he has always been involved with trying to help youngsters. From working as a recreation counselor in his hometown of Manalapan when he was young, to currently managing his son’s Little League baseball team, Tomkovich said he enjoys working with and helping children.
He and his wife, Kim, have three children, Kenny, 8, Elizabeth, 5, and baby Andrew, 8 months old.
“Having my own family has also made memore aware of howmuch I want to help other children,” he said.
Tomkovich recounted an experience which he said was life-changing and also added to his desire to be of service to youngsters. The date was April 20, 1999.
“I was out in Colorado the day it happened,” he said quietly, then added, “the Columbine shootings.”
Tomkovich said he was working on a fellowship at Denver General Hospital and took care of five students who were wounded during a shooting rampage at Columbine High School. Two teenagers killed 12 fellow students and one teacher, and wounded 23 other individuals before committing suicide in the attack at the school.
Tomkovich, who trained at University Hospital in Newark, recalled that he had seen many knife wounds and gunshot wounds before, but said the events ofApril 20, 1999 were different.
“This terrible tragedy was violence just for the sake of violence,” he said. “It was a great experience to care for those kids and make something good come out of such a bad situation.”
Tomkovich said he is looking forward to the June 21 charity event in Red Bank which essentially will have youngsters performing on stage in order to help other children.