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Top Ways to Support Nemours Fund for Children's Health

With more than 25 years of experience working in distribution and supply chain operations, Bradley "Brad" Berfield has held positions with several companies, including Walmart and Wegmans Food Markets. Beyond his professional activities, Bradley Berfield enjoys hobbies such as fishing, cooking, and golf. He also finds opportunities to give back to the community through his support of groups such as the Nemours Fund for Children's Health.

Since 2016, donors to Nemours Fund for Children's Health have contributed over $8.4 million to support various programs and services offered through the Nemours Children's Health System, a nonprofit health system operating in Delaware, Georgia, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. Those who would like to join the thousands of donors supporting the organization can get involved in various ways.

One of the simplest ways to support the Nemours Fund for Children's Health is by making an online gift via debit or credit card. Donors can select the region they want to direct their funds, and those who prefer to give by mail can do so using a printable donation form. Supporters can also donate various items, including books, toys, and games. Additionally, Nemours accepts gifts of stock and appreciated securities.

Along with donating financially, Nemours supporters can volunteer their time to hospitals and other facilities within the Nemours Children's Health System. The organization also invites supporters to attend its annual fundraisers, which include the "Here We Go" 5K and A Night at Nemours. More information about ways to support the Nemours Fund for Children's Health is available at www.nemours.org.

A Night at Nemours to Help Support Vulnerable Children

An accomplished logistics expert with industry experience spanning more than two decades, Bradley “Brad” Berfield has worked for multiple organizations during his career, including Coldwater Creek, Inc. where he was the vice president in charge of distribution and logistics. With a master’s degree in business administration from Binghamton University, Bradley “Brad” Berfield has held numerous executive roles over the years. When he’s not working, he is involved in various community initiatives. This includes the support of the Nemours Fund for Children’s Health.

The Nemours Fund for Children’s Health builds sustainable relationships with individuals and organizations, with the aim of delivering quality medical treatment to vulnerable children. Each contribution goes towards supporting biomedical research, patient care, and prevention and education initiatives. The Nemours Fund for Children’s Health hosts numerous events, such as “A Night at Nemours,” which is held annually.

“A Night at Nemours” will be held on Friday July 19, 2020, in Wilmington, Delaware, where guests will experience the beauty and glamor of the Nemours Estate. Over 700 guests are expected to attend this memorable, black-tie event that will include a delicious multi-course meal, cocktails, and dancing to live music. This year’s gala is the 15th edition and will offer support to the Nemours Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.

The Nemours Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) caters to infants struggling to survive because of complications such as sickness and premature births, and underweight babies who require special medical care. To adequately care for these vulnerable kids, NICU intends to expand its facilities. This event is expected to help fund the expansion.

Projects Funded by the Nemours Fund for Children's Health

Logistics and supply chain executive Bradley (Brad) Berfield possesses decades of experience, having served with organizations ranging from Wal-Mart to Brookstone and Coldwater Creek. In addition to his professional responsibilities, Brad Berfield supports the Nemours Fund for Children’s Health.

The fundraising arm of the Nemours Children’s Health System, the Nemours Fund for Children's Health is dedicated to improving patient care, supporting biomedical research, and powering intervention/education initiatives. In 2016 alone, the fund received more than $8.4 million in charitable contributions from more than 5,800 donors.

Thanks to these donors, the Nemours Children’s Health System purchased specialized equipment to test the vision of children in Jacksonville, Florida, and conducted helicopter transport training for air medical crew members in Orlando, Florida. The Nemours Fund has also supported ongoing critical research into acute myeloid leukemia and achieved US Food and Drug Administration approval for the first pharmaceutical that treats spinal muscular atrophy.

Protecting Boats from Saltwater

A seasoned logistics executive, Bradley "Brad" Berfield has over 20 years of experience in the distribution, transportation, and supply chain management field. Outside of the professional arena, he is an avid boating enthusiast who has enjoyed the hobby for approximately three decades. Although he appreciates both seawater and freshwater boating excursions, Brad Berfield recognizes that seawater presents a number of distinct maintenance challenges. 

The primary problem with saltwater is its corrosive properties. When metal comes into contact with a conductive solution, such as salt water, it begins to electrically loose atoms to any dissimilar metal that happens to sit in the same solution. Called "galvanic corrosion," this gradual loss of matter can ultimately cause metal to fall apart completely.

To protect against corrosion, as well as the buildup of salt deposits, responsible boaters should flush boat engines and metal surfaces with freshwater after each saltwater voyage, taking care to cover all water intake valves. As the metal of boat trailers will also begin to corrode after exposure to salt water, boaters should rinse them thoroughly as well.

Gigantic Striped Bass Caught in New Jersey

An accomplished logistics and distribution professional in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Bradley “Brad” Berfield holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Boston University and an MBA from Binghamton University. Outside of his professional life, Brad Berfield pursues a diverse range of hobbies that includes golfing, cooking, and boating. An avid fisherman, he particular enjoys angling for striped bass. 

All anglers have a tale of the one that got one away, but for one fisherman, the one that didn’t get away will be a story to tell for the rest of his life. In May of 2018, a New Jersey fisherman named Joe Callahan caught a near-record striped bass while angling from the shore in Raritan Bay. Callahan had already been fishing for three hours when the monster fish took his bait, and the two spent a half-hour wrestling one another before Callahan was able to reel it in. 

The fish weighed in at a whopping 58 pounds, making it one of the largest striped bass recorded in New Jersey and ranking it in the upper tier of those caught in the United States. New Jersey is no stranger to record-breaking striped bass. The largest ever caught in the state, a 78-pound behemoth landed in Atlantic City, stood as the world’s largest until a Connecticut fisherman reeled in an 81-pound striper in 2011.

How to Season a Cast Iron Skillet

An MBA graduate of Binghamton University, Bradley “Brad” Berfield has spent nearly three decades as a retail distribution and logistics executive in the grocery, apparel, and general merchandise sectors. Also an accomplished home chef, Brad Berfield maintains a substantial collection of specialized cookware and especially enjoys cooking with cast iron.

One of the oldest forms of cookware in the world, early examples of cast iron pots date back to Han Dynasty China in the third century. Though the prevalence of cast iron has come and gone over the centuries, the cookware is enjoying a newfound popularity among both home and professional cooks alike. One reason for this popularity is that, once properly treated in a technique known as “seasoning,” a cast iron skillet will take on nonstick properties and last a lifetime.

Though some cast iron manufacturers pre-season their cookware, it is also quite easy to do at home. In fact, even if the pan comes pre-seasoned, most experts suggest regularly re-seasoning your pan as part of its maintenance. 

To season a cast iron skillet, simply scrub it with soapy water and dry thoroughly. If there is rust on the pan, use steel wool to scrape it off. Once the skillet is clean, apply a very thin layer of oil to the cooking surface of the pan. This can be soybean, flaxseed, or any other kind of vegetable oil.

After applying the oil, place the pan upside down on the center rack of the oven at a temperature of 375 degrees, making sure to put something beneath the rack to catch the dripping oil. After one hour, turn off the oven and let the pan cool.

Fishing Bass in the Upper Chesapeake Bay

Brad Berfield is a logistics professional with more than two decades of experience overseeing corporate distribution efforts nationwide. An avid fisherman, Brad Berfield has angling experience ranging from Canada to the Chesapeake Bay, where he seeks out bass.

Over the past several years, the Upper Chesapeake Bay has reemerged as a hotspot for bass, with weight and catch rates increasing at tournaments for local fishermen. With crowding becoming an issue, there are still many excellent fishing spots that have netted trophy bass in the five- to six-pound range.

As described in American Boater, these spots include Elk River, which is accessed through Elk Neck State Park, and the Sassafras River. As the area around the latter location can present heavy morning fog, anglers there typically launch in Galena on Duffy Creek, at a private boat launch.

The ideal time for bass fishing in the Upper Chesapeake Bay area is spring, as fish gather from diverse areas of the river system for spawning in two large creeks: Lloyd's, and Turner's. During this season, Turner's Creek offers excellent cover, including emerging grasses and lily pads. The root systems of the lily pads overlap with vegetation such as hydrilla and milfoil, providing an ideal location for spawning. In addition, the sand bottom of the shoreline and boat docks harbor numerous bass, as they provide ideal shelter from currents and predators.

How to Wash Salt from a Boat

With an MBA from Binghamton University, Bradley (Brad) Berfield works as a distribution and logistics executive for a Philadelphia-based company. In his free time, Brad Berfield enjoys a variety of activities, including cooking, fishing, and boating. 

Regardless of the size and age, every boat needs to be properly maintained. One of the easiest and most important things that any boat owner can do to maintain a vessel is to wash it down after every use, especially boats that spend time in salt water. 

Salt can corrode railings and other metal hardware and cause significant damage to a boat’s finish. To completely remove salt crystals, start by spraying the entire boat with fresh water. Both the inside and outside of the boat should be sprayed, including hardware, piping, pulleys, and other working parts. 

After spraying, wait a few minutes to ensure that the salt crystals are fully dissolved, then spray the boat again from the top down. Outboard boat owners should also thoroughly clean the engine and all of its mounting components.

Boating Benefits, Both Psychological and Physical

As a vice president of distribution and logistics, Bradley (Brad) Berfield oversees operations of a distribution network for a diverse range of quality merchandise. With more than two decades of experience in the industry, Brad Berfield relaxes in his leisure time by going boating.

Studies have shown the health benefits, physically and psychologically, from spending time boating. Boat owners typically report themselves to be happier. They enjoy the peace of boating and the opportunity to be in the fresh air, listening to the sounds of nature. They also tend to respond better to stressful situations in the workplace because of taking that time to relax.

In addition to the connection with nature that boating brings, it also provides the opportunity to build relationships with family and friends. Those who take the time away from modern technology to spend it aboard a boat deepen relationships and result in good memories.

Aside from these psychological boosts, boaters also find physical benefit from exposure to the sun. Spending time in the sun, properly protected by sunscreen, allows the skin to take in Vitamin D, which has dropped to insufficient levels in a good portion of the populace.

Learning the Science of Cooking by Experimentation

Supply chain manager Bradley “Brad” Berfield has held senior distribution and logistics positions at companies such as Coldwater Creek, Inc., and Wegmans Food Markets. Outside of his professional life, Brad Berfield enjoys cooking. 

Cooking is not just an art, it’s also a science. A session in the kitchen is like time spent in a chemistry laboratory where you mix ingredients and expose them to different environmental elements to come up with a predefined result. Understanding the science of cooking will improve the outcomes of your culinary work. You learn that science by experimenting. 

When you’re in the kitchen, don’t just follow recipes religiously. Vary the quantities of ingredients to know which changes affect which flavors. For example, if you want stronger flavors, going for more than the conventional single clove of garlic is a must. 

Don’t stop at the ingredients. Experiment with different methods of cooking, too. Dry methods such as roasting, grilling, baking, and broiling have different effects on food from wet methods such as boiling, stewing, steaming, and poaching. The amount of heat energy food is exposed to also affects its texture and taste. For example, when meat is baked its crust becomes brown, signifying the binding of carbohydrates and proteins. This gives meat its strong flavor and improves its texture for easier digestion. As you learn the chemical reactions different ingredients and environmental factors create, you will become a better cook.

Coldwater Creek, Incorporated - Greater Boston Food Bank Volunteers

As a business professional with over 20 years of experience in supply chain management, Bradley “Brad” Berfield has a proven track record of successful business leadership and management of organization infrastructures. Brad Berfield has served in management positions for several companies, including as vice-president of distribution and logistics for Coldwater Creek, Inc.

Founded in 1984, Coldwater Creek began as a direct mail business and grew along with the online retail community. Merchandise available at Coldwater Creek ranges from misses and women’s plus clothing to shoes and accessories.

As a way of giving back to the community for its success, Coldwater Creek is involved in several local community programs like volunteering at the Greater Boston Food Bank. Volunteers at the Greater Boston Food Bank are responsible for a variety of jobs such as packing food items, sorting, inspecting, and loading boxes for distribution. Most volunteers work for about 3 or 4 hours at a time.