Teresa Giudice Wins 60K in Honor of Child with Kidney Disease

Teresa Giudice Celebrity Apprentice — Screenshot from Celebrity Apprentice Interview

New York Times best-selling author and reality TV star, Teresa Giudice, is now a contestant on ‘Celebrity Apprentice,’ Season 5. Teresa appeared on Bravo’s “The Real Housewives of New Jersey” reality television show and is the author of “Skinny Italian” (Hyperion) and “Fabulicious!”

Teresa is there to raise money for her charity, The NephCure Foundation (NFC), which researches the cause, improved treatment and cure for the potentially debilitating kidney disease Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) and Nephrotic Syndrome.

“Teresa first encountered The NephCure at a charity event when she met a young boy who was suffering from an incurable kidney disease. As a mother herself, Teresa was emotionally affected by this boy’s story and was shocked to learn that the cause of many kidney diseases is still unknown” (Celebrity Apprentice).

The Invisible Disabilities Association (IDA) has had direct experience with two amazing men battling FSGS, Ed Hearn and Jason Graham.

Ed is a NY Mets World Series Champion, Author, Speaker and former NCF Ambassador. Ed was the Keynote Speaker for the 2010 IDA Honor Awards Banquet. He was also the recipient of the 2010 IDA Perseverance Award. Ed’s message was extremely inspirational, as Ed has had three kidney transplants and several bouts with cancer. Read more about Ed and watch his incredible keynote, “Keep Swingin” right here on IDA.

Jason was the recipient of the 2010 IDA Inspiration Award. Jason battled kidney disease that led to a kidney transplant that failed. He was in need of another, when his health quickly diminished. Jason put up an amazing fight for many years. Tragically, he lost his life in 2011, when he also developed a rare cancerous brain tumor. Read more about Jason and watch his very touching award acceptance speech right here on IDA.

On the April episode of Celebrity Apprentice, Teresa became the Project Manager. The task was for the two teams to create a a 60 second commercial for Entertainment.com. She won $20,000 from Celebrity Apprentice and $30,000 from Entertainment.com.

Other celebrities who have participated in Season 5: Adam Carolla, Arsenio Hall, Aubrey O’Day, Cheryl Tiegs, Clay Aiken, Dayana Mendoza, Debbie Gibson, Dee Snider, George Takei, Lisa Lampanelli, Lou Ferrigno, Michael Andretti, Patricia Velasquez, Paul Teutul, Sr., Penn Jillette, Teresa Giudice, Tia Carrere, Victoria Gotti.

UPDATE 5/6/12 – Clay Aiken makes it into the Final Three of Celebrity Apprentice. Clay and project manager, Lisa Lampanelli won the last task. On the other team, with Arsenio Hall and Aubrey O’Day, Teresa Giudice was their project manager and was sent home. The four remaining contestants were immediately sent into one on one interviews with former Celebrity Apprentice contestants Country Singer John Rich (Season 4 Winner) and Actress Marlee Matlin (Season 4 Runner Up). When the final four returned to the boardroom, Lisa Lampanelli was fired.