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M & T Bank employees regularly sort food in CUMAC ’ s warehouse to help provide groceries and basic necessities to families and individuals in need .
and supportive residential program aimed at keeping families strong during periods of crisis . Partner Rich Ricci , who spearheads the annual effort , calls the 2021 Toy and Gift drive “ an unqualified success ,” noting that volunteers collected around $ 2,000 in cash and gift cards , as well as enough toys and gifts to fill three vans ! The firm is grateful it can help families enjoy the holidays , as expressed in this recent thank you note : “ I would like to thank Lowenstein Sandler LLP for blessing my three kids . Thanks to your generous contribution my children were able to have gifts on Christmas . My husband and I are very thankful that we have people like you during our hard times .”
M & T Bank
When the pandemic hit , M & T Bank stepped up to provide critical support to Paterson-based nonprofit CUMAC , a longtime partner of the bank dedicated to fighting food insecurity and its root causes through a holistic , trauma-informed approach .
As the largest food distribution program in Passaic County , CUMAC experienced a spike in families and individuals in need of groceries and basic necessities . To meet the unprecedented community demand , M & T gave its employees hundreds of hours off to volunteer by sorting food in CUMAC ’ s warehouse , making deliveries , assisting shoppers , and providing free financial education sessions to benefiting residents .
M & T also bolstered its financial support of the organization , awarding special COVID‐19 grants and amplifying its work to other funding groups such as the First Lady ’ s Pandemic Relief Fund .
Additionally , one of the bank ’ s employees serves on the organization ’ s Board of Directors .
McCarter & English , LLP
We are consistently seeking new ways to put our lawyers ’ professional obligations and expertise to their highest and best use : serving others . During the COVID‐19 pandemic , we continued our long history of representing veterans , people seeking refuge in the United States , the unhoused , victims of domestic violence , children and other underserved individuals in our communities . From financial support to pro bono hours , we make a meaningful impact on philanthropic organizations . The McCarter & English Social Justice Project ( SJP ) was formed in 2020 , at the height of the pandemic , to advance the firm ’ s far-reaching initiatives to dismantle structural racism and combat the impact of racial injustice . The SJP focuses on housing , criminal justice and community economic development . Our SJP fellow and law clerks created educational programs for colleagues and clients that covered voting rights , the history of civil rights , wrongful convictions , and the impact of a criminal record and challenges to re-entry .
Mikula Contracting
Mikula Contracting , a third-generation , 76-year-old business , was honored to participate in the New Jersey Land Improvement Contractors of America “ Repair the Fair ” at the Sussex County Fairgrounds on May 8 , 2021 . The Sussex County Fairground needed assistance from land improvement contractors , like Mikula Contracting ( FDU Family Business of the Year 2020 ), to volunteer their time to make the property safe to host the fair in the Summer of 2021 . The financial burden caused by the pandemic made it very difficult for the Sussex County Fairgrounds to do the necessary repairs on land to make it safer for the animals and visitors to the property . Mikula Contracting donated several pieces of equipment and labor to vastly improve the conditions on the property . The entire team at Mikula Contracting , Inc . was honored to be able to serve a New Jersey community event that was impacted financially due to the pandemic .
Monmouth University
The Monmouth University School of Social Work recently launched the Community Care Telehealth Clinic ( MUCCTC ), a free , online counseling service with flexible hours for the external community . “ Given the tremendous demand for accessible telehealth counseling services in light of COVID‐19 , and as an institution of higher education , the School of Social Work at Monmouth University was in a unique position to help meet the needs of New Jersey residents while also facilitating a supervised , hands-on professional learning opportunity for our graduate students ,” Robin Mama ,
Ph . D ., dean of the School of Social Work , said . Available via cell phones , computers and tablets , the counseling support program is open to New Jersey residents 18 years or older who are not members of the Monmouth University community . Since the clinic was established , they have provided more than 800 hours of free counseling to adults throughout New Jersey .
Montclair State University
In February 2021 , MSU and AmeriCorps ’ Volunteer Coordinator collected 79 coats for one of the United Community Corporation sites located at Wolf Presbyterian Church in Newark . Community outreach and word of mouth helped collect these coats from faculty , staff and students at MSU . During these trying times , basic needs are essential to fulfill . With the uncertainty of weather changes and health crisis , something as simple as a jacket can help fulfill that need for warmth and comfort . With the donation of a coat , a person ’ s concern for warmth can be addressed , as well as basic needs such as health and safety . When it ’ s the little things that matter , this little thing makes a big difference .
NAI Fennelly
Hamilton , New Jersey-based commercial real estate service provider NAI Fennelly has been an institution in central New Jersey ’ s business community since 1985 . However , the company has left an even-more enduring mark on the communities it calls home through its support of local non-profits such as Eden Autism and PEI Kids . Based in Princeton , Eden Autism focuses on improving the lives of people with autism through a wide range of support services . NAI Fennelly President Jerry Fennelly , SIOR , organized Eden Autism ’ s first 5K fundraising race more than 25 years ago and the company continues to be an annual sponsor to this day . In addition , NAI Fennelly has also helped organize PEI Kids ’ annual fundraiser and Nancy Fennelly , the Director of Finance at NAI Fennelly , serves as a member of its Board of Trustees to support its work promoting and maintaining , through education and intervention , a safe environment for all children .
New Jersey City University
NJCU opened The Gothic Rack to offer career clothing options for NJCU ’ s students by providing access to new and gently used professional attire ; created the Gothic Knight Food Pantry to address food insecurity ; and collected food , gifts and donations for families in the local Jersey City community . To assist the campus community with pandemic-related challenges , the NJCU Community Center offered free daily COVID‐19 testing and , with the help of our Student Government Association , the center designed masks that were given out free to the NJCU community . Furthermore , our Children ' s Learning Center provided
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