■ Companies That Care
Continued From Page 36 and rechargeable PAPRs allowed the health system to relieve some of its need for N95 masks ; the 800 units were estimated to save 2,400 disposable N95s per day , or more than 876,000 per year . Despite the pandemic , Atlantic Health has only enhanced its efforts in recycling , with continued swaps of re-useable bags for plastic bags among its more than 18,000 team members , recycling of e-waste , and providing COVIDsafe shuttle service for its employees . AHS has exceeded the national benchmark recycle rate of 15 percent set by Practice GreenHealth ; our hospitals are achieving between 23 percent to 33 percent , an increase from the previous year .
Bergen New Bridge Medical Center
BNBMC , a clinical affiliate of Rutgers , is a 1,070-bed hospital . It is both the largest hospital and licensed nursing home in New Jersey and the fourth largest publicly owned hospital in the nation . BNBMC is dedicated to providing a stigma-free environment and caring for vulnerable populations as a recognized leader in long term care , mental health care and addiction treatment . A not-for-profit safety net facility , BNBMC provides equitable access to all aspects of healthcare , is committed to serving underserved communities and is a vital resource addressing healthcare disparities through its mobile COVID‐19 testing , vaccination and community health outreach . BNBMC is a founding member of the COVID‐19 Vaccination Equity Team and held multiple vaccination clinics including for the Ramapough Lenape Nation , is a Veterans Community Care Provider , and is a leader in LGBTQ Healthcare Equality in the Human Rights Campaign Healthcare Equality Index .
Bergen New Bridge Medical Center Foundation
The Bergen New Bridge Medical Center Foundation is a 501 ( c ) 3 nonprofit corporation founded in 1991 as the philanthropic arm of New Jersey ’ s largest hospital and not-for-profit safety net facility , Bergen New Bridge Medical Center . Consisting of volunteers from many professions and walks of life , the Foundation ’ s trustees donate their time and talent to events , activities and collaborations that help raise funds to benefit the vulnerable and underserved communicates supported by BNBMC . They help raise awareness of the programs and services offered at the hospital and support ongoing community health education and outreach .
The Foundation helps advance the efforts of Bergen New Bridge by raising the financial resources to enhance the campus , support innovation and fund outreach programs for the diverse communities served . It furthers BNBMC ’ s work with providing equitable healthcare access and addressing healthcare disparities .
Berkeley College Berkeley College School of Health Studies students and faculty are frontline volunteers
ConnectOne Bank employee , Shyquan Gibbs , preparing new backpacks and school supplies that were handed out to children for the 2022 school year .
administering COVID‐19 vaccines in collaboration with the City of Clifton ’ s Health Department . Since Feb . 24 , 2021 , students in Berkeley College ’ s Licensed Practical Nurse to Bachelor of Science in Nursing program have been administering vaccinations each week under the supervision of nursing faculty at a drive-thru site located at Clifton High School . More than 10,000 vaccines have been administered at the site . Students from other programs such as Medical Assisting , Practical Nurse , and Medical Billing and Coding are assisting in other roles . “ The collaboration with the City of Clifton ’ s Health Department helps Berkeley College ’ s nursing and allied health professions students develop as compassionate , well-rounded healthcare professionals ,” said Eva Skuka , M . D ., Ph . D ., Associate Provost and Dean , Berkeley College School of Health Studies . “ It ’ s been a great working relationship ,” said Clifton Health Officer and Director of Human Services John Biegel .
In collaboration with the FoodBank of New Jersey and a $ 10,000 donation from The Berkeley College Foundation , the Food Pantry at the Berkeley College Newark Campus stepped up operations to continue addressing food insecurity among college students throughout the pandemic . According to a study by Feeding America , from 2018 to 2020 , New Jersey became one of five states with the highest increase in the rate of food insecurity . At the time the Berkeley College food pantry opened in 2019 , it was one of 20 colleges offering food pantries on campus in the Garden State . Berkeley College students place their orders confidentially , and pickup of the orders is available at each of the New Jersey campuses , arranged in accordance with all safety guidelines . Based on the success of the Food Pantry at the Newark Campus , an additional Food Pantry at the Berkeley College in Midtown Manhattan was established early in 2021 .
Charity Realty International
A little-known secret is that New Jersey ’ s real estate community is full of philanthropic leaders . Every major company sponsors , at a minimum , one big charity event per year , and they all should be saluted . As pandemic in-person restrictions drove a lot of this to “ less than ideal ” virtual rooms , we did what we could , as disasters can bring out the best in humanity . Charity Realty International remains unique in this sea of good will . We are the only New Jersey real estate company who has adopted philanthropy into its name and business model . With every transaction , every day , every month we give , essentially making our clients ’ charities a 20 percent partner in our firm . Our accomplishments include these cumulative donations : $ 27,000 to Veterans via Homes For Our Troops , $ 15,000 to children ’ s causes , $ 14,000 to Emergency Responders & Healthcare and $ 10,000 to Environmental Protection & the Arts .
ConnectOne Bank For more than a decade , ConnectOne Bank has hosted a Backpack Drive , donating backpacks and school supplies to children in need throughout local communities . The pandemic prompted us to shift our drive from collecting items in our offices to a virtual platform , enabling us to achieve a greater impact . It also
Continued On Page 39
38 COMMERCE www . commercemagnj . com