■ Philanthropy
■ Philanthropy
Continued From Page 18 by providing financial , educational and manpower support and encouragement to families and individuals directly and through other local and proper charitable organizations . Last year , in support of those impacted by the war in Ukraine , the Grace Foundation and Terrie O ’ Connor Realtors collected supplies for babies and children , medical supplies and toiletries , and monetary donations . Multiple car-loads of supplies were delivered to Baranova 26 in Fort Lee , an organization that shipped humanitarian supplies directly to Ukraine and border countries aiding refugees . Donations for Ukraine may be made online at www . gracefoundation . charity .
Assisting the Homeless
Terrie O ’ Connor Realtors
Celebrating over 30 years in the real estate business , Terrie O ’ Connor Realtors is dedicated to helping people find their dream home , their sanctuary , their safe place . Recognizing that not everyone is fortunate enough to have a place to call home , Terrie O ’ Connor and the TOCR Cares Team stepped up to help the kids of “ the Cov .” Covenant House helps New Jersey ’ s youth who have suffered from abuse , abandonment , homelessness and human trafficking to build a life that is good and meaningful . Serving youth ages 18 to 22 , Covenant House helps get their kids off the streets , to residential crisis centers , then to transitional living homes and on to independent living . Every November since 2017 , the TOCR Cares Team has participated in the Covenant House ’ s Executive Sleep Out , a yearly fundraising initiative where participants sleep outside on the streets of Newark to experience the devastation facing New Jersey ’ s homeless youth . During the event , participants share in the stories and experiences of Covenant ’ s residents and meet the organization ’ s loving staff . Last November , the Executive Sleep Out returned to Newark for the first time since pre-COVID‐19 . Understanding the value of experiencing the Sleep Out together , a team of 18 agents and staff took to a cardboard box – supplied by Ridgewood Movers – and made their bed outside in the parking lot across from Covenant House in Newark . While they raised more than $ 40,000 last year for New Jersey youth facing homelessness , Terrie O ’ Connor Realtors and the TOCR Cares Team have raised approximately $ 250,000 in support of the Covenant House kids since 2017 .
Valley Bank
Affordable housing is one of Valley ’ s four Corporate Social Responsibility pillars . Valley is a long-time partner with Homeless Solutions , Inc . ( HSI ) whose mission is to offer shelter , services , and supportive housing to homeless and low-income people . In 2022 , HSI honored Valley and our Community Pledge CD , one of the Bank ’ s pandemic responses , and our all-in support of HSI ’ s fundraising event , A Night in the Cold . Dorothy Kahlau , Director of Women in Business at Valley , serves on HSI ’ s Corporate Advisory Council . As an ambassador , Dorothy has led a Valley team at HSI Women ’ s Day , a women ’ s philanthropy event focused on ending homelessness , for the past two years . Additionally , Ira Robbins , Chairman & CEO at Valley , along with other Valley associates and their families have participated in A Night in the Cold by sleeping outside in December to raise awareness and funds for HSI ’ s programs that provide a safe place for homeless families . Image : Dorothy Kahlau , Director of Women in Business , and her nephew supporting “ A Night in the Cold ” by sleeping outside in December to raise awareness and funds for HIS ’ s programs that provide a safe place from homeless families .
Combating Hunger
A . J . Perri A . J . Perri , among the state ’ s top plumbing and HVAC companies , continues its long tradition of community support by participating in a variety of charitable initiatives statewide . Among other efforts , in the past year A . J . Perri supported Students Change Hunger ( SCH ), a friendly competition in which local schools and youth groups host food and fundraising drives to provide food for those in need throughout New Jersey . This was A . J . Perri ’ s 10th year of participation . A . J . Perri was also proud to once again host its A . J . Perri Cares program , which provides free plumbing and HVAC equipment to deserving veterans in need in the communities served by A . J . Perri . The company , which celebrated its 50th year in business in 2021 , is a previous recipient of the CIANJ “ Companies That Care ” award . Thank you once again for considering their candidacy for this honor !
Berkeley College
In September 2022 , the Berkeley College Foundation opened a Food Pantry at the College ’ s Woodland Park campus . The student resource – the third of its kind on a Berkeley College campus – ensures students have access to proper nourishment without sacrificing their education .
The Community FoodBank of New Jersey estimates that 140,000 college students experience food insecurity across the Garden State , an “ invisible epidemic ” that has been exacerbated as a result of the COVID‐19 pandemic and inflation .
The Berkeley College Foundation Food Pantry , established in collaboration with the Community FoodBank of New Jersey with support from local businesses , offers not only meal essentials , but also household items and toiletries . Students can also place orders online , and the College offers a “ Grab and Go ” option , with themed bags of food such as breakfasts , lunches , or holiday dinner items .
Eastwick College
“ The demand for food continued these past two years , so we added three more food banks as beneficiaries ,” explained Tom Eastwick , president , Eastwick College .
After the Meadowlands YMCA opened its food bank in January 2022 , David Kisselback , president , 10 months later said , “ We now have over 1,000 individuals enrolled in our food pantry , up from 100 .” He added , “ We also continue monthly food distributions to the general public on Tuesdays . Those lines are still well over a mile long .” The Boys & Girls Club of Paterson / Passaic and North Jersey Salvation Army are the other two new beneficiaries .
Eastwick ’ s Feed The Hungry program started nine years ago with a $ 25,000 donation to five food banks . Last December $ 55,000 was awarded to 11 , bringing the total to $ 350,000 , half from President Eastwick and half from staff , students , and corporate colleagues like New Bridge Medical Center , Good Samaritan Hospital , M & T Bank , Visions Federal Credit Union , Unico , and Inserra Supermarkets .
Eva ’ s Village
Eva ’ s Village , located in Paterson , provides hope for individuals struggling with hunger , homelessness , substance use disorders and mental health challenges . In FY 2022 , which overlapped with the COVID‐19 pandemic , our Community Kitchen served over 287,000 meals to neighbors in need and residents in our emergency overnight shelters and halfway houses . During COVID‐19 , we switched from indoor service to providing packaged to-go meals . In April 2022 , we returned to indoor service . The Community Kitchen provides more than just a meal . It ’ s warm and friendly and offers connections to social services and behavioral health programs . Eddie , who came to Eva ’ s for free meals , was suffering from a substance use disorder . After meeting with counselors in the Kitchen , Eddie was connected with the services he needed . He says Eva ’ s Continued From Page 22
In June 2022 , Valley associates volunteered at Hoving Home ’ s Beautification Day , where they mowed , planted flowers , spread mulch , and helped spruce up the property in preparation for a Hoving Home Graduation ceremony .
Photo : Valley Bank
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