The Community Foundation of South Jersey (CFSJ) wants our neighbors to know board members for their leadership and generosity. We asked board members a few questions to get to know them and learn about the values that drive their work.
John Connell is an attorney with Archer & Greiner and practices civil litigation as first-chair trial attorney in jury and bench trials and appeals in State and federal courts. John is the Immediate Past Chair of the Community Foundation of South Jersey board of directors.
Municipality and county where you live?
Haddonfield/Cherry Hill, Camden County.
Municipality and county where you work?
Voorhees, Camden County and throughout the State of New Jersey generally.
Where did you grow up?
Bronx, New York City.
What experience(s) from ages 15 – 25 shaped the person you are today?
- Learning the value of hard work as a butcher/deli-boy at an Italian grocery store in the Bronx.
- Learning the value of study, scholarship, and critical thinking as a student at Columbia University and New York University.
- Learning the value of community service and the highest professional standards as an employee of the American Red Cross of Greater New York.
What skill helps you exercise leadership?
Active listening.
What brings you joy or makes you experience gratitude?
Consciously living each day.
What characteristics do you want to instill in children?
To better understand from whence they came, the shoulders they stand on, the resilience that that took, the hospitality necessary to human connection, and the determination to do good and to do well. In short, make a difference.
What of CFSJ’s work (fund holder services, impactful grantmaking, community leadership) helps you connect with others?
All of it.
What is South Jersey’s greatest asset?
Its unique ecological blend of cultural (people, history, community, arts) and environmental (urban/suburban/rural mix: nearby ocean, beaches, rivers, mountains, farms, cities) elements.
What is your aspiration for South Jersey?
To better recognize and appreciate its strength in its unity.
What is your aspiration for your philanthropy?
To help secure the success and vitality of the future.