The Community Foundation of South Jersey (CFSJ) announced today that a sixth community has been selected to receive a $100,000 Transform South Jersey grant.  The City of Woodbury in Gloucester County, through their local convening partner the FAF Coalition, now joins previously announced locations including the Town of Hammonton (Atlantic County), Willingboro Township (Burlington County), Winslow Township (Camden County), Downe Township (Cumberland County), and Salem City (Salem County). 

Transform South Jersey is a collaboration between the Community Foundation of South Jersey, the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, New Jersey Health Initiatives (the statewide grantmaking program of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation), the OceanFirst Foundation, the Orton Family Foundation, the PSEG Foundation, and the Wells Fargo Regional Community Development Corporation.  Using the Orton Family Foundation’s national Community Heart & Soul model, which has been implemented in almost 100 communities across the United States, the Transform South Jersey grants will support initiatives in the six recipient locations that bring people together to build stronger, healthier, and more economically vibrant communities.  For most locations, completing the four phases of Community Heart & Soul takes about two years.

“We are thrilled that additional funds from our partner organizations have allowed us to provide this Transform South Jersey grant to the FAF Coalition in the City of Woodbury,” said Andy Fraizer, Executive Director of the Community Foundation of South Jersey.  “Community Heart & Soul is a proven process that empowers people to shape the future of their communities by creating a shared sense of belonging that improves local decision-making, and ultimately strengthens social, cultural, and economic vitality.”

More than 190 South Jersey communities with populations of 50,000 or less spanning the eight counties CFSJ serves,including Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester, Ocean and Salem, were eligible to apply for Transform South Jersey grants.  From this group, 32 municipalities were ultimately nominated for consideration and of those invited, 21 municipalities submitted final applications.

“The key component of the Heart & Soul process is learning what matters most to the community by engaging as many residents as possible, including those who do not normally participate in public discourse,” Fraizer continued.  “With full engagement as an integral part of the planning and development process, these often-unheard voices and their ideals become the foundation for building communities that are united, innovative, competitive and resilient.”

“We are incredibly grateful to be selected as a Transform South Jersey grant recipient,” said Jared Hunter, FAF Coalition Program Director.  “It has been a rigorous process getting to this point, but I believe it has given us the opportunity to create a positive environment in the community.  We also developed connections among various groups throughout the city that are excited to work alongside us in the near future.  We want to thank the Community Foundation and all of the funding partners for showing confidence in our city.”

As a Transform South Jersey grant recipient, the FAF Coalition will have access to up to $100,000 in funding to support ongoing staffing, marketing, and communications needs associated with a full-scale implementation of the Community Heart & Soul model in their town. They will also receive exclusive coaching, training, and technical assistance.  Each community has also committed to working with CFSJ to raise at least $25,000 to serve as an endowed portion of their own individual community fund. The proceeds from these investments will be used to support additional projects identified by the communities for many years to come.

To learn more about the selected communities and their progress as they embark on Community Heart & Soul, visit transformsouthjersey.org.

The Community Foundation of South Jersey (CFSJ) announces grants to  twenty-six (26) nonprofit organizations from the COVID-19 Response Fund. The total amount awarded in round 3 is $161,500. To date, $483,500 has been awarded from the Fund to organizations serving Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester, Ocean, and Salem Counties. These grants support nonprofits working on the frontline of the COVID-19 health and economic crisis. It is the only dedicated response fund of its kind specifically targeted to the eight-county region.

The SJ COVID-10 Response Fund is still seeking contributions and funding partners to meet the ongoing needs of our nonprofit community. Since March, South Jersey neighbors, businesses, and philanthropists across the state have contributed more than $1,075,000. Even with this overwhelming response. During the same period, CFSJ has received 219 grant requests for more than $6 million from local nonprofits. 

“We are grateful for the response to date from donors who have contributed to the Response Fund, yet we know our region’s recovery will be a long-term challenge, and we will continue to do all we can to support those who have been disproportionately affected,” said CFSJ Executive Director Andy Fraizer. “In this time of prolonged stress and concern for our families and neighbors, we invite all who can to take action by contributing to this pooled resource and community-focused effort.”

“We are proud to support our local nonprofits working on the front lines to care for our neighbors struggling during this unprecedented time,” said Wanda Hardy, Chairperson of the Foundation’s Community Leadership and Engagement Committee. “Although we have entered Phase two of New Jersey’s reopening, we know that there is still so much need in our communities, and that need will continue well into the future as we look towards the recovery response.”

The Response Fund has raised over $1 million, but requests from nonprofit organizations has exceeded $6 million. For more information on how individuals or organizations can make a donation, funding priorities, and how to apply for a grant, please visit southjerseyresponsefund.org. 

GRANT AWARD DESCRIPTIONS

Appel Farm Arts & Music Campus – Elmer
Appel Farms is supplying virtual S.T.E.A.M. and arts lab programming, as well as distributing supplies and food assistance.

ARC of Gloucester County – West Deptford
ARC of Gloucester County is supplying personal protective equipment and providing food assistance.

Atlantic City Rescue Mission – Atlantic City
The Mission is supplying food assistance and performing case management services.

Boys & Girls Club Gloucester County – Glassboro
Boys & Girls Club of Gloucester County is providing virtual and in-person academic and social enrichment activities, distributing supplies, and providing food assistance.

Calvary Baptist Church– Little Egg Harbor
The Calvary Baptist Church is providing both food and personal hygiene assistance.

Camden Coalition of Healthcare Providers – Camden
The Camden Coalition of Healthcare Providers is providing case management services, transportation assistance, and supplying personal protective equipment.

Caregiver Volunteers of Central Jersey – Toms River
The Caregiver Volunteers of Central Jersey is providing both food and transportation assistance.

Catholic Charities Diocese of Camden – Camden
The Catholic Charities Diocese of Camden is providing food assistance, transportation assistance, and supplying personal protective equipment.

Center for Environmental Transformation – Camden
The Center for Environmental Transformation is providing both food assistance and employment assistance.

Coastal Volunteers in Medicine – Forked River
The Coastal Volunteers in Medicine are supplying personal protective equipment and providing prescription assistance.

Eastern Service Workers Association – Pleasantville
The Eastern Service Workers Association is providing food assistance and emergency basic needs assistance.

Family Promise of Southern Ocean County – West Creek
Family Promise of Southern Ocean County is providing emergency basic needs assistance and case management services.

Hope Center – Toms River
The Hope Center is providing food assistance, shelter assistance, and providing emergency basic needs assistance.

Jefferson Health New Jersey – Voorhees
Jefferson Health New Jersey is working to provide emergency basic needs assistance.

Katz Jewish Community Center – Cherry Hill
The Katz Jewish Community Center is working to provide virtual senior and youth educational programming.

Latin American Economic Development Association – Camden
The Latin American Economic Development Association is providing virtual case management.

Literacy New Jersey – Willingboro
Literacy New Jersey is providing virtual literacy programming and case management services.

Meals on Wheels of Salem County – Salem
Meals on Wheels of Salem County is supplying personal protective equipment and providing food assistance.

MudGirls Studios – Linwood
MudGirls Studios is providing food assistance and emergency basic needs assistance.

Oaks Integrated Care – Mount Holly
Oaks Integrated Care is providing food assistance to those in need.

Ocean County YMCA – Toms River
The Ocean County YMCA is providing virtual senior and youth programming, as well as food assistance.

Project Hope – Camden
Project Hope is providing emergency basic needs assistance.

Rural Development Corporation – Vineland
The Rural Development Corporation is supplying personal protective equipment and providing food assistance.

St. Joseph’s Carpenter Society – Camden
The St. Joseph’s Carpenter Society is providing food assistance, shelter assistance, and providing emergency basic needs assistance.

Salvation Army Atlantic City – Union
The Salvation Army Atlantic City is supplying personal protective equipment and providing food assistance.

The Huddle of South Jersey – Salem
The Huddle of South Jersey is providing virtual fatherhood programming.

Atlantic City businesses and residents have been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic sweeping our country and world, but that has not stopped the Boys & Girls Club of Atlantic City (BGAC) from continuing their mission. With the help of a $20,000 grant from the Community Foundation of South Jersey’s (CFSJ) COVID-19 Response Fund, the Club is addressing food insecurity, while modifying the way services can be delivered.

BGAC offers Club members a variety of programs including:

• Hands-on training in STEAM fields and industries to launch the next generation of working professionals, including healthcare, hospitality, culinary, and technology. STEAM is an acronym representing the blending of Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math.
• Character building, tutoring, and life skills development to help Club members to succeed physically, socially, and emotionally.
• Summer camps and other activities in the warm, friendly atmosphere of facilities specially designed for such programs.

Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the BGAC team transitioned to online virtual programming for Club members, using platforms such as Google Classrooms, Zoom, and Facebook Live Videos, The Club has partnered with the Community Food Bank of New Jersey to distribute more than 13,200 meals to families in need. Additional meals are provided as the result of donations from local businesses such as Tony Boloney’s, Tony’s Baltimore Grill, El Chalan, Mr. Taco, and Water Dog Smoke House.

The balance of the SJ Response Fund grant supports the purchase of personal protective equipment (PPE) to support access to summer camp in a safe environment.

“Most of the Club Families live in a ‘food desert’,’ a place where fresh fruit, vegetables, and groceries are not accessible,” said BGAC Chief Development Officer Renate Taylor. “Because the casinos are closed, people are out of jobs and food pantries aren’t accessible to many families, we felt the need to step up and help. Thanks to the Response Fund grant, we are not only able to continue to help the children virtually, but help feed their families as well.  We are working hard to gather the resources necessary to continue serving the 1,600 students who annually use our facilities.”

 “The needs the BGAC is addressing are the reason the South Jersey COVID-19 Response Fund was created, said CFSJ Executive Director Andy Fraizer.  “The Club’s continued work is evidence the Fund is providing critical support to local organizations serving families in need. Due to the contributions of generous South Jersey neighbors and organizations, the Community Foundation is fortunate to assist with planning the safe re-opening of this valuable community resource.”

The SouthJersey COVID-19 Response Fund continues to respond to local nonprofits that need support to serve communities impacted by the pandemic. To date, South Jersey nonprofits requested more than $6 million, while the Fund has raised $1 million. To support the only Fund where donations stay in our South Jersey region, visit southjerseyresponsefund.org. 

About Boys & Girls Club Of Atlantic City

For nearly 50 years, the Boys & Girls Club of Atlantic City has provided a positive, welcoming environment in which students are able to have fun, participate in life-changing programs, and build supportive relationships with peers and caring adults. The Club emphasizes positive values in the relationships members of all races, religions, and ethnic cultures have with each other and their adult leaders, and help them to make appropriate and satisfying choices in their physical, educational, personal, and social lives.

About the Community Foundation of South Jersey

The Community Foundation of South Jersey (CFSJ) envisions an eight-county region

thriving, where all neighbors aspire, succeed, participate, and give. The vision is realized as CFSJ inspires generosity, manages and deploys permanent charitable assets, and exercises collaborative leadership to create a more equitable region. CFSJ works with South Jersey philanthropists, local nonprofits, and neighbors to build capital, contribute assets, and create permanent endowments for impact in perpetuity. By aligning donor interests and using the investment earnings on each of its endowed funds, CFSJ makes grants and builds leadership within the community to create thriving, equitable, and livable communities for all. Currently, CFSJ manages assets of more than $25 million. CFSJ has issued more than $9 million in nonprofit grants and scholarships. Learn more about CFSJ at CommunityFoundationSJ.org.