Hammonton Responds Quickly to COVID-19 Thanks to CFSJ’s Transform SJ Training

By Andy Fraizer

June 3, 2020

Comments Off

As the potential impact of the Covid-19 pandemic became apparent in early March, the Town of Hammonton, New Jersey immediately established a Coronavirius Task Force designed to help the community cope with the effects of the virus.

Community leaders were able to move quickly thanks to knowledge they gained and relationships they built through the Community Foundation of South Jersey’s (CFSJ) Transform South Jersey grant application process and subsequent grant award. As a result, the Task Force has been successful in helping the community unite during this national health crisis and plan for the future.

Transform South Jersey is based on the Orton Family Foundation’s proven national Community Heart & Soul model which empowers residents to shape their future based on what matters most to them. Hammonton was one of five communities in the CFSJ’s eight-county service area selected to receive the prestigious $100,000 grant earlier this year. CFSJ works with local nonprofits to build capital, contribute assets, and create permanent endowments for long-term impact. 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.

The Hammonton Coronavirus Task Force includes four separate committees that are focused on the health and safety of the community, relieving the economic impact of the pandemic, supporting community goodwill and outreach and communication. “Going through the Heart & Soul process we learned a great deal including the need to identify new community leaders, to communicate rapidly and more directly, and to actively engage all facets of the community including government, service providers, and cultural groups,” said Cassie Iacovelli, MainStreet Hammonton Executive Director. “The pandemic accelerated the idea that we needed residents to leave any preconceived perceptions behind and work together to help the community at large, which is exactly what we have done with this Task Force.”

“One of the many things we learned during the application process and are addressing with this Task Force is a need to more broadly engage the senior community in order to better understand and address their needs and concerns,” said Task Force Co-Chairperson Jim Donio, who is an active community volunteer and a Co-Founder of the Eagle Theatre. “Another is to be more inclusive by embracing the diversity in our community in order to bring everyone together, from businesses and faith leaders to community groups and residents.”

The Task Force has also kicked-off planning to establish a Hammonton Community Fund which would initially be targeted to help with Covid-19 economic relief efforts. “This has been an unprecedented economic shutdown with effects that no one could have predicted,” said Task Force member Rich Rehmann, President of ARH Associates, Inc. “The Task Force is fortunate to be in a position where we can leverage both the resources we have brought together within the community, along with the expertise of the CFSJ to bring hope to those facing challenges brought about by the immediate effects of the virus and longer-standing systemic issues that we face.”

“During this time of crisis and uncertainty, we are inspired by how our community partners are stepping up to meet the evolving needs and challenges associated with the impacts of Coronavirus throughout South Jersey,” said CFSJ Executive Director Andy Fraizer. “Community Foundation is committed to working with our partners to address both the immediate needs of our neighbors and to plan for the longer-term needs of our communities.”

“We strongly believe following the Heart & Soul model will not only improve the constant engagement required by all stakeholders and community members within the town, but it will also lead to a long-standing, positive impact throughout the Hammonton community,” Donio concluded.

CFSJ Announces Latest Round of COVID-19 Response Fund Grants

By Andy Fraizer

June 3, 2020

Comments Off

0

Twenty-Five nonprofits located throughout Southern New Jersey have been awarded $222,000 in funding as part of the Community Foundation of South Jersey (CFSJ)’s COVID-19 Response Fund. To date, $322,000 has been awarded from the Fund for organizations serving Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester, Ocean, and Salem Counties.

The South Jersey COVID-19 Response Fund is the only such effort focused solely on the eight-county Southern New Jersey region. It was established to deploy flexible grant dollars to nonprofits helping South Jersey neighbors affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The stories of these organizations adapting to meet the needs of their neighbors and communities under stressful conditions with limited resources are both inspiring and sobering,” said CFSJ Executive Director Andy Fraizer. “Our hope is that this funding provides much-needed relief in their continued efforts to serve vulnerable individuals impacted by the health, social, and economic consequences of the pandemic.” Fraizer continued, “There is much work still to do. Our team is evaluating the next round of grants and while we have commitments and pledges totaling $1 million, grant requests now exceed $6 million.”

The Fund is providing grants in multiple areas based on three categories.

Phase one: Triage – Support for organization meeting the immediate basic needs of our South Jersey neighbors.

Phase two: Treatment – Support for organizations modifying their service delivery methods so South Jersey residents don’t lose access to critical health, human and social services.

Phase three: Recovery – support for organizations that had to shut down operations, let go of staff, or lost income due to postponed & canceled events because of COVID-19.

“This round of grants continues our commitment to partner with nonprofit partners making a difference on the front-lines,” said Wanda Hardy, Chairperson of the Foundation’s Community Leadership and Engagement Committee. “The generous outpouring of support received from donors, large and small, is a heartwarming sign of hope. Our South Jersey community cares.”

For more details on making donations, funding priorities, and how to apply, please visit southjerseyresponsefund.org.

GRANT AWARD DESCRIPTIONS

Allies in Caring – Hammonton
Allies in Caring is providing critical culturally affirmative & linguistically appropriate behavioral & mental health services virtually to South Jersey families & youth.

Bancroft Neurohealth – Cherry Hill
Bancroft is purchasing personal protective equipment so staff can attend to the feeding & socialization needs of low-income children & adults living with disabilities in their residential programs throughout South Jersey.

Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Cumberland & Salem Counties – Vineland
Big Brothers & Big Sisters of Cumberland & Salem Counties is adapting to match & train mentors virtually, so they can provide mentoring activities remotely.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Atlantic & Cape May Counties – Northfield
Big Brothers & Big Sisters of Cumberland & Salem Counties is adapting to match & train mentors virtually, so they can provide mentoring activities remotely.

Boys & Girls Club Camden County – Camden
Boys & Girls Club of Camden County is expanding virtual academic enrichment, tutoring, mentoring, job training, and social recreation activities, as well as delivering education supplies and food.

Boys & Girls Club of Atlantic City– Atlantic City
Boys & Girls Club of Atlantic City is expanding virtual academic enrichment, tutoring, mentoring, job training, and social recreation activities, as well as delivering education supplies and food.

Cathedral Kitchen – Camden
Cathedral Kitchen is preparing to deliver weekly meals, food, and personal hygiene items to partners throughout Camden & Pennsauken.

Emmanuel Cancer Foundation Southern Regional Center – Woodbury Heights
Emmanuel Cancer Foundation is providing services to South Jersey families facing pediatric cancer. Service includes case management, counseling, and emergency assistance for food & utilities.

Greater Woodbury Cooperative Ministries – Woodbury
Greater Woodbury Cooperative Ministries will purchase food, including fresh fruits, vegetables, and other staple items to supplement food received from the Food Bank of South Jersey.

Inspira Health Foundation – Vineland
Inspira Health is providing emergency financial support to employees facing unexpected expenses as a result of COVID-19 exposure, subsidizing elder care & child care for employees who are needed in the hospitals and providing additional compensation for health workers in high demand who have made themselves available to address the surge of patients.

Interfaith Caregivers – Haddonfield
Interfaith Caregivers is supporting the implementation of a “shop for” model that allows clients to receive food & prescriptions, as well as receive social phone calls.

Jersey Cape Diagnostic – Cape May Court House
Jersey Cape Diagnostic is expanding its distance-learning curriculum and virtual job training offerings to clients throughout Cape May County.

Jewish Family & Children’s Service of Southern NJ – Cherry Hill
Jewish Family & Children’s Services is purchasing food, gift cards, and providing transportation to medical appointments for Burlington, Camden & Gloucester County clients.

Joseph’s House of Camden – Camden
Joseph’s House of Camden is meeting the basic needs of its Camden County clients, including personal hygiene assistance, food, and access to human services including securing personal identification, public benefits, mental health & addiction counseling, and veterans services.

Koinonia Family Life – Camden
A partner of the Food Bank of South Jersey, Koinonia Family Life is procuring equipment necessary to transition their food distribution families in Camden to a grab & go model.

Lakewood Resource & Referral Center – Lakewood
Lakewood Resource & Referral Center is providing information, referrals, and assistance to Ocean County neighbors applying for temporary disability insurance, family leave insurance, unemployment, SNAP, and government-subsidized health insurance.

Legacy Treatment Services – Hainesport
Legacy Treatment Services is purchasing food for youth residing in group homes, personal protective equipment for staff when in-person support is unavoidable, and equipment to expand telehealth functions for clients throughout South Jersey.

Praise Tabernacle – Egg Harbor Township
Praise Tabernacle (a partner of the Community Food Bank of New Jersey), is purchasing additional food and clothing for underserved families and homeless neighbors throughout Atlantic & Cape May counties.

Puerto Rican Action Committee of Southern NJ – Vineland
Puerto Rican Action Committee is providing case management, information, referrals, and assistance to South Jersey neighbors applying for unemployment insurance benefits, SNAP, government-subsidized health insurance, and to purchase personal protective equipment for staff when in-person support is unavoidable.

Ronald McDonald House of Southern NJ – Camden
Ronald McDonald House is continuing to offer meals, laundry, and a place to stay for families of seriously ill and traumatically injured children receiving care throughout South Jersey.

Southern Ocean Medical Center – Wall Township
Southern Ocean Medical Center is purchasing personal protective equipment, food, and hotel vouchers for South Jersey frontline health care staff who have been exposed to COVID-19.

Special Children’s Center – Lakewood
Special Children’s Center is providing virtual case management & mentoring activities, as well as delivering toys & supplies to bring comfort to youth and their families throughout Ocean County.

St. John of God Community Services – Westville Grove
St. John of God Community Services is restocking their food pantry and providing counseling to low-income families throughout South Jersey.

Vineland Soup Kitchen – Vineland
Vineland Soup Kitchen (a partner of the Community Food Bank of New Jersey), is providing food, personal care items, and personal protection items to low-income, food-insecure and homeless neighbors throughout Cumberland County.

Volunteers in Medicine – Egg Harbor Township
Volunteers in Medicine is transitioning to a telehealth model to provide primary care, specialist & prescription assistance. The organization is also purchasing durable goods to facilitate the management of chronic diseases and gift cards to offset the costs of prescriptions and food.

CFSJ Announces New Governing Board Appointments

By CFSJ

May 13, 2020

Comments Off

0

The Community Foundation of South Jersey (CFSJ) announces the election of Joe Tredinnick as President of the Board of Directors. In addition, the Foundation welcomes two members to the Board, Justin Van Fleet who serves as Treasurer and Richelle Todd-Yamoah.

Tredinnick replaces outgoing President and Chairperson John Connell, Esq. Connell’s term expired in December 2019. Tredinnick has been a member of the CFSJ Board for three years. He is currently Market President of Republic Bank and has more than 27 years of commercial and retail banking experience, Van Fleet is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and partner at Friedman LLP, working as an Audit Engagement Partner. Todd-Yamoah, holds a Master of Public Administration, and currently serves as the Vice President of Programs and Operations at Pascale Sykes Foundation.

“The opportunity to serve as Chairman is a privilege,” said Tredinnick. “I am proud to be from South Jersey and serving CFSJ’s mission in the region amplifies my passions for community, relationships, and giving. With a robust board and staff collaboration, CFSJ will deliver on its strategic plan and aggressively pursue affecting positive change.”

“I am humbled to join the CFSJ Board of Directors and bring my finance experience to the table as the Treasurer,” said Van Fleet. “Trusted financials and numbers tell a story and instill confidence in the organization and the practice of philanthropy.”

“I’ve seen the Community Foundation’s impact up close in my role at Pascale Sykes Foundation. I am happy to join the Board and strengthen this impact,” said Todd-Yamoah. “I believe strongly in the mission particularly where it serves families and communities.”

“The partnership of the Board President and Executive Director is fundamental to our organization’s success,” said Executive Director Andy Fraizer. “This partnership was strong with John during his terms of office; and I am excited to continue this deep collaboration with Joe. New members Justin and Richelle committed to using their unique gifts in finance, leadership, and management to create and convey our impact throughout South Jersey. I am grateful.”

The other members of the Board of Directors are Vice President Kyle Ruffin (President, K Ruffin & Associates), Secretary T. Christian Rollins (Chief Development Officer, Samaritan Healthcare & Hospice), Joseph C. Atkinson (Principal, PwC LLP), Hon. Raymond A. Batten (Retired) (Of Counsel, Archer), John Connell, Esq. (Partner, Archer), Hon. Alisa Cooper (Commissioner, NJ Casino Control Commission), Lois Greco (Independent Philanthropy Professional), Rev. Douglas C. Halvorsen (Priest in Charge, Saint Simeon’s by the Sea), Wanda Hardy (Managing Principal of WP Hardy Consulting), Mark S. Hodges (Principal, Blueprint Strategic Consulting), and Joseph E. Murphy, Esq. (Certified Ethics and Compliance Professional).