- Family Promise
Transcription
- Family Promise
Family Promise-IHN Network News Editors: Donna Freidel, Board President Kathy Stafford, Board Vice President Gary Salmon, Executive Director January, 2014 Vol 4 No. 1 A New Year Has Begun and We’ve Lots to Tell You! We begin by wishing everyone a very happy New Year, and hoping that 2014 brings our volunteers, coordinators, clergy, and community supporters every blessing—good health, good times with family and friends, and love and laughter in abundance! We also want to apologize for the absence of the Network News over the past couple of months. The editorial staff was very busy with Network activities, as well as work and personal commitments, and there just was not enough time to get an issue out, which we especially regret because that has delayed us in reporting to you on all that has been happening in the Network. We will try to make up for lost time in this issue! As we “go to print” (metaphorically, since the days of print newspapers are almost completely a thing of the past and most of you view this as an “e-copy”), we are being bombarded by yet another winter storm. Our guests are hunkered down in the Day Center for the night with our intrepid, and dedicated, Executive Director, serving as overnight host, since it was deemed too hazardous for the volunteers at the host congregation to make it to the church to serve dinner and stay overnight. Under circumstances like this, we are very grateful for St. Bridget’s, our landlord, which allows us to make accommodations for our guests overnight in emergencies, for Gary, our Director, who has filled in during other emergencies when we are forced to keep our guests at the Day Center and provide hospitality there, and also and always, for our Lord, who provides us with this chance to provide shelter from the cold to families who might otherwise have nowhere to go to escape winter’s bitter blasts. It is wonderful that we can all be part of such a hand’s on ministry, and it is something to be grateful for as the snow falls.being part of Family Promise makes you part of the solution. The Editors The 6th Annual “A Taste of South Jersey” to Benefit Family Promise of Gloucester County Was A Record Breaking Success! The 2013 Taste of South Jersey, held at the beautiful Adelphia Restaurant in Deptford, NJ, was an outstanding success in every way! We raised over $26,000.00, with the help of so many wonderful supporters, including corporate event sponsor, Larry Liebman, from Morgan Stanley, back for a second year, as well as Master Sponsors, Table Sponsors, and Patrons, and of course, the restaurants, bakeries, and other vendors, who work so hard to make the evening so enjoyable! A full list of all of our generous donors appears at the end of this article, but we must begin by thanking the wonderful Adelphia’s, for providing the site for this outstanding event, as well as great service and food! We really could not do it without them! TOSJ 2013 Chair Tom Power with Special Guest, Karen Rogers, from Channel 6ABC! Tom Power, former Board President, and six time Chairperson of the Taste of South Jersey, headed up a stellar Committee once again, which outdid itself in every category, providing guests with the fantastic evening they’ve come to expect from this signature event of the Gloucester County Family Promise Network. Karen Rogers, a well-known celebrity from Channel 6 ABC, and longtime supporter of Family Promise, gave a moving and heart-felt address to open the festivities. Then Master of Ceremonies, Tom Avery, also a former Board Member, and TOSJ Committee Member, took over, keeping the evening moving along at a fast and fun clip. He was ably assisted by Executive Director, Gary Salmon, who served as Auctioneer, and did his usual outstanding job! Adelphia’s in providing fine food for the guests including Arugula, Applebee’s in Deptford, Barcelona Bistro, A-Team Catering, Carolina Blue, Randazzo’s Tuscan Tavern, Tony Luke’s, and Wedgewood Country Club. Desserts galore to tempt every palate were provided by Bonnie’s Irish Crème, Cacia’s Bakery, Classic Cakes, and Cold Stone Creamery! It was definitely a night to leave the diet at home. Many thanks go out to the Committee members, beginning with Chairperson, Tom Power, and the rest of his hardworking committee: Barbara Power, Ed Brady, Tony Killian, Connie Sunderhauf, Dennis Zisa, Tom Avery, Regina Silitti, and Gail Zelley. The Network relies on this event to make its budget and every year this team exceeds the very high expectations placed on them! THANK YOU! Master of Ceremonies, Tom Avery, from St. Charles Borromero Host Congregation! Tony Killian, TOSJ Committee Member , hard at work selling tickets! Karen Rogers of 6ABC, with Event Sponsor, Larry Liebman, of Morgan Stanley, both looking happy to support Family Promise’s TOSJ 2013! The food was fantastic, with dinner items prepared by such fine area restaurants joining Smiling servers from Tony Lukes! All of the Servers were so cheerful as they worked hard all evening to keep the guests well fed! TASTE OF SOUTH JERSEY 2013! Corporate Sponsor: Larry Liebman of Morgan Stanley, 856-866-9292, [email protected]; Hosted by Adelphia Restaurant, 1750 Clements Bridge Rd · Deptford, (856) 845-8200; Special Thanks to Our Table Sponsors! The Pink Princesses never miss one of our Fundraisers! Anthony Fanty, CPA The Barclay Group Insurance Agency Body Blast Personal Training & Fitness, Stephen Williamson, Founder Collegiate Title Corporation Dennis J. Zisa & Associates Realtors Everbank-John Ginley, Sales Manager Freidel & Kramer, P.C. , Attorney at Law Meridian Mortgage, Mike Guerra, Mortgage Banker M&C Insurance Agency PNC Mortgage, Juan Rodriguez, Loan Officer, Surety Title Corporation Knights of Columbus Council #6296 And Thank You to Our Master Sponsors! Jack Tweed T&T Realty, LLC Men’s Ministry of St. Charles Borromeo Hoffman Dimuzio Law Offices Joe Nikituk Plumbing & Heating Garden State Public Adjusters Greg and Roseanne Stefankiewicz Thank You To All of Our Advertisers! Trinity Methodist Coordinator Rosemarie Parker (3rd from L) and friends always have a table at TOSJ! Please see our Facebook page for more pictures from this great event! Of course, the success of this event is also due in large part to the wonderful support shown by the business, faith, and volunteer community that has been built around it over the past six year and we very much appreciate those supporters, new and old, who contributed to the success of TOSJ 2013! We’d like to acknowledge them again now, and ask all of our readers to show their appreciation especially to those businesses that have supported our ministry to the homeless by supporting this very important fundraiser that we rely on so much. Beth, Behrooz, and Amy Nazer B’Nai Tikvah—Beth Israel Congregation, Sewell Big Teeze Salon, Turnersville Ace Hardware, Sewell JB Sound Systems—856-256-4938 Charles M. Izzo, Atty. At Law, Camden Debra M. Gabrieli, Home Companion Care Edward P. Brady, P.E., Taylor, Wiseman & Taylor, Engineers, Surveyors, Scientists McGuinness Funeral Home, Woodbury and Washington Twp. Joseph H. Wisniewski, Jr., CPA, Premier Accounting Services, P.C., Pitman Advertisers Continued: United Methodist Church, Mantua Rose Sperry, Fox Run Self Storage, Sewell John Stefankiewicz, Mgr, TD Bank, Haddonfield The Avery Family The Catholic Community of the Holy Spirit, Mullica Hill, Rev. Anthony T. DiBardino, Pastor, Rev. Joseph Pham, Parochial Vicar Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, Wenonah The Society of St. Vincent DePaul, St. Charles Borromeo Conference TheraTears*Advanced Vision Research Lucille and Jim Anzide The Killian Family-Tony, Bev, Dan, and Jack Barbara and Tom Power Walsh Construction, Thomas Walsh, Owner Jan and Janet Fuhrer Rosemary and Michael Dinatale Jim and Kathleen Szczur Deacon Joe Chandler and Jennifer Chandler Magic Carpet, Camden, Walt, Proprietor JG Contracting Services, 856-254-6000 St. Charles Borromeo Church and Parish Family, Sicklerville The Clergy and Parishioners of St. Peter and Paul Church, Turnersville Timothy and Katherine Golden, SGI Selvey, Golden, Inc., Richwood All Quality Cleaning, Inc., Camden Egizi Funeral Home, Gary H. Egizi, OwnerManager, Charles V. Chiango Jr., Director Washington Twp. Jamie H. Green, DDS, Family Dentistry, Anthony J. Calandra, Jr. DMD, LLC Sewell, Construction Ballsta and Experience Transportation, Marcello and Daniel, 718-982-2582, fax 215-288-8402 J. Allen Contractor, Camden Kellam Exterminating, Inc., Glassboro George Hummel, Always There, Heating and Air, Erial Ed’s Roofing, Pennsauken The First Presbyterian Church, Pitman Earle Funeral Home, Robert B. Earle, Mgr., Blackwood and Erial Law Offices of Hoffman & DiMuzio, Franklinville, Woodbury, Sewell, Turnersville, Mullica Hill, Philadelphia Greg and Roseanne Stefankiewicz Jack Tweed T&T Realty, LLC Adelphia Restaurant, Deptford Applebees, Deptford, Turnersville, Sicklerville Arugula,Washington Twp. A-Team Catering Service, 856-337-3311 Barcelona Bistro, Pitman Cacia’s Bakery, Audubon, Cherry Hill, Blackwood, Hammonton, Delaware Cty, Philadelphia Cold Stone Creamery, Washington Twp. Tony Luke’s, Sicklerville Randazzo’s Tuscan Tavern, Sewell Wedgewood Country Club, Washington Twp., Ed Faltenbacher Carolina Blue, Pitman Classic Cake, Washington Twp. Cherry Hill Everbank, Jack Ginley, Sales Manager, 609-413-1832 PNC Mortgage, Juan Rodriguez, Loan Officer, 856-979-8388 Surety Title Company, Marlton Collegiate Title Company, 866-977-0990 Body Blast Personal Training, Stephen Williamson, Founder The Barclay Group, Riverton, Audubon, Beverly, Cherry Hill, Deptford, Hammonton, Riverside JS Braddock Agency, Medford, Burlington Dennis J. Zisa & Associates, Inc. Camden Freidel & Kramer, P.C. Attorneys at Law, Turnersville Knights of Columbus Msg. Joseph Leary Council #6296 M&C Insurance Agency, Duane D. Myers, President, Camden, Pennsauken, Sicklerville Anthony Fanty, CPA, Renee Fanty, Insurance Agent, Turnersville Meridian Bank, Mike Guerra, Mortgage Banker, Mt. Laurel Joseph Nikituk, Plumbing, Heating & Electrical, 856-254-5559 Garden State Public Adjusters, Inc., John R. Moore, P.A., Marlton The Men’s Ministry of St. Charles Borromeo Church, Sicklerville Thank You Also to Our Great Patrons The Rullo Family Linda and Joe Canataro Dennis and Lily Hardy Jim and Lucille Anzide Karen Dunn It’s A New Year and the Board of Trustees is Ready for a Busy and Productive 2014—With Everyone’s Help! The Board of Trustees closed out its year in December with its annual holiday party, at which it welcomed special guests, several members of the Witches of East Greenwich, who came bearing a very special gift! (Please see the separate story on that visit, which begins on page 7). We pause in December to reflect on the year past, and to plan for the year ahead, to say goodbye to hardworking Board Members who are stepping down, their terms finished, and to welcome new Board Members who are beginning their service with us. This year we are very sorry to see Connie Sunderhauf and Greg Stefankiewicz step down from the Board. Connie has served for four years, extending her term an extra year despite the many demands on her time because she was so greatly needed at the helm of the Fundraising Committee. She has been a member of the Executive Committee as Vice President (2011), served as Fundraising Chair for several years, and among her many accomplishments brought to the Network the outstandingly successful Coach Bag Bingo Events, which she co-chaired. While she is stepping down from the Board, we hope she is not stepping far and we know we can count on her continued support, along with that of her husband Jim. Board Member Connie Sunderhauf with Executive Director Gary Salmon Greg Stefankiewicz also finished his three year term, and with a family wedding coming up, and a new honored position with the Knights of Columbus to begin this year, we could not convince him to extend his stay, as he too has been an outstanding asset to the Board in his three years. Greg has been an active Board member and volunteer, increasing the Knights of Columbus support of our Network, chairing the very successful 2013 Golf Outing, and much, much more. We wish him and Roseanne many blessings, especially with the wedding of their daughter this spring, and know that we can count on them for their continued strong support. Board Member Greg Stefankiewicz at TOSJ 2013 Board Members John Jordan and Pastor Larry Olsten also stepped down in December, for personal reasons. Pastor Larry is currently pursuing doctoral studies and while his energy and his faithful commitment to the plight of the poor and homeless will be deeply missed, we are keeping him and his family in our prayers and wish him every success in his scholarly and pastoral endeavors. We are very pleased that John has agreed to continue the outstanding ministry he has initiated and led with the Transition Committee, and he also has agreed to Chair the 2014 Golf Outing! While he is deeply missed on the Board, and we pray that he will be able to return, we know that John’s love for our Lord and the work that He has given all of us to do for the homeless children and their families of Gloucester County will never take him too far from us. The Board Officers were voted on at the December meeting, and the Executive Board will remain the same, by unanimous vote: President—Donna Freidel, Esq. ([email protected]) Vice President—M. Kathleen Stafford ([email protected]) Treasurer—Dennis J. Zisa ([email protected]) Secretary---Jerry Cephas ([email protected]) The Board Members for 2014 are Frank Adams, Pastor Idalia Craig, Cindi Kammer, Gail Slimm, and Gail Zelley. Many thanks to all of our hardworking and dedicated Board Members! Board Member John Jordan (blue shirt) with fellow Good Shepherd parishioner, George Funk, at 2013 Golf Outing! The 2014 Golf Outing will take place on Friday, May 30, 2014, again at beautiful Town and Country, in Woodstown, SAVE THE DATE! We are very excited to announce that Gail Zelley, from Host Congregation Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, Wenonah, is our newest Board Member! Gail has been active in committee work for the past several years, assisting on the TOSJ, Basket Auctions, and Coach Bag Bingos, among other events. She is experienced in special needs education, and a member of the Episcopal Church Women and Wenonah Woman’s Club. Welcome, Gail! Gail Zelley with husband Rev. Ed Zelley, at the 2013 TOSJ , held at Adelphia Restaurant, Deptford. The Board is actively recruiting new members, for both the board and for committees. If you are interested, please contact a member of the Executive Board for more information, or a member of the Board Development Committee, which includes Gail Slimm, ([email protected]), Carolyn Tyson ([email protected]) and Gail Zelley at [email protected]) . Other committees that need help are the Fundraising Committee, the Property Committee and the Congregational Development Committee. Information regarding the budget for 2014 and the 2013 financial picture will be included in next month’s Newsletter. Great News About Grants! Executive Director Gary Salmon has once again been successful in a grant application on behalf of the Network! The Presbytery of West Jersey has awarded an extremely generous grant in the amount of Eight Thousand, Seven Hundred, Fifty ($8,750.00) Dollars, which is to be used toward funding a part-time case worker position. It is hoped that with the addition of the additional staff who will be focused solely on case management for our families, they will be able to regain housing stability more rapidly, enabling our Network to assist more families over the course of the year. We extend our deepest appreciation to Rev. Dr. Deborah Brincivalli, Executive Presbyter, and the Presbytery of West Jersey for their continued support of our mission to the homeless children and their families of Gloucester County. The 2013 year was a very successful one for our growing grant focus, and it is hoped that this success will continue, and grow, in 2014. Our Favorite Witches Came Bearing Gifts in December! As we mentioned in prior issues of the Network News, the always amazing Witches of East Greenwich were so gracious and generous as to choose Family Promise of Gloucester County to be one of their charities for 2013. In case you are just joining us, what this meant was that these dynamic , energetic, dragon boat racing women did throughout 2013, along with their very successful dragon boat racing, was to raise money for our Network, along with Mothers Matter, their other selected charity for 2013. (They also fund a scholarship each year!) Rachel Rowe and Rosemarie Parker, with Tal Kramer at the Witches Ball in June 2013! Cheering the team to victory! Witches on the Water! We had so much fun through the year, at the Witches Ball, buying their wonderful umbrellas, their golf tournament, following their success on the river, and culminating in the great Philadelphia Dragon Boat Festival. Coordinators Rosemarie Parker from Trinity Methodist and Rachel Rowe from St. Stephen’s Episcopal, (both in Mullica Hill) were instrumental in Family Promise being selected as one of the 2013 charities and we thank them, along with the fantastic Megan Heyer, Founder of the Witches of East Greenwich, and all of these tremendous, wonderful, hard-working ladies! At the December Board meeting, Megan and Rosemarie, along with several other members of the Witches, presented the Board with their donation in the wonderfully generous amount of Seven Thousand, Five Hundred ($7,500.00) Dollars! These much needed funds will do so much good, and coming as they do, at the end of our year, send us into 2014 in strong financial standing. Words cannot do justice to how grateful we are for this help, which will enable us to continue to help those most in need, so all we can say is, thank you, dear ladies, very, very much, and God bless you, and reward you, in all your efforts. Witches of East Greenwich with Board of Trustees, 12/2013 Witches Founder Megan Heyer with Executor Gary Salmon at the Dragon Boat Festival in October, 2013 Proverbs 19:17 Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will reward them for what they have done. Additional Words of Thanks! We are very grateful for the many gifts received by our families during the holiday season and also for the financial support our Network received from our faith organizations and community supporters. We are not able to thank each and every one in our Newsletter, although we make every effort to send acknowledgements by mail. If we miss sending one to you, please let us know, as such an omission is inadvertent and we want to remedy it at once. We do want to acknowledge as many gifts as we can in our newsletter, and if we do not reach your organization this month, we will make every effort to note it next month because every gift is greatly appreciated and very much needed. gratefully receive each of these and bless them for their donations. Box City Residents gather for camaraderie at St. Thomas. We extend our sincere gratitude to the Deptford Lions Club, and to Multiple District 16C of the Lions’ Charitable Foundation, for their generous donation totaling Six Hundred ($600.00) Dollars, to be used toward nutritional needs for our guests. This was the second donation received from the Deptford Lions and District 16C; to date, we’ve received One Thousand, Four Hundred ($1,400.00) Dollars from this public spirited organization, for which we thank them very much! We also send our deepest thanks to the Episcopal Church Women of Christ Church in Woodbury, who once again sent their support to us, donating Two Hundred ($200.00) from their annual cheesecake sale, which they’ve done for several years. We also received Two Hundred ($200.00) from the St. Thomas Episcopal Church’s Junior and Senior High Sunday School Students, who participated in a “Box City” Project to raise funds and awareness about the plight of the poor and homeless. St. Thomas Church also made a donation of One Thousand ($1000.00) Dollars, which it has done each year of its participation in the Network. We give our deepest thanks to this congregation—young and old and everyone in between, especially the clergy leadership provided by Board Member Pastor Idalia Craig. Other member congregations were also generous to us last month and we extend our deepest thanks to them! Good Shepherd Episcopal Church donated Three Hundred ($300.00) Dollars, Pitman United Methodist Church donated Two Hundred, Fifty ($250.00) Dollars, and Memorial Presbyterian Church donated One Hundred, Sixty-Seven ($167.00) Dollars. We Board President Donna Freidel with King Lion Bob Freidel and Lion Jim Bernardo, accepting donations on behalf of Family Promise, in December, 2013. News Around the Network…. The Deptford Lions’ Club is holding a Cork and Brew Event to raise funds for its charitable activities (such as making donations to Family Promise!) The Event will be on Sunday, February 9, 2014, from 1-5, at Almonesson Fire Hall. See Attached Flyer for more info. Tickets are $35 each. Is something going on at your congregation? Let us know and we’ll put the word out here! 2014 Volunteer Training Schedule * Spotlight On: Spring Plans! Yes, the weather outside is frightful, but before we know it, spring will be here, and with it, our fancy turns to…fun, as in fundraisers! We’re excited to announce that this April 6th will see a return of a former favorite, the Family Promise Art Auction! Before there the TOSJ, before the Coach Bag Bingos, there were the Art Auctions that we held for Family Promise at St. Charles Borromeo, and we are kicking it old school, and holding one once more. The Auction will have all of the fun and entertainment that those of you who have been to one have come to expect and enjoy—and those who have not been to one are in for a wonderful afternoon! We will have more information in our next newsletter, but mark your calendars— Sunday, April 6, from 1 pm to 5 pm, for an afternoon of art, and refreshments, including wine, hors d’ oeuvres, and desserts. We will also have a number of baskets to be raffled, silent and live auction items, and more! We hope to see a great turnout for this great event. Early Spring will also see a return of our wonderful Family and Friends Campaign. The Campaign will be led by Committee Chair Jim Anzide, with Assistant Chairs, Board Members Frank Adams and Gail Zelley. Friday May 30th is another important “Save the Date” to mark on your calendar as it will be the day of our Fifth Annual Golf Outing! Chair John Jordan and Co-Chair Gary Salmon are sure to bring us another great day of golf and fellowship at Woodstown’s Town & Country Golf Links Course. With all of these, we need YOUR help to ensure their success! Please contact the Day Center for more information on how to get involved with the Art Auction Committee, the Family and Friends Campaign, or the Golf Outing Committee…we really would love to have your help! (Please note: Training schedule is subject to change; please register for the training session by calling the day center, 856-243-5971, so we can notify you of any changes and can be sure of having enough training materials!) All trainings held at Day Center at 7 pm unless otherwise noted; additional trainings may be scheduled, depending on circumstances Feb. 5 (Wed.) Apr. 10 (Thurs.) June 9 (Mon.) Aug. 6 (Wed.) Oct. 9 (Thurs.) Dec. 8 (Mon.) Additional Training Sessions may be scheduled to accommodate new volunteers and /or new host and support sites, or retraining at existing sites. Please keep an eye on our Facebook page for notice of changes. If your congregation needs training, please call the Day Center to discuss with the Director. “Service to a just cause rewards the worker with more real happiness and satisfaction than any other venture of life.” Carrie Chapman Catt-American Women’s Rights Activist “ The best antidote I know for worry is work. The best cure for weariness is the challenge of helping someone who is even more tired. One of the great ironies of life is this: He or she who serves almost always benefits more than he or she who is served. “ Gordon B. Hinckley, Standing for Something: 10 Neglected Virtues That Will Heal Our Hearts and Homes SPECIAL OPPORTUNITY – -HELP WANTED Our Network is in need of people with special talents and if you are looking for a way to help us that does not involve sending us money— there are many opportunities! We have a wish list that would fill a page of this newsletter! But for now, we have certain needs that we would like to focus on: Accountants: We are preparing to have an audit done , which will be of benefit for certain grants; if you are a CPA, and are willing to assist in this, either pro bono or at a reduced rate, please contact either the board president or treasurer. Contact emails appear on page 6. Auto dealers: The Network Van, which is a 14 passenger vehicle, has provided good service for several years, but it is now time for it to be replaced as repairs are coming more frequently and requiring more of our budget all the time. We have received grant money toward a replacement but we are hopeful of locating a dealer interesting in partnering with us to donate a van or to sell us a van at a significantly reduced rate, in exchange for the tax deduction or for other consideration. Please contact Board Vice President Kathy Stafford, contact info in p. 6. Truck Owners/Strong People to Ride in Trucks: We are in need of people to assist with our Transition Ministry, which helps move our graduating families into their new homes, picks up donated furniture and takes it to our storage unit, and moves it to families’ new homes when those happy days occur. Contact the Day Center, 856-243-5971, to learn more being part of this great team, which is led by John Jordan, of Good Shepherd Episcopal Church. Teachers: Sometimes our guest children…and sometimes our adults…need additional help with school. A volunteer pool of tutors, especially in particular subjects would be a great asset to our Network. Lawyers: There is a need for legal assistance for our guests on occasion, whether expungements to help facilitate getting better jobs, or help with minor landlord tenant or credit issues that are an impediment to getting a new home. If you are willing to take on a pro bono assignment, arrangements can sometimes be made with S.J. Legal Services for the assignment to be formalized through their offices. Contact the Day Center if you can help in this way. 856-2435971. As always, thank you to everyone who answers the call when we ask for help! Find Us On Facebook! Search for Family Promise of Gloucester County and “Like” our page! You can reach the Day Center 9:00 a.m. -5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, at 856-243-5971. You can also reach us by fax at 856-243-5775, or email,[email protected]. Our Website is at www.familypromisegc.org A full listing of host and support congregations can be found there! Once again, we leave you with two Bible verses, as all strive to reflect the light of God in the work we do on behalf of the homeless children and their families of our Network. “For there will never cease to be poor in the land. Therefore I command you, ‘You shall open wide your hand to your brother, to the needy and to the poor, in your land.’” Deuteronomy 15:11 Give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.” Luke 6:38