2007 Summer Newsletter

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These MOM’S Know
How to Make Our
4.
Girl’s Feel
Welcome!
Board of Directors
Susan E. Piersol, President
Peggy McCausland, Vice President
Phyllis Wood, Treasurer
Joel S. Wiedermann, Secretary
Kevin Becica, PE
Jim Cinelli
Cindy Cipriani
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djusting to life in a group
home is no easy task for any teenager,
but thanks to the efforts of a very
special group of local women, the
transition might be just a little bit easier
for our girls here at Robins’ Nest. The MOM’S
Club of Mullica Hill set out to fulfill one of the
goals of their internationally-chartered club by
performing a service project that helps children
in need.
Dr. Kenneth Clay
Steve Emerson
Susan Henry
Richard Hoffman
John Kaufman
David Mallory, MSW
Brian McGlade
Linda Metzger
Robert Nolan, MA
Debra Noll
Kathie Renner, Esq.
John Ververelli
Kristen Welker
Margie Wilde
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A Group Home resident admires a beautiful
welcome basket from the MOMS Club.
After much research, they chose Robins’ Nest Children’s Services as the agency that
they would support, and then decided on a project - Welcome Baskets for new
residents entering our Group Home Program. Next, they found a way to fund their
project by applying to our corporate neighbor, Campbell Soup Company, for a grant
under their “Dollars for Doers” program, which very generously provided them with
$1,000.00, allowing them to turn their ideas into reality. Armed with a long “wish
list” of items they hoped to include in the baskets, they did their homework to find
the best buys available, and then went shopping! Six beautiful baskets full of gifts
to help young girls feel welcome in their new home were presented recently by
several members of the club, along with their children who eagerly took part in the
preparation of each basket.
But that’s not all. This very active club (67 members and growing) whose members
come together regularly from the towns of Mantua, Harrison, South Harrison and
Wenonah, as well as Mullica Hill, also very generously presented our Group Home
Director with a check for more than $200.00 to cover the cost of registering each of
our residents for participation in the “Ropes Course” during their upcoming camping
weekend. This activity enables participants to grow, both as a team and individually,
as they learn leadership, communication and problem solving skills. Thank you to the
MOM’S Club of Mullica Hill for achieving that, and so much more!
42 South Delsea Drive
Glassboro, NJ 08028
P 856.881.8689
F 856.881.5508
www.robinsnestinc.org
Welcome New Board Members!
W
e’d like to welcome Jim Cinelli, Cindy Cipriani and David Mallory, MSW
to the Robins’ Nest Board of Directors. Jim is the Public Affairs Manager of Atlantic
City Electric. Cindy is Sales Manager and Designer for remodeling projects at Cipriani
Builders, a member of our auction committee and co-chair for the 40th Anniversary
Gala event. David is a retired district office manager for Division of Youth and
Family Services.
C
ongratulations to Helen Clark for
beingrecognized by DOVIA
(Directors of Volunteers in Agencies)
for her extensive volunteer work!
Helen Clark is pictured with her
2007 DOVIA Award.
Former Client Selected for Congressional
Youth Internship Program
C
ongratulations to Ryan Kling, a former Life Link client, who was selected for the
Congressional Foster Youth Internship Program. The program provides talented college students
who have spent their formative years in foster care an opportunity to intern in Congressional
offices for the summer. This is a highly competitive program and we are so proud of Ryan!
He is a true inspiration to all of us and the 530,000 children in foster care across the country.
Ryan is a student at Rowan University.
Volunteer Spotlight:
Phyllis Wood
Presidential Award 2007 -Jeff Wood, Ed Wood, Phyllis Wood, Amanda Hogan and Bud Hogan
R
obins’ Nest is thrilled to honor Phyllis Wood with the President’s Council on Service and Civic
Participation Award. In 2003, President Bush
created the award to find ways to recognize
the valuable contributions volunteers are making
in our Nation. The President’s Council on Service
and Civic Participation created the President’s
Volunteer Service Award program as a way to
thank and honor Americans who, by their
demonstrated commitment and example, inspire
others to engage in volunteer service.
Phyllis, owner of Ed Wood Custom Drywall, Treasurer
of the Robins’ Nest Board and member of the Robins’
Nest Development Committee for the Life Link Homes
Project, demonstrates a sincere passion for the agency
and shares this enthusiasm with all whom she meets.
Through Phyllis’ efforts and her recruitment of new
friends and supporters, the agency has received a
tremendous amount of financial support. Her
dedication to the mission and the completion of over
500 hours of community service in 2006 alone has
entitled Phyllis Wood to receive the highest award
given to volunteers - the gold level.
7th Annual ‘Egg-Stravaganza” is a Record-Breaker!
Associates LLC, Cipriani Builders, Jack and
Joan Lyons, Margie and Rich Wilde.
R
obins’ Nest held the 7th Annual “Egg-Stravaganza” Charity Auction for Kids on Friday, March 30, 2007 at
the new Merion located in Cinnaminson, NJ. Over 360
guests helped raise over $175,000 for our many programs and services that tackle child abuse and neglect.
The live and silent auction displayed more than 250
items, including an exclusive one-of-a-kind Paul
Stankard orb, Debbie Brooks handbags, and a
David Yurman necklace and bracelet set donated by
Jay Roberts Jewelers.
New to the event this year was the Fund-A-Need live
auction item. Guests at the event partnered up with
Jacob’s Music in hopes of raising enough money to
purchase a piano to provide girls in the Robins’ Nest
Group Home with the opportunity to study and perform music. Not only did the guests surpass their goal
to purchase the piano, but they were able to raise
enough money to buy sheet music and lessons for the
girls. Thank you to Jacob’s Music for providing a high
quality piano at cost to our girls and to the Fund-ANeed supporters for making the dream a reality!
In addition to the many items donated, Robins’ Nest
had many generous sponsors. The sponsors for 2007
are: Elite Sponsors - Jean and Sam Jones, Piersol
Homes, and Susquehanna Patriot Bank.
Diamond Sponsor - 84 Lumber. Platinum
Sponsor - Bollinger Insurance; Moorestown
Branch. Gold Sponsors - Benefit Concepts,
DeSimone Construction, Ed Wood Custom
Drywall, Environmental Resolution, Inc.,
Flowers Family Foundation, Signature Floor
Covering, Strober Building Supplies,
and Universal Supply Co. Silver Sponsors - Becica
We would like to thank the committees for their hard
work and dedication to the event! Susan Piersol, Event
Chair; Planning Committee - Kevin Becica, Diane
Bryant, Cheryl Chestnut, Donna Guzzo, Susan Henry,
Caryn Lynch, Joan Mueller, Debra Noll, Dawn Tancredi, Judy Valianti, Nancy Verrecchio, Jill Washington
and Margie Wilde; Guest Relations Committee - Cindy
Cipriani, Dennis DeSimone, Dr. Anthony DiFabio, Steve
Emerson, Steve Juris, John Kaufman, Dr. Tina Levitt,
Peggy McCausland, Robert Nolan, Kathie Renner, Alexis
Rettinger, Don Steward, Phyllis Wood
Photographs were courtesy of Jonathan Sorber Photography
Cinco de Mayo Fiesta Fundraiser
O
n May 5, 2007, J.C. and Susan Henry hosted a
Cinco de Mayo Fiesta Fundraiser benefiting Robins’
Nest at their beautiful Haddonfield home. It was a
wonderful evening filled with fantastic food and
drink, the festive sounds of a mariachi band and education about Robins’ Nest and the needs of vulnerable
children in our community. This incredible event was
attended by over 140 guests and raised a phenomenal
$35,000! Highlights of the evening include the VIP
“El Conquistador Lounge” which featured ceviche
prepared by award-winning Chef Guillermo Pernot
of Cuba Libre, wine tastings by Dr. John J. Mahoney
and tequila tastings by Jim Israel. Thank you, J.C. and
Susan, for hosting such a wonderful evening!
Also, special thanks to the Henry Family and Joe
Canal’s Discount Liquor Outlet in Bellmawr, NJ for
sponsoring the wine and tequila tastings,
Cuba Libre and Culinary Concepts for the fantastic food,
Parker and Partners for donating design services for
invitations and signs, Susan Henry and Betsy Rhodes for
their assistance in planning the event, Niki Ververelli for
developing the event from start to finish,
Dr. John J. Mahoney and Jim
Israel for sharing their expertise
and knowledge, and the
following event sponsors:
Habanero Sponsor - J.C.
and Susan Henry;
Serrano Sponsor-Sam and
Jean Jones; Jalapeno Sponsor
- Jere and Angela Estes;
Poblano Sponsors Dimitri J. Ververelli, Inc.
and First Magnus
Financial.
Program Spotlight - Differential Response
O ur newest program, Differential Response Pilot
Initiative, takes a new approach in New Jersey to
assist families who call or are referred to the New
Jersey central hotline when they need social services
and no issues of child abuse or neglect are suspected.
The program is a pilot initiative designed to give access
to support services that can strengthen families and
help prevent child abuse and neglect when children
may be at risk.
Differential Response is a coordinated community-
based case management approach to the delivery of
a comprehensive range of services aimed at promoting
safety, well-being and self sufficiency of families and
children. Robins’ Nest staff will provide case
management services to Cumberland, Gloucester,
and Salem counties. The Differential Response
Initiative in Cumberland, Gloucester and Salem counties
will focus on connecting families to emergency housing
and utility assistance; domestic violence services; day
care; mental health; marital and family counseling; and
employment training and placement.
Santa’s Workshop
T hank you to everyone who participated in the 2006 Santa’s Workshop.
Santa’s Workshop is the agency’s holiday gift-giving program that
provides a holiday come true for the children that we serve. Because of
your generosity, this year’s workshop served over 500 children! We would
like to extend a special thank you to the following individuals, groups and
businesses who went above and beyond in making the event such a
success: Santa’s Workshop Chair, Helen Clark, for her hard work and
dedication; Gretchen Rhodes and her Girl Scout Troop for help with
set-up and decoration;, The Harley Owners Group of South
Jersey for their toy “ride”; Barnes and Noble for selecting Robins’ Nest
as the beneficiary of their holiday book drive; Chestnut Branch Girl Scout Community
for placing Santa’s Workshop collection boxes in participating businesses- which included
Heritages Dairy Stores, the Monogram Shop, ACME, Foodtown, Bravo
Video, Mantua Jewelers and Hello Gorgeous; Holman for allowing us to use
their dealerships as gift drop-off points; and Peyton Rhodes for asking her birthday
party guests to bring toys for Santa’s Workshop in lieu of bringing gifts for her.
Once again, thank you to everyone who participated in this important event.
Local Organizations Support Robins’ Nest Services
R obins’ Nest would like to extend a special thanks
to all of its supporters for their dedication and loyalty,
including:
The McKesson Foundation has awarded Robins’
Nest a grant in the amount of $5,000 to purchase
therapeutic games, journals, items such as cosmetics
or other personal products for the therapeutic store,
and supplies for art therapy and arts & crafts
activities for the Group Home.
The South Jersey Charitable Foundation
has provided a grant in the amount of $13,100 and
Camden Home for Children has provided a
grant in the amount of $8,000 to renovate the back of
the Group Home to include a transitional apartment for
girls who age-out of the Group Home and have no
aftercare services.
Robins’ Nest is thrilled to be chosen as a beneficiary
of Kelly’s Ride. The mission of Kelly’s Ride is to raise
money for efforts that improve the quality of life for
disadvantaged girls and young women physically,
academically, emotionally and spiritually, in tribute
to Kelly Marie Vogdes. This year’s ride took place
on Saturday, June 2nd. For more information on
Kelly’s Ride, please visit their website at
www.kellysride.com.
Robins’ Nest Golf Outing
Sponsored by Solvay Solexis
T hanks to our generous sponsor, Solvay Solexis, the June 9th
Robins’ Nest Golf Outing was a great success! The event was held at
the Westwood Golf Club in West Deptford, NJ. Proceeds from the event
go directly towards services for children and families in Southern
New Jersey.
Nonprofit Org
US Postage
PAID
Glassboro, NJ
Permit #80
42 South Delsea Drive
Glassboro, NJ 08028
P 856.881.8689
F 856.881.5508
w ww.robinsnestinc.org
Sta t e m e nt o f P u r p o s e :
“ W h a t e v e r i t t a k e s . ..
p r o v i d i n g s o l u t i o n s to the
p r o b l em s t h a t c a u s e pain
a n d s u f f e r i n g f o r c hildren.”
Dancing to End Child Abuse
J illian Sloan, Senior Procurement Analyst at Sunoco’s Eagle
Point Refinery and Glassboro resident, will be dancing to raise
money for Robins’ Nest in this year’s second annual “Dancing
with Gloucester County’s Stars” charity event. She chose to
dance for Robins’ Nest because she is inspired by the agency’s
mission. “I believe that a stable childhood can serve as a
foundation for a stable future and a strong familial base is very
important,” remarked Jillian, who is passionate about getting
others involved with Robins’ Nest and “Dancing with Gloucester
County’s Stars.”
Support Robins’ Nest and Jillian in this endeavor by mailing
checks made out to “Robins’ Nest” to Greater Woodbury
Chamber of Commerce, PO Box 363, Woodbury, NJ, 08096.
All monetary donations to Robins’ Nest through the Woodbury
Chamber of Commerce count as “votes,” in addition to being
utilized to serve children in need.