Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Join Us and Celebrate!

"Celebrate Volunteers" - Tuesday, April 13, 2010!

The Volunteer Center of Bergen County will host it annual community-wide celebration honoring hundreds of volunteers on Tuesday, April 13 in Hackensack. Public and private nonprofit organizations, hospitals, libraries, religious organizations, and schools are invited to bring the volunteers they want to honor to this very special event.

This is not a competition or a contest. You can select those you want to honor and give them a public “pat on the back” for the good work they do for your organization and for our community.

Celebrate Volunteers will be held at the Bergen Academies Auditorium, 200 Hackensack Avenue, in Hackensack. The event begins at 6:30pm with a dessert reception, followed by the recognition program at 7:15pm. Brenda Blackmon, popular news anchor at MY 9 News, is master of ceremonies, and special entertainment will be featured. The cost is $10.00 per person. For more information please call Debbie Emery at 201-489-9454, ext. 118 or click here to purchase your tickets online.

Thursday, February 18, 2010

Your Name - Big & Bold

Many nonprofits sponsor special events in the springtime, so now's the time to make your move and tie in with an organization whose purpose aligns with your company's marketing goals. Corporate dollars have a huge impact on nonprofits, and nonprofits can in turn provide big impact, positioning your company as a caring community partner.

Special events offer numerous ways to reach fresh eyes and ears through various marketing media.

For example, the Volunteer Center is sponsoring three events this Spring, each with a different audience.

Leaders of Bergen Reception - March 18 - Hilton Woodcliff Lake
A reception to introduce corporate leaders and interested candidates to Bergen LEADS, the dynamic community leadership that introduces 30 select individuals to critical issues affecting Bergen County. Former County Executive William "Pat" Schuber leads each monthly seminar.

Celebrate Volunteers - April 13 - Grieco Auditorium at Bergen Academies, Hackensack
A community-wide celebration to recognize the outstanding volunteers. Nonprofits, religious organizations, schools, libraries and hospitals are invited to bring volunteers for a special, public "pat on the back." Renowned broadcaster Brenda Blackmon is MC.

Derby Day - May 1 - White Beeches Country Club, Haworth
Guests sip mint juleps, enjoy sumptuous delicacies and participate in numerous festivities prior to watching the Kentucky Derby.

Sponsorships provide benefits unique to each event, but all have in common a dedication to recognize our sponsors. Each offers brand recognition on the invitation and in the event program as well as branding on our website and at the event, press releases and photos sent before and after the event, and, of course, attendance at the event.

Rates vary from $250 to $5,000, with benefits appropriate to the level of sponsorship. For information, contact Jane He at jhe@bergenvolunteers.org or call 201-489-9454 ext. 125.

Tuesday, February 16, 2010

Bergen LEADS is Hosting Open Houses for Interested Candidates

Do you want to do more to make your community – and Bergen County – a better place in which to live and work? Bergen LEADS, the County’s premier civic leadership program, is a great way to start. Now in its third year, we are recruiting candidates for the Class of 2011.

Bergen LEADS alumni and class members are hosting several free, informational Open Houses for prospective applicants. Each session will give applicants the opportunity to speak with current students, alumni and program staff about the seminar year, curriculum, application process, tuition and financial assistance, and benefits to the participants. The events provide interested applicants the opportunity to find out about the program first-hand from the people that are directly involved with Bergen LEADS.

To date, nine Open Houses have been scheduled, including:

1) Thurs., Feb. 18, Meadowlands Regional Chamber in Rutherford, 8:15-10:00am
2) Thurs., Feb. 18, TD Bank in Ramsey, 11:30-1:00 pm
3) Tues., Feb. 23, Bergen Regional Medical Center in Paramus, 8:30-10:00am
4) Thurs., Feb. 25, Holy Name Hospital in Teaneck, 8:30-10:00am
5) Wed., March 3, Matisse Chocolatier in Englewood, 6:30-8:00pm
6) Tues., March 9, Bergen Community College in Paramus, 6:30-8:00pm
7) Thurs., March 11, Girl Scouts of Northern New Jersey in Paramus, 11:30am-1:00pm
8) Tues., March 16, Just D’sserts in Elmwood Park, 11:30am -1:00pm
9) Fri., March 19, Wells Fargo Private Bank in Paramus, 11:30am-1:00pm, Co-sponsored by the Hispanic Business Council Scholarship Foundation.


Bergen LEADS representatives will also be on hand at the Meadowlands Regional Chamber of Commerce Monthly Membership Networking Meetings on Thursday, February 18 and Thursday, March 18 from 8:15 – 10:00 am in Rutherford. The Meadowlands Regional Chamber has generously made four $500 scholarships available to Chamber members.

Those interested in attending an Open House must pre-register. To register, contact Fanny Gomez at (201) 489-9454, x112 or e-mail fgomez@bergenvolunteers.org.

Tuesday, February 9, 2010

Ways to Volunteer at Home

With worries about impending weather on everyone’s mind, the Volunteer Center has an idea to help you take this opportunity and turn it into an excellent way to give back to your community. Help out an elderly or disabled neighbor who can’t shovel for themselves, or check in and make sure everyone has what they need before the storm hits. A simple gesture can help you stay warm on the inside when its cold outside.

For more volunteer opportunities visit our website.

Thursday, February 4, 2010

Houlihan’s Says “Thanks” to Mentors

A very special Thank You! to Houlihan’s in Hasbrouck Heights, which helped some kids thank the grown ups who are mentoring them.

Houlihan’s treated the youth and mentors, who are in a program sponsored by the Volunteer Center, to lunch in honor of “Thank Your Mentor Day,” which was celebrated nationally in late January (read our blog here). Pizza, chicken fingers, and ice cream sundaes were the kid-friendly orders of the day! This festive event happened because one of the mentors, Joseph Sherman, talked about his experiences as a mentor with the manager of the restaurant, Ken Linhoff. Mr. Linhoff thought highly of mentoring and wanted to help. Other Houlihan's staff came in to help on their day off, and everyone left with big smiles and full bellies.

Stories like this prove that by spreading the word about the good work that Volunteer Center does, you can help in a huge way! Mr. Linhoff’s kindness allowed 25 kids to enjoy something that many of us take for granted: a nice lunch out with friends.

For more information about the Volunteer Center's mentoring programs, click here or call 201-489-9454, ext.111.