Tuesday, December 27, 2011

Help Overwhelmed Moms

Make a difference in a family’s life!  Mentoring Moms, a program of the Volunteer Center of Bergen County, trains adult women to work with mothers who are overwhelmed by the challenges of children and life.  When a mother is supported by a mentor, the entire family is helped, because mentors become important role models for the mother and the children, as well.

Mothers being mentored through the program say “It is so great to have a friend, someone I can really talk to!”  “I have learned so much about raising my son.”  “I feel better as a parent and a person since meeting my mentor.” 

Mentors are caring women who understand how hard it is to raise children and who want to make life easier for other moms.  The moms being mentored are referred through community or family service agencies. The mentors listen, share ideas and offer support as mothers deal with daily challenges of raising children and managing a household.

Registration is now open for Mentoring Moms Winter training of 5 sessions, beginning on Monday, January 30.  Training is held from 7:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at the Volunteer Center of Bergen County, 64 Passaic Street, Hackensack. Call (201) 489-9454, ext. 123 to find out how you can become a Mentoring Moms volunteer.

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Where are you donations going this year?

These days, it's more important than ever to carefully consider where you send your end-of-year contributions.  Since 1966, The Volunteer Center has been effectively and efficiently doing good in Bergen County.  Our recent audit shows that 86% of our expenditures support our programs and services, such as:
  • The "All WrappedUp" Holiday Giving Program, which brings holiday cheer to thousands of our needy neighbors during the holidays.
  • Mentoring Youth, which trains and supervises mentors for hundreds of children who have suffered abuse, neglect or isolation.
  • Mentoring Moms, which trains and supervises mentors for low-income mothers struggling to provide for their families.
  • The Chore Service, in which volunteer handypersons perform minor home repairs to the elderly and disabled - free-of-charge, helping to keep them safe in their homes.
  • The Non-Profit Training and Resource Center, which helps local non-profits better serve their clients and our community.
  • Bergen LEADS, which trains the next generation of community leaders.
  • Community Volunteer Services and RSVP, which link more than 100,000 people with volunteer jobs in our community.

You can be confident that your charitable dollars are well spent when you invest them in the Volunteer Center of Bergen County.  Please click here to give a tax-deductible donation now.

THANK YOU for your support, and Happy Holidays!

Monday, December 19, 2011

Rotary District 7490 Helps Buy Van for Chore Service

When Phil Ball, a member of the Englewood Rotary, found out that we needed to replace one of the vans for our Chore Service, he spearheaded a fundraising effort among several Rotary Clubs in the area.  Several clubs in the Disrict 7490, which encomopasses northern New Jersey pitched in, and Chore now has three vans fully in operation, with crews of volunteers performing home repairs that keep the elderly and disabled safe in their homes.

“I felt that this was a worthwhile project, in keeping with the ideals of Rotary,” says Mr. Ball.  “The van proudly displays the Rotary ‘wheel’ and is seen in every town in Bergen County.  What a great way to show Rotary’s commitment to the community.”

“Phil Ball is a gem, and we are so grateful for his leadership in getting this fundraising effort off the ground," says Janet Sharma, Volunteer Center executive director.   "This project is a perfect iteration of the alignment of Rotary's goals and those of the Volunteer Center around service to the community."

For more information about Chore, call 201-489-7790, or visit www.bergenvolunteers.org.

Friday, December 16, 2011

2012 Guide to Volunteering now available!

The Volunteer Center's updated Guide to Volunteering is hot off the press! The Guide lists hundreds of opportunities for volulnteers of all ages to get involved in the community.

The guide offers tips on how groups can organize their own volunteer projects, how to host a collection drive, ideas for family volunteering and lots of information about student volunteer projects, including listings of exciting websites about youth volunteering and service learning. The Guide features an extensive index cross-referenced by interests, geographic location and time availability, as well as by volunteer jobs that are suitable for high school students, students under age 14, and families who want to volunteer together.

You can purchase a printed copy of the Guide ($5) online here or you may download a free copy right to your own computer  (CLICK HERE). For more information please call Volunteer Center, 201-489-9454.

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Donations Needed for Homeless Veterans

The Volunteer Center will be partnering with the Bergen County Division of Veterans Services to assist homeless veterans as part of commeration of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service.   According to Richard Daul, director of Veterans Service, about one third of the adult homeless population are veterans.   Although perfect counts are impossible to come by—the transient nature of homeless populations presents a major difficulty—it is estimated that over 100 veterans are homeless on any given night in Bergen County, and over the course of a year, approximately twice that many can experience homelessness.

In addition to the complex set of factors influencing all homelessness—extreme shortage of affordable housing, liveable income and access to health care—a large number of displaced and at-risk veterans live with lingering effects of post-traumatic stress disorder and substance abuse, which are compounded by a lack of family and social support networks.

Donations of backpacks, toiletry kits (toothpaste, toothbrush, shampoo, soap, comb/brush, razor, shaving cream, small bag to hold items and a set of towels), sweatshirts  sizes large and extra large, and gift cards to Walmart, Shop Rite, McDonald’s, Subway,  and Pizza Hut are needed.  

Donors can drop off these items at the Volunteer Center’s offices, 64 Passaic Street in Hackensack, during the week of January 9 to 13, from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm, with evening hours till 7:00 pm on Thursday; and from 9:00 am to 12:00 noon on Saturday, January 14.  Call Barbara at 201-489-9333 for more information. Learn more about this project on our website or make a monetary donation that will be used to obtain needed items for the homeless veterans. 

Thursday, December 8, 2011

The Chore Night before Christmas

At a recent holiday party, Jack Gardner, who is a handyman volunteer with our Chore Service, shared a poem he wrote about the program and its volunteers.

The Chore Night before Christmas
By Jack Gardner, 2011

Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the house
The faucets were dripping, and it woke up the mouse.
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that the Chore van soon would be there

The clients were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of grab bars and washers danced in their heads.
And Grandma in her ‘kerchief, and Grandpa in his hat,
Had just poured themselves a second night cap.

When out in the parking lot there arose such a clatter,
Mo sprang from her desk to see what was the matter.
Away to the window she flew like a flash,
Tore open the shade and threw up the sash.

The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow
Gave the lustre of mid-day to the parking meters below.
When, what to her wondering eyes should appear,
But a shinny white van, and eight trusty volunteers.

With a little old driver, she knew in a drop,
It must be that fellow the guys call, Joe Pop.
More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name!

"Now Stephen! now, Denis! now, Edward and Glen!
On, Joe! on, Mike! on, Harvey and Len!
To the top of the porch! to the top of the steeple!
Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away good people!"

As yellow forms that before the wild hurricane pour,
When they slip off the clipboard and fall to the floor.
So up to the church-top the volunteers they flew,
With a sleigh full of grab bars, smoke detectors, and doorbells too.

And then, in a twinkling, Mo heard in the skies
The coughing and burping of each one of her guys.
As she drew in her head, and was turning around,
Down the chimney Joe Pop slid without making a sound.

He was dressed in flannel and denim, from his head to his foot,
And his new Chore hat all tarnished with ashes and soot.
A bundle of supplies he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a plumber, just opening his sack.

His eyes-how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!
No time to spare, he was in quite a hurry!
His droll little mouth was drawn up with a smile,
And the whiskers of his chin were as white as a bathtub tile.

The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath.
He had a broad face and not much of a belly,
But it still shook when he laughed, like a bowl full of jelly!

He wasn’t chubby or plump, but yet a right jolly old elf,
And Mo laughed when she saw him, in spite of herself!
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
Soon gave Mo to know there was nothing to dread.

He spoke not a word, but went straight to his task,
And stopped all the leaks, then took a swig from his flask.
Gathering up all of his tools, and charging them not one cent,
He gave his head a nod, and up the chimney he went

He sprang to his van, gave a whistle like a train,
And away they all flew like a clear flowing drain.
But Mo heard him exclaim, ‘ere he drove home that cold night,
"Merry Christmas to all, and to all a safe-night!"

Thursday, December 1, 2011

Our Fourth Honoree is...

The Volunteer Center of Bergen County is celebrating its 45th Anniversary this year with a Heart of Gold Gala on Saturday, December 3, 2011, at the Dolce Palisades Hotel in Palisades, NY

Over the past few weeks we’ve been introducing our distinguished honorees to you; so far you’ve met William “Pat” Schuber, Becton Dickinson (BD), and United Water.  Now we’d like you to meet TD Bank.

TD Bank, “America’s Most Convenient Bank®” is committed to making a meaningful and positive contribution to the individuals, families, businesses and communities where it does business. TD Bank has generously supported the Volunteer Center with grants to purchase a new van for its Chore Service, which provides home repairs for the elderly and disabled; to underwrite training of mentors for its two mentoring programs, Mentoring Moms and Mentoring Youth; and to launch Bergen LEADS, the area’s premier civic leadership program.  TD Bank is also a member of the Northern New Jersey Business Volunteer Council, through which hundreds of employees participate in initiatives that help low income families and children, and TD Bank sponsored the Kids’ Events at the recent Bergen Bike Tour, with proceeds benefitting the Volunteer Center and Tomorrows Children’s Fund.

The Heart of Gold Gala is “black tie optional” and will feature cocktails at 7 pm, dinner at 8 pm, followed by entertainment by Beatle Magic – The Ultimate Beatles Experience, who will recreate the aura, look and sound of the Fab Four through numerous phases of the Beatles’ phenomenal career. After the show, there will be dancing until midnight.

For further information check out www.heartofgoldgala.org or call Jane He at (201) 489-9454, Ext. 125.

Major sponsors of the Heart of Gold Gala to date are: BD, United Water, TD Bank, Reader’s Digest, PSE&G, and Lakeland Bank.

Monday, November 28, 2011

All Wrapped Up Needs YOU!

The Volunteer Center of Bergen County's "All Wrapped Up" holiday giving program is in full swing!  We've received requests from nonprofit agencies to help 4,000 people.  We’ve been busy matching donors with people in need, but we still have a long way to go.  More than 300 individuals and 400 families still need to be matched with donors.

Individuals, families, civic groups, corporations and business associations are encouraged to "adopt" an individual or a family in need.

Requested items include such basics as winter coats, warm sweaters, slippers, or books and toys for children. Gift cards for supermarkets and discount department stores are on everyone's list, too.

To help, sign up online. We'll match you with an individual or family and email their profile back to you within 24 hours.

Call Debbie at 201-489-9454, ext. 118 for further information.

Times are tough, so please do whatever you can to help our neighbors right here in Bergen County!

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Our Third Honoree is...

The Volunteer Center of Bergen County is celebrating its 45th Anniversary this year with a Heart of Gold Gala on Saturday, December 3, 2011, at the Dolce Palisades Hotel in Palisades, NY.  

Over the past few weeks we’ve been introducing our distinguished honorees to you; so far you’ve met William “Pat” Schuber and Becton Dickinson (BD).  Now we’d like you to meet United Water.

United Water New Jersey provides water services to approximately 750,000 people throughout Bergen and Hudson counties plus several hundred in Sussex and Passaic counties.  United Water has been a good friend of the Volunteer Center throughout its existence. In 1994, the company helped to establish a unique public-private collaboration that became the Bergen County Campership Fund. This initiative, for which the Volunteer Center continues to serve as custodian of funds, has since generated more than $500,000, enabling children of low-income families to enjoy the healthful benefits of summer daycamp.  United Water helped to establish and remains deeply committed  to the Northern New Jersey Business Volunteer Council and Bergen LEADS.  United Water has hosted various fundraising and networking events for the Volunteer Center, as well as providing ample supplies of water for numerous  special events.

The Heart of Gold Gala is “black tie optional” and will feature cocktails, dinner, dancing and entertainment by Beatle Magic – The Ultimate Beatles Experience, in keeping with a sub-theme of the gala “With a Little Help from Our Friends.”

Deadline to purchase tickets is Monday, November 28, and tickets are $175 per person.  To purchase sponsorships, on-line journal ads or tickets, visit www.heartofgoldgala.org.    For more information, contact Jane He at (201) 489-9454, Ext. 125.

Major sponsors of the Heart of Gold Gala to date are: BD, United Water, TD Bank, Reader’s Digest, PSE&G, and Lakeland Bank.

Monday, November 21, 2011

Teens Learn Leadership Skills

13 teens from around the county spent their Teacher’s Convention break honing their leadership skills at the Volunteer Center’s Youth Leadership Institute.

The teens participated in such hands-on experiences as community mapping, a “what if” survival scenario, and team-building activities that involved building towers out of straws and tape.  Each activity was specially designed to help the teens learn to function as teams, to learn about leadership styles and to use their new-found skills to plan service projects that benefit our community.  

The Youth Leadership Insitute is designed to ignite in students the desire for civic engagement and while providing them with the leadership skills they will need to create effective service activities, whether in school, in a group or on their own.  The Institute was originally developed by Prudential Financial and implemented by the Points of Light Foundation. 

For more information on how to plan an institute for your school or youth based group, please contact Debbie Emery, Program Director at demery@bergenvolunteers.org or 201-489-9454, x118.



Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Our Second Honree Is...

The Volunteer Center of Bergen County is celebrating its 45th Anniversary this year with a Heart of Gold Gala on Saturday, December 3, 2011, at the Dolce Palisades Hotel in Palisades, NY.  Over the next few weeks we will introduce you to our honorees. We introduced William “Pat” Schuber last week; next up is Becton Dickinson (BD).

BD is a global medical technology company headquartered in Franklin Lakes. Since its founding in 1897 by local residents Fairleigh Dickinson and Maxwell Becton, BD has been dedicated to improving people’s health, and its reach now extends around the world. The company conducts business in approximately 50 countries and has more than 29,000 employees worldwide.  While BD is a Fortune-500 company with a reach around the world, its people and its heart stem from roots deep in Bergen County.

BD has been a staunch supporter of the Volunteer Center’s Business Volunteer Council, the company is a committed investor in the ongoing success of Bergen LEADS, and over the past several years BD has provided more than $100,000 in support for Volunteer Center programs and events. In addition, the Volunteer Center is honored to coordinate the judging of BD’s prestigious Henry Becton Award for Community Impact, which recognizes the involvement of employee volunteers across the globe.  BD is a wonderful company and a good neighbor, and BD has a heart of gold!

The Heart of Gold Gala is “black tie optional” and will feature cocktails, dinner, dancing and entertainment by Beatle Magic – The Ultimate Beatles Experience, in keeping with a sub-theme of the gala “With a Little Help from Our Friends.”

Tickets are $175 per person or $1,750 for a table of 10.  To purchase sponsorships, on-line journal ads or tickets, visit www.heartofgoldgala.org.    For more information, contact Jane He at (201) 489-9454, Ext. 125.

Major sponsors of the Heart of Gold Gala to date are: BD, United Water, TD Bank, Reader’s Digest, PSE&G, and Lakeland Bank.

Saturday, November 12, 2011

Business Leaders of Tomorrow Lend a Helping Hand

Volunteers with Business Leaders of Tomorrow (BLT) at Fairleigh Dickinson University added a special flair to our Mentoring Youth program’s Halloween party, helping to serve food, make crafts, play games and dance with scores of kids in costumes ranging from the festive to the frightful.

In addition to holding social and educational events at FDU, members of BLT also enjoy volunteering to help in the community.  “Working with the Volunteer Center of Bergen County was a very rewarding experience,” says Jill DiMaggio, BLT president.  “What they do for those in need is so generous. We saw that they put a lot of hard work and dedication into making what they do the best.”

“We were happy to donate our time and efforts for such an important cause,” she continues. “All the work paid off when we saw the smiles on their faces. We all had a great time. We look forward to helping at Mentoring Youth the holiday party in December!”

Thursday, November 10, 2011

Our first honoree is...

The Volunteer Center of Bergen County is celebrating its 45th Anniversary this year with a Heart of Gold Gala on Saturday, December 3, 2011, at the Dolce Palisades Hotel in Palisades, NY.  Over the next few weeks we will introduce you to our honorees.  First up is William “Pat” Schuber.

Mr. Schuber is the Seminar Director for Bergen LEADS, which was launched by the Volunteer Center of Bergen County in 2008 and now stands as the county’s premier civic leadership program.  His breadth of knowledge, coupled with his enthusiasm for all facets of Bergen County -- its history, government, economy and systems of healthcare and education, to say nothing of its politics and increasing diversity – is a key asset of this dynamic and engaging program.  Mr. Schuber served as Bergen County Executive for 12 years and left office respected by residents across the political spectrum. He has also served 9 years as a member of the New Jersey State Assembly, 4 years as Mayor of the Borough of Bogota, and currently serves as a Commissioner of the Port Authority.

The Heart of Gold Gala is “black tie optional” and will feature cocktails, dinner, dancing and entertainment by Beatle Magic – The Ultimate Beatles Experience, in keeping with a sub-theme of the gala “With a Little Help from Our Friends.”

Tickets are $175 per person or $1,750 for a table of 10.  To purchase sponsorships, on-line journal ads or tickets, visit www.heartofgoldgala.org.    For more information, contact Jane He at (201) 489-9454, Ext. 125.

Major sponsors of the Heart of Gold Gala to date are: BD, United Water, TD Bank, Reader’s Digest, PSE&G, and Lakeland Bank.

Tuesday, November 8, 2011

Oh, What a Night It Was

Who knew a party at IKEA could be such fun!  But that’s what it was when nearly 150 friends and members of the Business Volunteer Council of Northern New Jersey poured into the IKEA store in Paramus last Friday (October 28) “Fun & Games with the BVC,” presented by Hudson City Savings Bank.
Guest-contestants took part in The Price is Right, Scavenger Hunt, the Hudson City Money Machine, and Wheel of Fortune, with stand-up comedian Mark Malkoff as our exceptional game-show-host.  Our silent auction was another success, with bidders winning fabulous prizes.
The biggest success of the night was that guests filled four huge shopping carts with donations to the Center for Food Action’s Weekend Snack Pack Program, which provides snacks for kids.
Funds raised support the BVC’s initiatives that benefit low-income children and their families.
Thank you again to our 2011 Fun & Games sponsors:
Presenting Sponsor: Hudson City Savings Bank

Host: IKEA - Paramus
BD
Rockland Electric
TD Bank
Hunter Douglas
State Farm Insurance
United Water

Thursday, November 3, 2011

Heart of Gold

Celebration is the order of the day when the Volunteer Center of Bergen County celebrates its 45th anniversary with a Heart of Gold Gala on Saturday, December 3, 2011, at the Dolce Palisades Hotel in Palisades, NY.

Awards will be presented to one individual  -- William “Pat” Schuber -- and three companies – BD, United Water and TD Bank – whose support of the have Volunteer Center and the Bergen County community is exemplary. 

The Gala will be “black tie optional,” with cocktails at 7 pm followed by dinner and performance by Beatle Magic – The Ultimate Beatles Experience, that will recreate the aura, look and sound of the Fab Four through numerous phases of the Beatles’ legendary career. After the show, there will be dancing until midnight.

Tickets are $175 per person or $1,750 for a table of 10.  To purchase sponsorships, on-line journal ads or tickets, visit www.heartofgoldgala.org.    For more information, contact Jane He at (201) 489-9454, Ext. 125.

Major sponsors of the Heart of Gold Gala to date are: BD, United Water, TD Bank, Reader’s Digest, PSE&G, and Lakeland Bank.

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

It's All Wrapped Up Time Again!

The Volunteer Center of Bergen County's "All Wrapped Up" holiday giving program is in full swing!  We've received requests from nonprofit agencies to help 3,500 people in need, and we are now matching them with donors -- like you! - who want to help.  Requests are for such basic items as winter coats, warm sweaters, slippers, or books and toys for children. Gift cards for supermarkets and discount department stores are on everyone's list, too.

To help, sign up online. We'll match you with an individual or family and email their profile back to you within 48 hours.

Individuals, families, civic groups, corporations and business associations are encouraged to "adopt" an individual or a family in need. Call us at 201-489-9454, ext. 118 (Debbie Emery) if you need more information.

Times are tough, so please do whatever you can to help our neighbors right here in Bergen County!

Friday, October 28, 2011

Moms Learn Valueable Lessons

Staff of TD Bank’s branch on River Street in Hackensack recently offered a financial literacy workshop to mothers, children and mentors in the Mentoring Moms program while providing an inside view of how banks operate.  

During the workshop mothers toured the bank and gained valuable tips on how to use the resources at the to maintain good money management habits.  Participants engaged in a lively discussion about breaking the cycle of living paycheck to paycheck and learned the benefits of online banking, monthly budgeting and the impact of compound interest.  At the end of the evening all felt better prepared to make wiser banking decisions.

Thank you TD Bank for providing such a great service and for being a great community partner!

Monday, October 24, 2011

Shopping for a Cause!

While shopping online this holiday season, you can help the Volunteer Center with every purchase. Through igive.com, a percentage of every purchase you make will go to the Volunteer Center, or another charity of your choice. You can shop at more than 600 stores, including favorites like Target, Barnes & Noble, Gap, Amazon, Travelocity and much more. Just lick the link to igive.com and fill out the simple registration form. It only takes a minute to register, and $5 will be donated to the Volunteer Center right off the bat if you sign up and shop within 45 days. Please follow the directions on the iGive website to learn more about how you can help.

Thursday, October 20, 2011

Bergen LEADS Alum Survives Cancer Three Times & Models to Promote Awareness

According to the National Cancer Institute, although cases of colon cancer have declined over the past two decades, the number of people diagnosed under age 50 has jumped by 40%!   Volunteer Center Board Member and Bergen LEADS alum David Dubin of Haworth is one of those cases. 

Dave was initially diagnosed with colon cancer at age 29, then again at age 40. Two years later, doctors removed a third cancer from his kidney.  He is now featured as Mr. January in the newly released 2012 Colondar, a calendar produced by national nonprofit The Colon Club.

You can meet Dave in person on November 17th, at the Haworth Apothecary, 169 Terrace Street, Haworth, NJ.  It's part of their "Shop for a Cause" holiday event, where you can also purchase The Colondar.  

To read more about Dave and the other colon-cancer-survivor models, visit www.colondar.com. The Colondar can be purchased online for $16.50

Tuesday, October 18, 2011

Remaining Volunteer Manager’s Roundtable Scheduled

Keep your skills sharp, find out about new ideas, share resources, and get answers to your questions about making the most of your volunteer workforce.

Please join us for monthly lunchtime discussions on volunteer management. These sessions are informal yet interactive, so bring your lunch and be prepared to learn from and share with other local industry professionals. We'll also have time for networking and group problem-solving activities.

Date/Time: Thursday, Oct. 27, 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM
Date/Time: Friday, Nov. 18, 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM
Date/Time: Thursday, Dec. 15, 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM

Saturday, October 15, 2011

The Northern New Jersey Business Volunteer Council (BVC) is holding its annual fundraising event, Fun and Games with the BVC, on Friday, October 28th from 6:00 - 10:00 pm at IKEA, 100 IKEA Drive, Paramus.

For the party, a portion of IKEA will be transformed into a game-show stage, with guests grabbing vouchers for cash and prizes; the Price is Right with contestants vying for fabulous IKEA prizes; an intriguing store-wide scavenger hunt; and the ever-popular Wheel of Fortune.

Master of Ceremonies and game show host for the evening will be Mark Malkoff, who gained worldwide attention in 2008 when he moved into the Paramus IKEA store and lived in one of the room displays for five days while his apartment was being fumigated.  The videos chronicling his adventure won the 2009 PR Week Campaign of the Year, and can be seen at www.marklivesinikea.com.

“We are delighted that Mark will be ‘coming home’ to IKEA and will set the tone for a zany and fun-filled evening,” says Amanda Missey, BVC Director.

Tickets are $50 per person, which includes an international all-you-can eat buffet, silent auction, great swag bags and entertainment.  Tickets can be purchased on-line here.

This annual fund raising event helps the BVC impact the lives of low-income children and families by addressing the issues of literacy, well-being, hunger and education. In the past eleven years, the BVC has generated and distributed over $1.2 million in resources to families in need.

Presenting sponsor for Fun and Games with the BVC is Hudson City Savings Bank.  Additional sponsors to date include IKEA, BD, TD Bank, Rockland Electric, Hunter Douglas, United Water and State Farm Insurance.

Thursday, October 13, 2011

BoardLink: Connecting Leaders with Non-profit Organizations

The Volunteer Center of Bergen County is hosting a one-day training for people interested in serving on a non-profit board or who wish to become better board members.

Sponsored by TD Bank, together with the alumni of Bergen LEADS, BoardLink will be presented on Saturday, November 5, from 9 am to 3 pm at the offices of TD Bank, 1100 Lake Street in Ramsey.  Cost to attend is $100 per person, which includes breakfast, lunch and all course materials.  A group rate of 3 registrations for $175 is also available to agencies that are members of the Volunteer Center.  Pre-registration is required for this limited-seating program.  Register on-line here or call 201-489-9454 Ext. 199.

“Serving on a non-profit board can provide recognition, visibility, networking, career enhancement and the ability to effect change by addressing important social needs,” says Amanda Missey, Director of Bergen LEADS.  “But along with the benefits comes responsibility to help the organization accomplish its mission and achieve its goals.”

New Jersey is home to more than 31,000 non-profit organizations, with 3,600 in Bergen County alone. These organizations employ 7% of the workforce and spend more than $33 billion annually, constituting a significant portion of the state’s economy.   A non-profit organization is only as strong as its leadership, and local non-profit boards are eagerly seeking skilled and knowledgeable volunteers to help guide their organizations.

“BoardLink offers a wonderful opportunity to learn about board structure, strategic planning, fiduciary responsibility, ethics, advocacy and fundraising.  A thorough understanding of these topics is critical to serving – and serving well – on a non-profit board” continues Ms. Missey.   “Upon completion of the workshop, the Volunteer Center will help match participants to a board that is in need of their particular skills, talents and interests.”

For more information about Bergen LEADS, or the Volunteer Center of Bergen County, visit www.bergenvolunteers.org, or call 201-489-9454.

Tuesday, October 11, 2011

Youth Leadership Training Offered

The Volunteer Center is offering an innovative program that provides students currently in grades 8,9 and 10 with leadership skills they can put to use in school and in the community.

A two-day Youth Leadership Institute will be presented on Thursday and Friday, November 10 and 11, from 8:30 am to 3:00 pm each day.    The sessions will be held at the Volunteer Center’s offices in Hackensack. Class is limited to 25 students.

Those are required to submit an application form, available by calling 201-489-9454 ext. 118 or via email: demery@bergenvolunteers.org.   Deadline for submission is November 1, 2011.  Upon acceptance to the program, the fee for each student is $50.00.

The interactive curriculum of the Youth Leadership Institute is designed to spark in students enthusiasm for getting involved.  The workshops, which provide the caliber of leadership training typically available only to corporate executives and government leaders, feature a challenging series of lessons and exercises on community needs analysis, goal setting, team building, project planning, decision-making and other leadership dynamics.

Debbie Emery, Director of Community Volunteer Services and certified Youth Leadership trainer says, “The Youth Leadership Institute is a great way for students to enhance their community involvement, which is increasingly important as they look toward fulfilling school requirements and applying to colleges.”

“Today’s students want to make a difference in their own communities, and are willing to tackle complex social issues,” continues Ms. Emery.  “By attending this workshop, students will learn how to plan for and develop service programs in their schools and youth organizations.  Leadership, whether on a team, in a club setting, in the classroom, is important to develop in our children for their future and ours.”

For more information on the Youth Leadership Institute, call Debbie Emery at (201) 489-9454 ext. 118, or email demery@bergenvolunteers.org.

Thursday, October 6, 2011

Fun Time at the Zoo!

Thanks to a couple of generous donors, kids in the Volunteer Center's Mentoring Youth program enjoyed a great day at the Bronx Zoo with their mentors.  Intrigued by the panoply of animal life and the exotic settings, the full-day trip added another dimension to our goal of helping abused and neglected kids see a brighter future.

Thanks so much to all who recognize the value of such outings.  They mean the world to the kids!


Monday, October 3, 2011

Company Does Good!

 United Water recently donated three contractor-grade studfinders to the Volunteer Center’s Chore Service.  Each of our three vans will now be equipped with one, and this will greatly help our volunteers when they install grab bars and railings in the homes of seniors and people with disabilities throughout Bergen County.

Our crews of Chore handyman volunteers perform minor home repairs at no cost, other than for materials used, to keep seniors and disabled persons safe in their homes.

Call 201-489-7790 to volunteer as a handyperson, or to make an appointment for service.

Thursday, September 29, 2011

Bergen Bike Tour Success!

THANK YOU to everyone who made
the 16th annual Bergen Bike Tour on
Sunday a tremendous success! 

We had a great time and we hope you did, too!!

Our goal this year is to raise $80,000 -- and it’s all up to you!   All riders need to be busy raising funds to support our two great charities:  Tomorrows Children's Fund and The Volunteer Center of Bergen County.  Turn in your pledges by November 11 to be eligible for great prizes!  Learn more about how to raise funds for the Bergen Bike Tour on our website, www.bergenbiketour.org

Thanks you again to all of our truly outstanding sponsors: TD Bank, CUNet/Peterson’s-a Nelnet Company, JDD Alderisio, Apax Partners, EisnerAmper, Jamis Bicycles, Inserra ShopRite, Lakeland Bank, NeoStem, Oritani Bank Charitable Foundation, PNC Bank, Ramsey Auto Group, Tanis & Sons, Volvo, Baker Sports Marketing, Bolkema Fuel Company, Columbia Bank, Compensation Solutions, Dunkin’ Donuts, Flackman Goodman & Potter, P.A., Flavor and Fragrance Specialties, Garden State Wiper, Hackensack University Medical Center, KRE Group, Robert E. Martini, LLC, Murphy, Miller & Baglieri, LLP, Nisivoccia, LLP, Nowell, Amoroso Klein Bierman, P.A., Rockland Electric Company, Andrew Rubenstein, M.D., Rudy’s Inflight Catering, Sanzari Companies, Sharp Electronics, Sovereign Santander, United Water,  Withum Smith+Brown, Zerega Custom Pasta Company, Aldo’s/The Brickhouse, Allendale Bar & Grill, Applebee’s, Bollinger Insurance, Downes Tree Service, Excel Physical Therapy, La Cena Fine Foods, Lowenstein Sandler, Malesardi Quackenbush Swift & Company, REI, Topline Products Co., Inc., Wells Fargo.

Your support is greatly appreciated!