Happy New Year!

From your friends at the Volunteer Center

Happy Holidays

From your fiends at the Volunteer Center

Volunteers Needed for Food Drive Honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

January 17 will mark the 25th anniversary of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. federal holiday, when hundreds of thousands of Americans will honor the memory of Dr. King by volunteering in their communities.

To kick off the 2011 MLK holiday and to set the pace for volunteering throughout the year, the Volunteer Center will host a Food Drive on Thursday, January 13th from 2:00-7:00 pm and Friday, January 14th from 7:00 am-12:00 noon at the First Presbyterian Church, 64 Passaic Street in Hackensack, where its offices are located.

Volunteers are needed to accept, sort and pack the donations of canned and packaged food that will be collected. Food will be given to the Center for Food Action sites in Bergen County.

According to Thelma Fedele, at the Center for Food Action, “We’ve seen a staggering increase in the number of people who need help to put food on their tables. Holiday food drives are wonderful, but people need food 365 days a year.”

To register to be a volunteer, or for more information about this event, call (201) 489-9454 Ext. 116 or email info@bergenvolunteers.org.

A VERY B-I-I-I-G Holiday Gift!

Sealed Air, a member company of the Business Volunteer Council of Northern New Jersey, is giving a BIG gift to clients of the Center for Food Action and Eva's Village.

Employees at the company’s Elmwood Park and Saddle Brook sites hold an annual (and highly competitive) Thanksgiving Food Drive, and this year's competition was an astonishing success. Employees donated a total of 18,077 pounds of food, surpassing last year's amazing total by over 3,000 pounds! Great work, Sealed Air, and thanks on behalf of those who will benefit from your extraordinary gift!

For more information about how your company can get involved with the BVC, click here.

Why Give to the Volunteer Center?

To put it simply, because we are good at doing good.

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 87% of our expenditures support our programs and services, such as:

The "All Wrapped Up" Holiday Giving Program, which brings holiday cheer to thousands of our needy neighbors during the holidays.

Mentoring Youth (formerly VIPS), 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!

Welcome Bank of New Jersey - Our Newest BVC Member

We're pleased to welcome the Bank of New Jersey as the newest member of the Business Volunteer Council of Northern New Jersey, which is sponsored by the Volunteer Center of Bergen County. Headquartered in Fort Lee, the Bank of New Jersey has branches in six Bergen County locations.

Here’s to a long and productive association in serving the needs of our community.

To learn more about the BVC click here.

Always Busy, Always in the Spirit

Cole Schotz, a law firm located in Hackensack, has its own secret weapon in the fight to make sure that no one goes without holiday cheer this season.

Toya Randolph, star of the firm’s marketing department, coordinates Cole Schotz’s involvement in the Volunteer Center’s All Wrapped Holiday Giving Program. Each year, employees “adopt” more than 60 local people in need, providing gifts and cash to buy food store gift cards. Toya, in her quiet and professional way, makes certain that everyone from the firm has the opportunity to give back to the community. What a wonderful example of caring for your neighbors.

Toya will certainly make top billing on Santa’s Nice List.

If you are interested in helping the All Wrapped Up holiday giving program please contact the Volunteer Center at 201-489-9454. Gift Cards are needed in $25.00 increments to provide gifts for those who were not “adopted”.

Local Elves Help Moms and Kids Celebrate the Holdiays

The Mentoring Moms Program recently celebrated the holidays with a festive breakfast where more than 140 mentors, mentees, and volunteers ate, drank and made merry.

Santa Claus himself stopped by delivering gifts that were donated by churches, businesses and community groups. Each family left with gifts, handmade crafts, full bellies and a $20 Shoprite gift card. Each child also received an elf hat and a warm, soft blanket courtesy of TD Bank, and each mom left with a bag filled with toiletries courtesy of W.H. Roddy Company.

Volunteers from UPS, Immaculate Heart Academy, Total Man Ministries, TD Bank and Mocha Moms (pictured) provided extra hands, and Capital One Bank provided welcome funds. Thank you to everyone who helped make this party such a fun and resounding success!

Holiday Spirit Spreads as Oritani Helps Needy Neighbors

Several Bergen County branches of Oritani Bank are proving that there really is a Santa.

Employees from 17 local branches and 15 company-wide departments, along with the Oritani Bank Charitable Foundation are busy elves working to make holiday dreams come true for more than 100 people in our community. Head Elf, Gail Keates, once again, has inspired her fellow elves (employees) to reach out to those in need during this special time of year. Their spirit of giving is exemplary and we extend huge amounts of thanks!

If you or your company would like to make the holidays merry and bright for our neighbors in need, there is still time. Our All Wrapped Up holiday giving program can match you with families and individuals waiting to be matched. Please click here to find out more.

Happy Holidays!

You Can Help!

The holidays are fast approaching and we still need donors to help 1,000 people in need as part of our All Wrapped Up program. Our deadline to adopt a family or individual is this Friday, December 3. If you'd like to be matched with a specific person or family please fill out our online form today! You can fill out the form here.

If you'd rather donate a gift card (or cards) to be distributed to those who do not get “adopted,” you may donate cards in $25 increments to stores such as Shoprite and Target. You can also donate cash and we'll buy the cards.

In the last four years we've always been able to help everyone who has requested help. Let's not let anyone down! Thank you in advance for anything you can do.

Happy Thanksgiving

From your friends at the Volunteer Center

Give Good for the Holidays

Holiday shopping doesn't have to be extravagant or stressful. Our “Do Good, Feel Good, Give Good” program lets you make a donation in someone's name, instead of giving a conventional gift, solving the age-old question ‘what do you give a person who has everything’?

Gift-givers can choose a gift that may have special meaning for the recipient or that is of special interest. Your donation to the Volunteer Center can purchase a gift card for groceries for a needy family, support home repairs for elderly persons in need, recruit and train a mentor for a child who has suffered from abuse, and more. The gift will be acknowledged with an elegant, customized card sent to the person being honored, along with a brief description of the program or service the gift supports.

Gift donations can be purchased on-line by 12:00 noon on Monday, December 21st will be delivered by December 25th.

Mom Helped by Holiday Gift Program Pays It Forward

Through the Volunteer Center of Bergen County’s All Wrapped Up Holiday Giving Program, low income families and single parent households, as well as elderly, homeless and physically or mentally disabled adults and teens are matched with people from the community who are willing to donate needed items.

Three years ago Jovannie, a recently divorced, single mother of three, found herself in the challenging position of having to provide for her family alone; she needed a job and office skills training. While taking computer and workforce training courses at the Women’s Rights Information Center, Englewood, one of the Volunteer Center’s participatory agencies, she learned of the All Wrapped Up Program and through it was able to provide gifts for her children that Christmas. “I was worried—how would I make Christmas happen this year? It was very stressful and frightening to be on our own, with very little money,” she said. “I was so grateful and felt so blessed that there were people in the world that cared enough to help us during a very bleak time.”

Today, Jovannie is the coordinator of the Women’s Rights and Information Center’s Shared Housing Project and coordinates the All Wrapped Program for 30 families in her program. She is hoping generous donors will step forward to help these families as she herself was helped three years ago.

“I am so blessed now, I’m working, my children are with me, we have a brighter future,” she says. “I tell the families in the Shared Housing Project to never give up hope, that there are people who will help them get over the rough patches, like the generous donors from All Wrapped Up who helped my family.”

You can watch more about Jovannie's story on NY1 here.

Those who wish to help a family or needy person this holiday season should click here to fill out a request form. Deadline for registrations is December 3, so that all gifts can be delivered and distributed by the holidays. Gift cards from Shop Rite, Pathmark and Target are also welcome, as are donations of cash which can be sent to the Volunteer Center of Bergen County, 64 Passaic St, Hackensack, NJ 07601.

Make It Matter This Holiday Season

This year, make your giving go farther by making sure your gift matters. Here are some unique ideas to indulge your giving spirit.

1. You know that November/December is the make-or-break season for retailers, but did you know that charities rely on our holiday giving spirit, too? End of year giving is big business in the non-profit world, so make a donation now to your favorite charity and get your tax deduction for 2010.
2. We get lots of calls to volunteer on Thanksgiving and Christmas, but these slots fill up quickly. Don’t forget that nonprofits need your help every day of the year, so make some calls to offer a meal the day after Thanksgiving, or the day after that, or after that…etc.
3. Make magic at your local food pantry by turning $1 into $8! Many food pantries have access to special food pricing programs, so when you give cash your gift is multiplied significantly. Find a great food pantry here: http://www.njahc.org/food-pantries.html
4. Many of us resolve to give back even more next year. There’s no better time than now to start researching and to begin the application process. Find the right volunteer job at our database by clicking here: http://www.bergenvolunteers.org/find_opportunity.asp

What are you going to do to make it matter this holiday season? Let us know in the comments below.

Good Play = Feel Good.

Our All Wrapped Up holiday giving program will be the fortunate recipient of funds raised through a volleyball tournament. Mahwah High School Guidance Counselor Stacey Mandel organized the tourney with students and faculty, and 8 charities were chosen to receive funds raised.

Each charity was assigned a team. Our team, comprised of enthusiastic students and teachers, played their hearts out for us and we are so proud. We don't know the amount raised yet, but the spirit of giving fared very well!

If you'd like to adopt a family or an individual through our All Wrapped Up program, click here.

Pictured above are the Volunteer Center All-stars.

Volunteer Manager’s Roundtable: Resolve to Make 2011 a Great Year for Your Volunteer Program

Please join us for a lunchtime discussion on volunteer management. This month we’ll share ideas about our “resolutions” to effectively engage volunteers to solve our community problems. We’ll also have time to network with other volunteer managers and to share our challenges and ideas.

Date: Tuesday, November 30
Time: 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM
Course Leader: Staff
Location: Volunteer Center of Bergen County, 64 Passaic St., Hackensack
Registration Fee: $10 (FREE for Member Agencies)

Register Here!

Good News Grants

Several of the Volunteer Center programs are recent (and proud!) recipients of grants.

Chore Service: Provident Bank, Hackensack Rotary Club

VIPS and Mentoring Moms jointly: New York Giants Foundation, TD Bank Charitable Foundation

Mentoring Moms: PNC Foundation, St. Elizabeth Church (Wyckoff), Zonta of Bergenfield

Volunteers in Protective Services: TJX Foundation

Bergen LEADS: BD, Bergen Community College, Bergen County’s United Way, Englewood Area Community Foundation, Hudson City Savings Charitable Foundation, PSEG Foundation, Russell Berrie Foundation, United Water Foundation

Community Volunteer Services: State Farm Insurance, Palisades Educational Foundation

General Operating Support: Community Chest of Englewood, Englewood Rotary Club, Kreisler Manufacturing, Leonia Community Chest, Munch-Bilheimer Foundation, Redlich Horwitz Foundation and Sony Electronics.

Each of these grants is being put to good use in fulfilling our mission, and we welcome additional support! The Volunteer Center must raise over $500,000 every year from corporations, foundations and individuals to keep our outstanding programs in operation.

As the end of the year approaches, so do appeals from nonprofits. We hope you'll keep the Volunteer Center in mind! We do tremendous good for our community and will put your donation to good use.

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. There are over 600 stores to shop from, 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.

Show Me the Money

Advanced Grant Writing will be the next offering of the Non Profit Training and Resource Center of the Volunteer Center of Bergen County, on Tuesday, November 16 from 1:00 pm to 4:00. This is an intermediate-level class, and participants are expected to have some grant writing experience.

In the past several years charitable giving has reached an all time high of $306 billion, with foundation grants accounting for 12% ($38 billion) of that total. However, the significant loss of wealth in the stock market coupled with slow economic recovery indicate increased competition for fewer foundation dollars. This workshop will address challenges of grant writing and how to make your application stand out. Course leader is Elizabeth Levine, executive director of ECQ Group, a non-profit consulting group in New York City.

Pre-registration and pre-payment of the $35 fee is required; deadline for registration is November 12. For more information or to register click here or call (201) 489-9454, ext.114.

Make Holidays Shine!

The Volunteer Center of Bergen County's "All Wrapped Up" holiday giving program kicked off today. We've received requests to help 3,500 people in need and 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!

International Exchange Broadens Horizons

Janet Sharma, executive director of the Volunteer Center of Bergen County, recently enjoyed an International Peer Exchange with the HandsOn Network affiliate in The Netherlands. Read all about her visit to Nederlands Cares!

Activity Outpaces Recession

By Janet Sharma

We hear a lot about how our country is in a recession. And, of course, it is. But the Volunteer Center's programs have seen little of this recession. In fact, to date this year, our programmatic efforts are soaring:

• Our mentoring programs are overseeing large numbers of one-on-one mentor/mentee matches: 118 adult mentors are helping 125 kids see a brighter future, and 100 more are on the waiting list. 80 adult women are mentoring overwhelmed mothers who need guidance in parenting and life skills.
• 45 volunteers with our Chore Service are performing minor but essential home repairs to keep nearly 1,300 seniors and people with disabilities safe in their homes.
• We’ve counted 124,744 searches for volunteer opportunities, plus another 7,100 seeking information about volunteer opportunities specifically for youth.
• Our roster of trainings to build capacity of nonprofits is fuller than ever.
• Skilled leaders are in higher demand than ever, and our Bergen LEADS program is helping to prepare them to face the challenges that lie ahead.
• Our Business Volunteer Council is developing a workshops around the issue of corporate social responsibility for as part of the N.J. Governor’s Conference on Volunteerism, which will be held on Nov. 10 in Trenton.

While this record of productivity is exceptional, we admit that our financial picture could be better. As you peruse the website, blog or newsletter, we hope you will be inspired – not only to give your time and talents to help others, but also to support our work with your financial contribution.

To read more about the outstanding work of the Volunteer Center view our current Newsletter online here.

Fall Frolic Fun

A great big THANK YOU to United Water for hosting a fabulous Fall Frolic on October 21st at its beautiful headquarters headquarters in Harrington Park. 100% of proceeds benefited the Volunteer Center of Bergen County. More than 160 guests had a frolic-ing good time with fine wine provided by Wine & Roses and spectacular delicacies from A Bite of Heaven, Dino's Cucina, Burke's On Old Hook, Chef Bob's Deli, Mortellaro's, White Beeches Golf and Country Club, Madeleine's Petit Paris and Sweet Grace. Our sponsors included Buck, Seifert & Jost; The Hunter Group; Lakeland Bank; Pascack Community Bank; PSE&G; Sanzari Companies; Control Associates; Environmental Waste Management Associates; Grainvew Designs and Quest Diagnostics. Thanks to all!

Bet You’ll Have a Great Time at Night at the Races!

Time is running out to get your tickets to the 9th annual Night at the Races, sponsored by the Northern New Jersey Business Volunteer Council. Tickets are only $50 and will get you a night of thrilling horse races, a barbecue dinner, beer and soft drinks, free parking, goody bags, and our own private betting window! We’ll also have fabulous silent auction prizes, a 50/50 raffle, and winner’s circle grab bags. Don’t miss the fun, food, and friends at this great night. Buy your tickets online here.

And it’s all for a great cause. Proceeds from the event support the work of the BVC, bringing resources to low-income kids and families in our community. You can help! All Night at the Races attendees are asked to bring a box of healthy, kid-friendly cereal that we’ll be donating to the Center for Food Action in Mahwah. For more information on the Business Volunteer Council, visit us online at www.nnjbvc.org. For more information, call 201-489-9454 ext. 114.

How One Mentor Matters

Our Mentoring Moms program matches trained and caring adult women with overwhelmed mothers who need guidance in facing life’s challenges.

A mentor recently sent in the following note regarding the woman (and family) that she is mentoring:

When you get a family like J and her 5 children, you watch them work hard and try to stay positive yet struggle with their past and today's pressures. Then you realize the reward, for all of us, is being able to see them slowly but surely climb out of their abyss, knowing that you helped give them the strength and confidence to do it.

(Mentoring Moms) offers them hope and gives them a strong support system. Their lives are changed forever because they know someone cares and believes in them…Looking forward to a long and successful partnership.

Sincerely, Kathy H (mentor)

For more information about Mentoring Moms or our other Mentoring Programs please visit our Mentoring Page.

Corporate Volunteering Featured at State Conference

This year’s N.J. Governor’s Conference on Volunteerism and Service will feature a fully-blown curriculum specifically for corporations. Corporate sessions are being planned by the Northern New Jersey Business Volunteer Council and will feature informative and interactive workshops about corporate volunteering and corporate contributions.

Sponsored by the Governor’s Office of Volunteerism, the conference will also feature a broad range of workshops targeted to nonprofit leaders, Board members, volunteer directors and volunteers.

The conference will be held on Wednesday, November 10, at the Downtown Marriott in Trenton, NJ. Early bird registration is $100 for corporations and $50 for nonprofit organizations. For information about the conference and to register click below.

Fall Frolic Food and Wine Tasting

Our Fall Frolic is shaping up to be a premier event! United Water is hosting a fabulous night full of fun on Thursday, October 21, from 6-9 PM at its headquarters on the foliage-intense shores of the Oradell Reservoir. 100% of the proceeds will benefit the important work of the Volunteer Center of Bergen County.

Come and enjoy fine wines by Wine & Roses of New Milford (beer too!); fun and games with DJ Scott Reddin; and fabulous food from Burke's on Old Hook, Dino's Cucina, Mortellaro's Catering, A Bite of Heaven, Chef Bob's Catering; and save room for scrumptious desserts from Madeleine's Petit Paris.

Take a chance on auction items from Kate Spade, Swarovski, top restaurants and lots of other surprises! Tickets are just $50 each, 3 for $125 or 6 for $250. Buy online; or send check to 64 Passaic Street, Hackensack, NJ 07601. For more information call Jane He at jhe@bergenvolunteers.org or at 201-489-9454, ext. 125.

Connecting School and Community through Service

A conference designed to help schools and community organizations learn about Service Learning will be held on Friday, November 12, at Bergen Community College. Hosted by the Volunteer Center of Bergen County, with sponsorship by State Farm Insurance Companies, the Fourth Annual Service Learning Conference will run from 8:30am to 12:00 noon.

This year’s program will focus on students in special education and how to engage them in community service. A panel discussion facilitated by Maureen Kerne, Director, Region V Council for Special Education in Bergen County, will explore how becoming involved with volunteer activities can enhance the transition from school to adult life for special education students.

Service learning brings together academic work and service to the community through an intentional curriculum. Students learn by doing, through a clear application of skills and knowledge, while helping to meet needs in the school and community.

The conference will be held in BCC’s Technology Education Center, 400 Paramus Road in Paramus. The cost is $35 per adult and $15 per student, which includes continental breakfast and all course materials. Pre-registration is required by November 8, click here to sign up today! Call Debbie Emery for more information at 201-489-9454, ext. 118.

It’s (Almost) the Most Wonderful Time of the Year

As the hottest summer in years winds down, we can’t help but ask “can the holiday season be far behind?”

Of course it isn't! We are already gearing up for the annual All Wrapped Up holiday giving program by enlisting agencies to provide profiles and “wish lists” of individuals and families in need. Later in the fall we will enlist willing donors from the community who are eager to fulfill the wish lists.

Check our website for details or to sign up for All Wrapped Up Updates. Click here!

Further information, contact Debbie Emery, Director of Community Volunteer Services, at 201-489-9454, ext 118, or send an email to demery@bergenvolunteers.org.

RSVP Forum to be Held for Volunteers 55+

RSVP - a national program established by the Corporation for National and Community Service - is America’s largest volunteer network for people over 55. The local chapter, sponsored by the Volunteer Center, offers a full range of volunteer opportunities in Bergen County. A free forum – full of information about what joining RSVP can do for you AND for your community - will be held on Thursday, October 14th, from 2 - 3 pm at the Volunteer Center. Attendance is limited to people over 55; please call 201-489-9333 to reserve your space.

“When you receive an invitation to a party, an affirmative ‘RSVP’ tells your host that you want to be a part of that event,” says Barbara Wiederecht, RSVP Director. “When you join the RSVP Program, you are responding to the needs of the community and bringing about vital changes that make Bergen County a better place to live.”

RSVP members get as much as they give, including a pre-service orientation, training for their volunteer assignment, supplemental insurance while on duty and mileage reimbursement for travel to and from the agency location.

RSVP to this event today! Call 201-489-9333.

Bergen Bike Tour Success!

The 15th annual Bergen Bike Tour was a roaring success Sunday, September 26th. About 230 riders biked through Bergen County on the beautiful Sunday morning to raise funds for Tomorrows Children's Fund and the Volunteer Center of Bergen County. Once the rider returned DJ Scott Reddin got the party going with great music, games, and fabulous barbeque of hamburgers, hot dogs and all the fixings.

View pictures from the event below.

Non-Profit Training - Fundamental Financial Management

Financial management is the key to planning and directing every aspect of an organization— including people, programs, facilities, fundraising and technology.

The Non-Profit Training and Resource Center of the Volunteer Center of Bergen County will present a half-day workshop, Fundamental Financial Management for Non-Profits, on Thursday, October 14, from 9:30am to 12:00pm at the Volunteer Center.

Trainers from Sobel and Company, a regional public accounting and consulting firm, will cover the basics, in this course designed for non-profit board members and professional staff with little or no accounting experience, and who need a working knowledge of financial processes. Board members in particular will benefit from this class, as they are charged with the financial oversight of non-profit agencies.

Pre-registration is required; the deadline for registration is October 8. Click here to register for this course. For more information call (201) 489-9454, ext.114.

Meet the Bergen LEADS Class of 2011

Bergen LEADS, Bergen County’s first community leadership program, kicked off the Class of 2011 seminar year on Monday, September 20. Twenty-nine members of the new class met their classmates, discovered their personal leadership styles, and learned first-hand about Bergen County.

The men and women of the class of 2011, aspiring and acknowledged leaders of widely diverse backgrounds who live or work in Bergen County, were chosen though a competitive process in early 2010. They will meet monthly to dissect issues, debate viewpoints and develop approaches to community problems.

The members of the 20010-2011 Bergen LEADS class are:

Robert Abreu, Englewood; Laura Amerman, Rutherford; Susan Barbuto, Franklin Lakes; Kenneth Baum, Esq., Woodcliff Lake; Lorna Beebe, Oradell; Michael Blake, Park Ridge; Reverend Eric Brewer, Tinton Falls; Linnet Castro-Pereira, Union; Detra DeNully, Hackensack; Minister Brenda Du Bose, Saddle Brook; James Erwin , Hackensack; Lisa E. Gladwell, River Edge; David B. Hollenbeck, Carlstadt; Eileen Hughes, Wood Ridge; Colleen Hurley, Ridgewood; Trevor S. Jadoo, Esq., Englewood; Elise James-DeCruise, Englewood; Gwen Keeble, Allendale; Miriam Lopez, Fort Lee; Carmine G. Marchionda, Ogdensburg; Charles Martello, Oakland; Jayne Press, Waldwick; Jennifer Reyes, Hasbrouck Heights; Jhovanny Rodriguez, Little Ferry; Sheryl Silver, Paramus; Carolyn Smith, Rutherford; Jose Vincente, Kearny; Karen Winick, Woodland Park; and Pastor James Woodley, Teaneck.

Bergen LEADS seeks individuals from all ethnic, racial and socio-economic backgrounds who espouse different political, religious and social views for future classes. Visit www.bergenleads.org for more information. Applications for the next Bergen LEADS class will be accepted January 4, 2011 to April 1, 2011.

The Bike Tour is Today!

The Bergen Bike Tour is on rain or shine today, Sunday, September 26th, so come on down to Darlington Park in Mahwah, NJ.


We will be there from 7:30 am and throughout the day cheering on riders,
enjoying a delicious BBQ, and raffling off great prizes.
Click here for the schedule for the day.

Pre-registration is now closed, but you can register on-site. We accept cash, checks (payable to Bergen Bike Tour), Visa, MasterCard and American Express.

The Bergen Bike Tour benefits two outstanding local charities: Tomorrows Children’s Fund and The Volunteer Center of Bergen County.

Bergen Bike Tour - this Sunday!

The weather forecast is looking good for the 15th annual Bergen Bike Tour this Sunday, September 26th at Darlington Park in Mahwah!

Hundreds of cyclists will be pedaling on behalf of Tomorrows Children’s Fund and The Volunteer Center of Bergen County, two outstanding local organizations. We'll have food, fun and abundant hoopla -- plus fabulous prizes, including two bicycles: Prize 1: Jamis Satellite Sport Bicycle, retail value $650. Prize 2: Jamis Explorer 1 Bicycle, retail value $375.

Don’t worry if you haven't registered yet - you can sign up on Sunday at Darlington Park. The 50 mile ride kicks off at 8:00 am, 25-mile at 9, and 10-mile at 10:30. Enjoy breakfast before your ride courtesy of Dunkin' Donuts.

Find out everything you need to know at bergenbiketour.org or call us at 1-877-BER-BIKE. See you there!