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.