United Way

of Central Jersey

UWCJ Selected to Focus on

Early-Grade Reading

United Way of Central Jersey (UWCJ) has been selected to participate in a new Performance Excellence Group for Early Grade Reading. This is part of United Way Worldwide's national strategy to help reduce school dropout numbers by 50% by 2018.

The goal is to build UWCJ's capacity to support the Central Jersey community in reaching its early grade reading goals.

UWCJ will be establishing a local Performance Excellence Team, including local community volunteers, tasked with organizational alignment to:

• Get community results on early grade reading
• Increase investment for early grade reading strategies
• Engage more individuals to give, advocate and volunteer as part of early grade reading strategies

Some targeted outcomes include:

• Increased knowledge of community aspirations and concerns about early grade reading
• Stronger relationships with individuals and institutions (including schools and city leaders) willing to support early grade reading
• Expanded volunteer engagement and advocacy opportunities, and activated Women's leadership Councils and other affinity groups to support early grade reading strategies
• Early grade reading strategies and metrics to target population-level outcomes and change systems, organizations, services, neighborhoods and networks, informed by local data and knowledge of needs, underlying issues, and local assets that can be mobilized to create change.

The recent declines in 3^rd grade Language Arts scores, (-40% over last 4 years among NJ's low-income students) increases the critical need for focused efforts to correct this trend. Reading proficiently by the end of 3^rd grade is a crucial marker in a child's educational development. Failure to read proficiently is linked to higher rates of school dropout, which suppresses individual earning potential as well as the nation's competitiveness and general productivity.

If you would like to get involved in the effort to improve early grade reading, please contact Gloria Aftanski at 732 247-3727.

Aging Out of the Foster Care System

United Way of Central Jersey was asked to join a collaboration that was tasked with organizing and executing an event on June 22^nd for youth who are aging out of the foster care system in Middlesex County.  Entitled "Aging Out 2011 - Presentations and Information for Your Future," the event held at the Middlesex County Fire Academy in Sayerville targeted young people between the ages of 17 and 19 who will soon be in the position of needing housing, further education, or work as well as a stable social network to enhance their chances of success.

The Women's Leadership Council of the United Way, Women Helping Women (WEW), purchased new backpacks for the youth, many of whom transport their few belongings in plastic bags.  The WEW also stuffed the backpacks with donated in-kind items, which included deodorant, toothbrushes and toothpaste.  The WEW handled registration at the event and distributed materials to the attendees as well as distribution of the backpacks and other donated goods as each participant departed.

The youth attending the afternoon-long session were greeted by nearly 60 resource tables providing valuable information from government and not for profit organizations, including how to apply for college, career advice, interview skills as well as health care information.  Following the resource fair the youth attended a presentation that included anti-drug and drop-out prevention skits and speakers including the Hon. Travis Francis, A.J.S.C and Rebecca Richman, professional women's basketball star.  "Against All Odds" winners, youth in foster care who were selected by their case workers in recognition of their academic and personal achievement, were presented with lap top computers donated by the Karma Foundation.

Post-event surveys completed by the attendees were overwhelmingly positive and strongly recommended that the event be continued in 2012. If you would like to help, please contact Ms. Gloria Aftanski 732 247-3727.

Thanks for helping to make the event a success goes to:

Ellen Cohen

Division of Youth and Family Services

Karma Foundation

Stuart Kohn/Miller Rentals

Lee and Elaine Livingston

Tony Mayo

Middlesex County Fire Academy

Rutgers University Child Advocacy Program

Somerset Patriots/Trenton Thunder

The New York Yankees/Lonn Trost

United Way of Central Jersey

Putting Money Into the Pockets of the Needy

UWCJ generated $300,000 in tax refunds for needy residents of Central Jersey. As a result of a collaboration with the IRS, UWCJ staff and volunteers filed 342 tax returns - saving an estimated $60,000 in tax preparation fees. UWCJ's team of 12 volunteers and two staff members held tax preparation sessions in 7 different locations including Perth Amboy where there are more low-income households than any other township in Middlesex County. 

The refunds, along with the fees saved, generated significant additional resources for families under financial pressure. For example, one tax payer had wages of $8,497.  UWCJ was able to find $782 in credits and refunds that will help him to care for his disabled daughter.

Based on this performance, UWCJ has been asked by the IRS to lead a consortium of volunteer tax preparers in 2012. Working with Rutgers, Middlesex County College and others, UWCJ will coordinate efforts to increase reach into low-income communities for whom tax preparation fees are unaffordable and every penny of tax credit is critical.

The financial support from campaign donors is invested in a wide range of programs such as temporary shelters for the homeless, services for low-income people with disabilities and utility assistance. As we continue to live through the current economic crisis, United Way's supporters are helping to maintain a safety net for those most in need.

UWCJ Working With DOL and Non-profits to Expand 55+ Employment

United Way has always focused on improving the capacity of non-profits to meet the needs of the community. Due to economic conditions, many non-profits have found it difficult to finance the staff they need. To help address this problem, United Way of Central Jersey held a briefing for Central Jersey non-profits to hear from Joseph Brauner,  from the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development office,  about a job-based training program for mature workers.

WorkForce 55+  is the state administered senior community service employment program funded by a grant from the U.S. Department of Labor. The program provides qualifying individuals with meaningful, paid part-time work experience in community services. Non-profits are offered the opportunity to take advantage of the experience and work ethic that the older worker brings to the job. Non-profits can utilize a participant for 20 hours per week, at no cost to them! Many non-profits have ended up directly hiring a participant after seeing the value they added to the organization, although there is no obligation on the part of the non-profit to do so.

Many former participants in the WF55+ program have been hired by the program itself, as Employment Resource Specialists. The ERS is the person who administers the WF55+ program for a given county. So the program really practices what it preaches - assisting the older worker to find unsubsidized employment while increasing their skill set and on the job work experience. Ability is Ageless!

If you are 55 or older and think this program may benefit you, or are a non-profit and would like more information about becoming a Host Agency Site, please contact the local WF55+ representative at your county's NJDOL One Stop Career Center.

June 21^st Day of Action 

The United Way's Annual Day of Action takes place on the longest day of the year - June 21^st - and this year included a trip to the Mall in Washington, D.C. where volunteers from all over the area stuffed book bags for distribution to lower income children.

The bus left the United Way's Milltown office and returned that night with 1,000 bags filled with books for lower income children in Central Jersey.

Volunteers also came to United Way's office to read to children at one of the Head Start schools in the area. Arriving at the United Way office they first had a briefing from Sara Spatz who directs the Parent-Child Home Program in order to learn the value of active reading that seeks to engage children in brain stimulating exercise. "It's not just reading, it's brain development!" Thank you to the volunteers who are helping to prepare lower income children to succeed in school.

New Americans in Perth Amboy

The Perth Amboy Senior Center is a more interesting place today since UWCJ's New Americans Program donated a Wii system for the seniors to use there.

Despite the many services and caring staff at the center, some seniors are reluctant to engage in conversation or physical activity - both useful ways to help stave off age-related memory loss.

By teaching them to use the sports activities available on the Wii, staff at the center can arrange more interaction among the seniors as well as provide a safe way to get more exercise.

United Way of Central Jersey's New Americans Program has donated 7 Wii systems to senior centers throughout Central Jersey. Research shows that seniors at other centers greatly enjoy the use of Wii and found that using the Wii "gave them a valuable opportunity to learn new skills and socialize with others".

United Way's New Americans program is planning to introduce a Health Literacy program with a special emphasis on Nutrition for the Perth Amboy Community.

For more information about the New Americans Program activities including "Wii Bit of Exercise Program", please contact Mr. Jagdish Vasudev at 732 247-3727.

2011 Hometown Heroes

Over 50 nominations were received for categories such as families, students, groups and individual volunteers. Special awards were given to Lifetime Volunteers. See photos and a complete listing here.UWCJ Web Site 

Congratulations to all the 2011 Hometown Heroes for making a difference in their community. Thank you to the members of the United Way of Central Jersey Volunteer Services Advisory Group who worked so hard to review and evaluate all the nominations for this year's Hometown Heroes awards. 

Over 20 years ago, United Way of Central Jersey recognized that many volunteers active in the Central Jersey community were not being recognized. This event was started to enable the community to celebrate and thank the neighbors who care about helping other people: our Hometown Heroes. 

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