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Columbus School Results

UWCJ Joins Local School Districts in Literacy Initiatives

 

Working closely with School District Administrators in Carteret, North Brunswick and Piscataway, UWCJ is focusing on Early Grade Reading and Early Literacy Programs like after school, summer academy and other evidence-based programs. Corporate partners have provided volunteers, school supplies, books and funding for programs specifically aimed at generating measurable results.

 

This year, in addition to contributions to the General Community Fund, you can designate your donation to any of these specific investment options:

  • Carteret Early Grade Reading
  • Piscataway Early Literacy
  • North Brunswick Early Literacy

Please help UWCJ to continue these initiatives.

Link to WWW.UWCJ.ORG

  Volunteer Income Tax Collaboration Needs Tax Preparers

 

UWCJ worked with the IRS, area non-profits, corporations and residents to generate over $1,500,000 in tax refunds and credits for low-income tax payers. UWCJ staff and volunteers filed over 1,000 tax returns.

 

This is money that went straight back into the Central Jersey community.

 

Volunteers are needed for the coming year. Training by the IRS certifies the volunteer to assist in tax preparation. Volunteers do not have to be an accountant and do not sign the tax filings.

 

You can help individuals and their families as well as make the Central Jersey community stronger. Please email [email protected] for more information and link here to make a donation.

Rutgers Student United Way
 
On October 15th, Camilla Lauricella, Vice-Chair of the Board of Trustees, attended a meeting of the newly formed Rutgers Student United Way. Her presentation to the audience of over 30 students described UWCJ's community investment approach, an overview of the United Way network including its reach with the US and beyond, UWCJ focus areas and goals to be attained by 2018.
 
Volunteer Activities Discussed
Students attending expressed an interest in receiving information regarding volunteering for the investment allocation groups and also in the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program.
 
Students discussed mentoring elementary grade students within walking distance of campus as most do not have cars. They also discussed volunteering with senior citizens to help them use their smart phones, electronic devices and access to the internet.
 
The students have access to a UWCJ advisor to help develop and implement strategies to create opportunities for a better life among the vulnerable populations in Central Jersey.

 

Gifts of the Season Needs Sponsors

"Last year your organization helped me and my family during the Christmas Holiday. Pregnant, homeless and jobless, I was unable to provide toys for my 5 children. You helped me last year even though I was after the deadline. And now, a year later, I am please to report that I am working, have a new place and a healthy baby boy.

"All that said, I would like to volunteer the company I am now working for to adopt a family this holiday season. We would love to provide gifts for the needy. Can you please send me information on how we can help?"

We wanted to share the above, so you might realize how important your help can be. We have more needy families and need sponsors to provide some holiday gifts for them. Please consider joining the effort. Get more information from Patricia Desiderio at [email protected]

2013 Stuff the Bus

The 2013 Stuff the Bus event raised over $83,000. School supplies were contributed by the following companies, organizations and individuals. 

AT&T Pioneers

Banana Republic

CEVA Logistics

Dr. Pepper Snapple

DuPont

Ernst & Young

ExpertPlan

Federal Business Centers

Home Depot (Milltown)

IBM

J&J Health Care Systems

MD&D Global Services, LLC

Middlesex Somerset AFL-CIO-CLC

Mom's Club of Edison

Multi-Plastics Extrusions

New Millennium Bank

P&G Associates

P&G Prestige Products

Paychex

Presperse Corporation

Pestka Biomedical Laboratories

Revlon

Silverline

Staples

Target

Tekmark Global Solutions

Wells Fargo

 

Individuals:

Elizabeth Hance

Betty and Dorothy Vago

 

Companies that Contributed Services/Products on August 24th

Dr. Pepper Snapple Group

First Student Bus

Legends Caterers

Miller's Rentals

NJ 101.5

Shoprite of Spotswood

Target - Milltown

 

The following schools and organizations received school supplies:

Schools

Arthur M. Judd

Bowne Munro

John Adams

Lafayette Estates

Linwood Gardens

Livingston School

Lord Stirling

Martin Luther King - Piscataway

Minue School

North Brunswick High School

Roosevelt Elementary

W.C. McGinnis

Wilentz Elementary

Woodrow Wilson

Organizations/Agencies

Blood of Jesus Christ Church

Coordinated Family Care

Family of Christ Life Center

Healthy Families

Step Down - Perth Amboy

Youth Program - Carteret

Youth Program - Woodbridge

 

 

Please call Patricia Desiderio at 732 247-3727 or email [email protected] to donate or visit:

https://www.uwcj.org/pdf/StufftheBus2013.pdf

 

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program

Thanks to Food Donors

As the Federal Government cut the budget for emergency food aid, it has become critically important to maintain supplies at the Food Bank, so that non-profit food pantries can restock shelves in the face of increased demand.

 

Keefe Supply, part of the Centric Group, raised 7 boxes of food in their food drive and donated two pallets of snacks and ready-to-eat meals.

 

AT&T, at 30 Knightsbridge in Piscataway, raised 15 boxes of food during this critical season.

 

These are only two of many who have responded to the need. Thank you. If you want to help the community, please contact Gloria Aftanski, President, at [email protected].

 

Raise Your Hand Logo 

NEW DONOR OPTIONS

AT WWW.UWCJ.ORG

Join the effort to mobilize the community. You can make a difference right now - on Giving Tuesday or any day!

 

United Way isn't about short-term charity, it's about lasting change. We look at the big picture - what resources are lacking, down to food, shelter and health needs, and how we can address that to create opportunities for a better life. 

 

You can help community leaders and organizations to work together on the issues you care about.

 

Whether you advocate for pre-school expansion, fund book purchases or help improve the chances that children will succeed in school, your help  changes the future for us all.

Choose where to put your donation to work here WWW.UWCJ.ORG

 

AmeriCorps Jobs Available

 

The Parent-Child Home Program is a national, research-validated early literacy and school readiness program that improves the school success rate of at-risk children living in Central Jersey.

 

Positions are available for AmeriCorps Home Visitors who visit the home of participating families and use educational books and toys to help parents prepare toddlers for school success.

 

Training and a small living allowance is provided as well as a $5,550 Educational Award upon successful completion of one year of service.

 

Please contact Sara Spatz for an application at [email protected].

 

ACA Conference

Champion for Coverage

 

UWCJ is proud to announce that it has been designated a Champion of Coverage by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

 

UWCJ has become a partner with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers of Medicare and Medicaid Services to organize training and information sessions that provide updated information to social service organizations serving low-income community residents.

 

For more information, please contact Jagdish Vasudev at [email protected]

 

Sandy Damage Assessment Helps Survivors Manage Contractors

 

The Middlesex County Long Term Recovery Group (LTRG) assists survivors in dozens of ways. While case managers may help survivors to locate sources of support for housing, household goods, legal services, transportation and more, surprising results may also come from inspections done by damage assessors.

 

A woman in her 70's who lives in one of the affected areas contacted the LTRG because she smelled oil. A contractor told her that her sub-flooring needed to be replaced. When the damage assessor from the LTRG arrived, he found the contractor ripping up the floor.

 

The woman's much-loved tiling was being destroyed. The assessor demanded to see the evidence, "Show me the oil-soaked sub-flooring."

 

You can guess what happened. There was no oil in the sub floor. The assessor inspected the basement and found the oil tank had toppled over and oil had soaked into the concrete slab and below. The floor never needed to be ripped up!

 

The LTRG is working to remedy the woman's Hurricane Sandy-related damage and have the contractor repair the flooring. UWCJ is the fiscal agent for the Long Term Recovery Group and has funded repairs as well as temporary housing costs for sandy survivors.

Three VISTA Members to Work with Families

United Way of Central Jersey has received a grant from the National Corporation for Community Service and United Way Worldwide to fund three VISTA members who will implement evidence-based programming targeting low income parents.

 

Program Goals:  develop parents' knowledge of their rights and responsibilities in relation to their child's education; increase knowledge and confidence in parenting; connect parents to resources and services that support healthy families; shows parents how to navigate systems; prepares parents to advocate on behalf of their children and builds community support systems in their neighborhoods.

Please contact Gloria Aftanski at 732 247-3727 for more information.

  
You Can Help Make Funding Decisions

Volunteers are needed to participate in the community investment process to help make funding decisions.

 

Working closely with other team members, volunteers will read program proposals and meet with non-profit agency officials.

 

Approximately five review committees meet at varying times in the morning or early evening to accommodate the work schedules and preferences of our volunteers.

 

Most committees meet a total of eight times for approximately two hours per meeting.

 

All meetings will be held at the United Way office in Milltown between late January 2013 and early April 2013.

 

This is a great way to become aware of the most critical needs in our community and to be in a position to advocate for policy and services to meet the education, income and health needs of those who live and work in Central Jersey.

 

For more information email, [email protected]
 
                

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