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In 2007, CNJG brought together the state's philanthropic sector to leverage its collective resources, knowledge, and expertise for the good of New Jersey’s citizens. All told, 39 funders throughout New Jersey leveraged more than $100,000 with a match of $300,000 from the State in support of the Civic Justice Corps. The program sought to embrace court-involved and formerly incarcerated youth who complete extensive service projects in their own neighborhoods, while also attending classes to obtain their GED. New Jersey Together was in place for two years in three pilot cities.
The New Jersey Council for the Humanities (NJCH) recently awarded $202,840 in Incubation and Action Grant funding to fifteen organizations. Incubation Grants help organizations plan, research, develop, and prototype public humanities projects and events. Action Grants help organizations implement a wide array of humanities-based projects, including public programs, exhibitions, installations, tours, and discussion groups.
Public humanities programming allows individuals to engage in lifelong learning and share in the exploration of history, values, cultures, and beliefs. NJCH supports and acts as a resource for cultural and service-oriented nonprofit partners as they bring the public humanities to the residents of New Jersey, harnessing the power of the humanities to strengthen communities.
In the second quarter of 2021, the Westfield Foundation distributed $68,544.00 in grants to 10 different agencies: CancerCare Inc., CASA of Union County, Caring Contact, Family Promise, Greater Somerset County YMCA, More Than Bootstraps, Our House Foundation, Patriots’ Path Council – Boy Scouts, Presbyterian Church - Agape Community Kitchen and the Westfield Service League.
These funds will be used for such items as face masks for summer day campers, supplemental groceries for families in need, replacement of inoperable windows, training for family advocates re substance abuse and a healthy food initiative to address food insufficiency.
NJM Insurance Group is donating $100,000 to benefit hunger relief organizations throughout the mid-Atlantic region, including 12 in New Jersey, the company announced Wednesday.
CEO Mitch Livingston said NJM’s support of communities is rooted in a culture of purpose-driven service.
“Households across the country lack consistent access to food,” he said. “NJM is proud to help advance the vital efforts undertaken by nonprofit organizations — large and small — to help alleviate food insecurity.”
Developed in partnership with United Philanthropy Forum and Northern California Grantmakers, this guide shares seven practices and 12 tools for Philanthropy-Serving Organizations who seek effective ways to mobilize resources to sustain their organization’s work. The guide features perspectives from dozens of leaders of national and regional PSOs and examples from our work with these organizations. Much of the content is based on conversations and strategy work with PSO leaders, staff and board members.
The FirstEnergy Foundation has donated more than $3.4 million to nearly 100 organizations across its service territory as part of "Investing with Purpose," a company initiative focused on supporting organizations that advance health and safety, workforce development, educational and social justice initiatives. The grants, awarded in December 2020, represent the first round of approximately $7 million in charitable contributions the Foundation will award as part of the program.
"Investing with Purpose" was developed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, which created health, financial and educational hardships for customers across FirstEnergy's six-state service territory, and in response to the events of 2020 that highlighted racial and social injustices impacting our nation. With those issues in mind, FirstEnergy leaders identified philanthropic opportunities through nonprofit organizations across its service territory that are responding to needs of vulnerable populations. "Investing with Purpose" represents an additional commitment on top of the company's annual charitable giving, which averages approximately $10 million per year.
"In light of the formidable challenges presented by the ongoing coronavirus health emergency and critical social justice work that remains at the forefront, the Foundation wanted to focus contributions in areas that would drive meaningful change in the communities we serve," said Lorna Wisham, president of the FirstEnergy Foundation and vice president of corporate affairs and community involvement for FirstEnergy. "These awards benefit new and existing nonprofit partners on the frontline of our current health and economic crisis and whose missions also reflect FirstEnergy's core values."
Like many cities and towns across New Jersey, and America, Newark is plagued by aging infrastructure. This includes approximately 18,000 privately-owned lead service lines that connect city water into homes. In 2018, Newark received an official finding that the corrosion control introduced into the water to keep lead from flaking off of lead service lines was no longer effective in one of its reservoirs – the Pequannock. This impacts roughly 15,000 households in the City.
There is a short, mid, and long-term plan of action that the City has been following since 2018:
In the short-term, 38,000 Pur water filters were distributed free of charge to residents in October 2018. In August 2019, the City and the Department of Environmental Protection conducted testing and found that in two of three homes, the Pur water filters were not removing lead from the water. While this was too small of a sample size to make a definitive conclusion about whether or not the filters are effective, in an abundance of caution, the City started to provide all potentially impacted residents with bottled water and established four distribution sites.
In the mid-term, a new corrosion control treatment was introduced into the Pequannock in Spring 2019, and will take up to 8 months to fully optimize.
For the long-term, the City of Newark created a Lead Service Line Replacement Program in partnership with the State of New Jersey and the Essex County Improvement Authority that will replace every lead service line in the city at no charge to residents within three years.
The Newark community is working in collaboration to support impacted residents throughout this process.
Ways to Help
While there is a clear plan to fix this issue over time, and as the City works aggressively with State and Federal officials on our water quality, there are immediate needs. Here are some ways to help:
- Contribute money to support impacted residents – The City of Newark partnered with the United Way of Essex West Hudson (UWEWH) to create a Water Fund. 100% of funds raised from individuals, corporations, and foundations is being used to address community needs during Newark’s water challenge.
- Make a direct donation of water – The Community Food Bank of New Jersey is accepting direct contributions of water on behalf of the City.
- Volunteer time and resources – The City is creating opportunities for volunteers to support its outreach to residents. Access to wraparound resources like lead testing and healthy food are also needed.
- Support for communications – It is important that residents, small business owners, and the whole Newark stakeholder community have the right facts related to Newark water. Community education is important now and well into the future.
To support these efforts, please contact Kevin Callaghan, Office of Newark Philanthropic Liaison, a partnership between the Council of New Jersey Grantmakers and the City of Newark.
To learn more about impacted households and the service line replacement program, please visit the City of Newark’s Lead Service Line Replacement Program website.
As a reminder for funders, CNJG and the Center for Disaster Philanthropy co-created the Disaster Philanthropy Playbook to help funders be more strategic in their investments helping with recovery for different aspects of your affected community.
Articles to Read
- NJ.com: Bottled water distribution continues in Newark (8/19/2010)
- NJ.com: Newark creates fund for donations to buy bottled water (8/19/2019)
- New York Amsterdam News: Newark water crisis prompts activists to step in, state of emergency requested (8/22/2019)
- Insider NJ: NJLOM: Taking Action to Solve Newark’s Drinking Water (8/26/2019)
- NJTV News: Officials announce $120M deal to speed up replacement of Newark’s lead service lines (8/26/2019)
- Insider NJ: AT&T Launches Text-To-Give Campaign to Support Newark Families with Lead Service Lines (8/29/2019)
- Patch: Newark Sees Outpouring Of Donations, Love During Water Crisis (8/30/2019)
- New York Amsterdam News: Donations pour in to help those impacted by Newark water crisis (9/12/2019)